Book Review: Sothkaal

 I would start with 'much interesting'. Sothkaal is balochi novel written by Dr. Aslam Dosteen. Dr. Naguman, a Balochi linguist, has remarked it as the best novel of Balochi. Sothkaal is greatly interesting and well articulated.

The story gives an overview of the life style of poor Baloch people in Balochistan. It covers not only the life style of one area rather different  regions of Balochistan. Though it is a fiction but to a great extent it relates to the culture and heritage of Baloch people. One praise-able point is the amusing expressions and colloquial Balochi words. These expressions and words have added more beauty in the story. For example:  at a place a grand mother tells a kid, “sheer of shakar! Tae dapa heer o kalnpur”. In the starting pages, there are some Balochi poetries based on the situation and they are as well entertaining. For example:

“Bashami nagwarten oran

 Ka anth o rawanth begahan

Gwaranth mara thar kananth

Grandanth o mara kar kan anth”

Other than that, it gives an idea about the life style of Baloch people in old days.

If I talk about the story itself and its theme then it is interesting, suspensive and thrilling. That is why, when you start it, it drags you ahead itself. The main character is a boy named "Ghulamuk" who is a shepherd. It starts with Gulamuk’s life in a village whose name is Sothkaal. Therefore, the book is named Sothkaal. The story goes on with the passing year of 'Ghulamuk' from a teen life to a father. The story is unpredictable as the pages turn by. And another good point is, it does not make you bore at any point.  The book also gives an idea about the regional trade and business of old ages. The story makes one remember about the old life style. To me it was entertaining, despite having a busy routine, I read it in three days and finished it.

As far as it comes to learning, one can learn lots of pure Balochi words by it. There were many words which were unknown to me before reading it. For example: ‘ateeg, bahand, tapawath’.I recommend it to the ones who have a passion for Balochi reading and writing.

Name: Jahangir Jameel

Address: Turbat, Balochistan

CNIC: 52203-0801835-5

Contact: 03089116544