Murad Sahir

According to his national identity card, Murad Bakhsh, known as Murad Sahir (also spelled Morad Saher), was born in 1929, in Shay Sichi, Negwar, Kech District, Balochistan. (128) There is no record of the day and month of his birth, and even the year is uncertain. The place and date of his birth have been recorded differently in different documents, which is not uncommon among people of his generation. (129)

Murad Sahir received basic schooling at a religious madrasa in his native village from an early age. After studying the Quran, Arabic, and some Persian literary works, all of which were part of the madrasa curriculum, he was sent by his father to Karachi to live with an uncle and continue his studies. In Karachi, Murad Sahir was sent to a municipal school, where he studied until sixth grade. Afterwards he returned to his native village to help his father with agricultural work.

When Murad Sahir was about 12 years old, his family migrated to Karachi to escape a famine in their village. They initially lived near an agricultural district in Karachi, but later they were forced to leave and moved to Old Golimar, where they settled permanently.

Murad Sahir first worked in construction, loading and unloading vehicles that transported sand, bricks and other materials, then as an assistant mechanic in an auto garage. Later he learned to drive and worked as a driver for a company. After some time, a medical doctor employed him as his personal driver. These were golden day for him. After dropping off his boss at the clinic, he could read all day until it was time to drive the doctor home again.

Later, Murad Sahir worked as a driver at the Russian Consulate in Karachi, at the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation, and in many other places. Finally, he bought his own small transport vehicle and worked for himself.

Murad Sahir was a lover of flowers, literature and all forms of art. He spent most of his spare time, often whole nights, reading literature or watching movies.

Murad Sahir fell ill on 16 September 1998 and was taken to a nearby hospital. Due to the seriousness of his condition he was quickly transferred to one of the city’s largest medical facilities, Jinnah Medical Centre, where he passed away on 18 September 1998.

Although Murad Sahir is best known for his poetry, he was among the first writers of short stories in Balochi as well. His stories deal with traditional themes in Baloch society such as love, betrayal, rural life, social inequality, and the lack of facilities and infrastructure in the region, and they often have a clear social message. Some of his collections of poetry are Páhár (Vapour), (130) Chihál (Scream), (131) Zeray Morwáred (The Ocean Pearl), (132) and Beshkon Mani Peryátán (Listen to my Cries). (133) Some of his prose writings have been collected in Garmén Sáheg (The Scorching Shade). (134)

Murad Sahir also translated a number of short stories and articles into Balochi. The compilation Zer Dir Ent (The Sea is Far Away) (135) contains most of his translations.

The story presented here, Garmén sáheg (The Scorching Shade), depicts the main character’s deep love for a childhood friend. Unable to forget her, he takes the courage to visit her after her marriage. He struggles with his emotions – not only love, but also indecisiveness, fear, and rejection, to mention a few.