Tenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

Baloch, a historical tribe, have always perceived (among themselves) a notion of culminating identity. Their history goes back to being a nomad, a small tribe whose identity was perceived by their linguistic and Zoroastrian characters. They (from a historical perspective) had a land and a cultural nationalism to call their own i.e. Balochistan. However, in Pakistan and the near neighboring countries of Pakistan like Iran and Afghanistan, there exists a quintessential type of Balochs; who are chiefly known for their religious characters i.e. Zikris. And because of this reason they had to relocated themselves from the lands of Afghanistan and Iran towards Balochistan; Makran. But since Zikris in Balochistan, Pakistan were not in an assumed ‘ceteris paribus’ condition, therefore they had to face severe political, social, and economical challenges apart from the challenge of identity. Further, they became a part of a discrete collective consciousness (within Pakistan) whose explicit traditional and cultural practices were very different than of Zikris. This posed them as antagonists and thus easy to be targeted by the Pakistani politicians; who came under the pressure of the Sunni majoritarian attitude and oppressed Zikris. As in the era of Zia-ul-haq Zikris were very close to be announced as Non-Muslims like Qadiyanis (Ahmedians). And this caused the Zikris of Makran, Balochistan to keep on depleting. Hence, the aim of the paper is to fathom the historical evolution of Zikris who had to face socio-political deprivation and destitution just because of their distinct religious practices and beliefs.