Sazain Zahid
Indeed, bullying, known as abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger, is an alarming issue in Balochistan. The repercussions of bullying are distinguished throughout the world; it affects students in school, employees at work, a girl in a patriarchal society, and worst of all a child in his own house. This “slayer” has brutally claimed thousands of lives. According to a UN report, an estimated 246 million children and adolescents experience violence and bullying in some form every year. There obviously have been hundreds of untold stories of bullying in Balochistan, which have claimed precious lives.
In addition, there are several types of bullying experienced by children. It includes physical, verbal, social and cyber bullying. Among these types, cyber bullying is considered a fast-emerging evil, but in Balochistan least cases of cyber bullying were reported. A child being bullied in his own house is considered the most dangerous kind of bullying in Balochistan. It harms the physical health and emotional well-being of the child, and in many cases, leads them to commit suicide.
Balochistan, the poorest province, is indeed faced with myriad issues, but bullying takes a completely different shape. There were reports that students were bullied in schools, tribals by the feudal lords or sardars, but nobody knows the bitter truth of a child who is neglected and coerced by the family. This social issue is threatening the future of youth in Balochistan. Surely, there are thousands of unmentioned stories of victims who took their lives for being isolated and deserted in the primary social institution (family).
Blowing out someone else’s candle doesn’t make theirs shine any brighter- if a child is good in photography, he will never be appreciated to become a photographer. What a father wants, that would be the only path for a child. A girl desires to wear jeans but wait, “No! this is against the norms and values of the society”. This is what defines the ways of bullying in Balochistan. Here, children are coerced into following the parents’ decisions and their own area of interest is bulldozed. Here, girls are restricted in the name of honour and prestige of family. To be precise, every child or adult has an invisible hangman’s knot around their neck. This knot is never seen, but it slowly and gradually suffocates the children.
To conclude the narrative, it is crystal clear that the desertion of responsibilities by the parents is eroding the future of their children. Parents need to be counseled about their moral duties in a channelized way. Children should be given enough freedom to deal with their matters. There is no need to bully the children and compel them to live a life of parents’ will. Sending them to an affluent school doesn’t promise a brighter future. Children need to be assisted with their potential of self-direction, self-confidence, and self-awareness. A little time of parents, little concentration and enough freedom would be enough to bring an optimistic smile to the face of a child. If a child faces failure in his life, let him overcome this difficult phase on his own. Such a situation can beautifully be defined by the words of Kahlil Gibran: “Out of sufferings have emerged the strongest souls.”
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are those of the author and Balochistan Voices not necessarily agree with them.
Share your comments!
