KARACHI: `I cannot do much if people do not want to know about Baloch literature,` Ayub Baloch politely said in response to a question at a morning session of the fifth Karachi Literature Festival on Sunday.

The session held in early hours on `Baloch Literature and Landscape` attracted a large number of people.

Most people in the audience were curious about the culture known more because of `insurgency` rather than writers it produced over the years.

There was so much that the people wanted to ask, and yet the time was short. Having a good grasp of history of the province, moderator Baela Raza Jamil tried her best to allot each of the panellists enough time to speak. A scholar with a focus on anthropology, Ayub Baloch spoke at length about the unique culture and literature of Balochistan, which is not discussed as often as it should.

But he quoted a couplet of poet Zahoor Shahwani, Meri dheemi chaal k mughaltay main mat rehna, main ek ek kar k tum sab ko puhunch jaonga. `It is to emphasise my point that no matter how slow it is, the literature produced by Baloch poets will reach its audience,` he added.

Naming, what he described as some of the strongest contemporary writers, such as Gul Khan Naseer, Munir Badini, and Dr Sabur Baloch, he said that their writings would live on as they depicted what a common Baloch felt.

He said studying the genesis of Sibi in particular would highlight the nomadic nature and rich traditions of Balochistan. `Despite being nomads there is a subtle sophistication in the way they live which continues to pass on from generation to generation,` he added.

Apart from Sibi, he said that the ancient city of Mehrgarh provided an insight into the agriculture aspect of the province.

`A Baloch hero and chieftain, Mir Chakar Khan, made music and literature popular way back in the 15th century,` he added.Former education minister Zubaida Jalal was also among the panellists. She gave a short speech in which she said that the best way to promote culture and literature was to adopt it completely.

A student of the National College of Arts Lahore and sculptor, Tairq Luni, presented his work that depicted various layers of the Baloch society.

Concluding the session, moderator Baela Raza Jamil said: `We have only touched the surface today. But the responsibility of continuing such a dialogue lies with the society, not with the state.