Survival of Sindhi Community in Danger

Today our Sindhi Culture, Heritage, Sanskriti and Language are passing through a crucial stage. We have sacrificed maximum in getting Independence of India, by giving away complete Sindh and leaving our soil forthwith, thus; Sindhis should be treated as freedom fighters. On the contrary, however, the condition today is exactly the reverse. Step-motherly treatment is given to Sindhis and the Central Government has conveniently forgotten all the assurances and promises given to us by great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru etc.

1. Nobody misses a chance to overpower Sindhis. Number of times our shops and houses have been looted or burnt particularly in M.P., Gujarat and Maharashtra. The sword of Damocles is still hanging over the heads for regularization of 855 buildings of nearly One Lakh Sindhis residing in Ulhasnagar. Since we are scattered all over India, our representatives cannot reach in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Assemblies and Municipalities by winning elections. No Vikas Board, University or T.V channel are established for Sindhis. No Sindhi is appointed as governor or Ambassador / High Commissioner etc. Sindhi Language is not printed on Currency Notes. No bank holiday is declared on ChetiChand Day. Leave aside other things, even trifle ‘Sindhi Jhanki’ is not permitted on the Republic Day. As a result, our community is drifting away from our rich culture, language and heritage. Neither the children are talked to in Sindhi language nor are they sent to Sindhi Schools. This has resulted in the closure of Sindhi Schools and has brought a continuous fall in the number of Sindhi language readers. The dilemma of using two scripts has added fuel to the fire making total ruination of our literature. One who sails in two boats simultaneously reaches no where. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

Friends, it is said that every problem has its solution; let us find out the solution of our problem and the raise the pride of Sindhiyat more than ever before. For example, as for the diagnosis of a chronic disease, one has to go deep and find out its root cause, likewise to find out as to why we have reached to such dreadful conditions, we have to refer back to the history of India.

2. The British Government separated Sindh from erstwhile Bombay Presidency in the year 1935 with an ulterior motive of creating seeds of partition with connivance of Muslim League. At the time of partition in 1947, though Bengalis got a part of Bengal state, Punjabis got a part of Punjab state. And although Hindus were in majority in at least in 3 districts / Talukas of Hyderabad, Karachi and Tharparkar, yet entire sindh having 5000 year old rich civilization and comprising of 55000 sq miles, was given away to Pakistan (In Dowry?). It was mainly due to the simple reason that our Sindhi leaders at that time were not farsighted and lacked adequate determination to push for getting a part of Sindh State. Though Gandhidham area was given to us at a later stage, all of us did not go there, as many of us were rehabilitated in different camps scattered in different parts of India and also, because some of us were partly economically established at those places. Consequently, we lost the chance of electing our own representatives in the political field. As per Congress resolution of 1935, linguistic states were formed in 1956 as per recommendations of the linguistic States Reorganization Commission. However we could not get our state then, as we were leaderless and were neither fully settled economically nor were we united. Time and again various Sindhi organizations such as World Sindhi Congress (now International Sindhi Forum), Akhil Bharat Sindhi Samaj, Bharatiya Sindhu Sabha and later on Sindhi Council of India have been trying their level best to make representations to the constitutional Review Commission and also to the Prime Minister of India, for getting their legitimate rights but they have not yet been able to achieve anything perhaps because the government has rightly sensed the weakness of Sindhis i.e. disunity and no motivation to fight.

3. It is worth taking into account that though total population of Sikkim, Andaman Nicobar and Mizoram is 3,4,and 5 Lakhs respectively, yet each one of them has two elected members in Lok Sabha and over 30 elected members in State Assemblies. But in case of Sindh, with a population of 13 Lakh before partition, we had at least two elected members in the then Central government and twenty-two elected members in Sindh Assembly. Yet Alas! Today there is not a single Sindhi member – even nominated – in Lok Sabha, State Assemblies or Municipal Corporations and hence we don’t get anything out of five years plans. This step-motherly attitude of the central Government is a complete betrayal of its promises given to us. Therefore we have become political orphans.

4. There is popular proverb in our Language which says that, “one Stroke of an Ironsmith is equal to 100 strokes of a Goldsmith”. Therefore there is only one “Ramban” (Perfect ) solution of all these problems i.e. to get Sindh Land in India (or to get landless Sindhi State or to get at least reservation of linguistic minority political rights for the time being?). It is also remarkable that in case of every need, we have done many daring and enterprising wonders such as; progressing economically, establishing schools, colleges, hospitals, temples, etc. for the benefit of all communities. We have got Hinduja Brothers, NRI Brothers like Shri Ram Buxani, Shri Murjmal Manghnani and other philanthropists who are always ready to help us. We have shined with bright colours in every field. We have greatly contributed in each and every field and in the development of the country at large. As compared to others, we are always ahead in paying government taxes. Whenever required, we have succeeded in Supreme Court & in front of other authorities in vacating an attempt to remove “Sindh” word from the National Anthem, an attempt to remove words “Sindhu Darshan Yatra” in Leh (Ladhak), an attempt to remove Sindhi Syllabus from Gujarat Educational Board and on many such other occasions by getting united, exhibiting courage & foresight. Recently we have demonstrated admirable unity in closing of all shops, Railways; and bearing ‘Lathis’ for saving the 855 buildings in Ulhasnagar. This means if a situation genuinely demands, we have the capacity to persist till we succeed. Consequently, Maharashtra Government was pleased and persuaded at least to promulgate an Ordinance for regularization of these buildings (Through it yet remains to be finalized).

5. I have personally visited over 100 cities & towns of India in the last 20 years and have met with the officials of important Sindhi organizations there. I have felt that the morale of Sindhis is very high particularly in small towns and Sindhi language is normally spoken proudly by them among themselves and in their homes. They are more advanced and enthusiastic in celebrating annual festivals like ChetiChand etc. as compared to the big cities. Therefore, my heroic Sindhi brethren! Remember it is never too late. If you have had the milk of a Sindhi mother and enjoyed her “Loli” (Lullaby) in your childhood, please compose your mind and plunge into this movement. It does not matter even if we may get only 5 villages (like the proverbial 5 villages demanded by Shri Krishna from Duryodhana for Pandavas before Mahabharata war).

6. However, for that achievement we have first to submerge all our differences and misunderstandings among ourselves and get united by boosting our morale and will power with fortitude. We should also form a co-coordinating body/High Command represented by all main Sindhi organizations of India and abroad. We have also to search and find out commendable Sindhi leaders with the qualities of selfless service, courage, foresight and humility etc. (as guided by Dada J.P.Vaswani).Then we should make a common minimum programme by consensus and obtain our legitimate cultural & political etc. rights by constitutional methods as per Articles 16,29,30,330,331.332,338,350 etc. of our esteemed Constitution as far as possible (or also by adopting other reasonable methods as the situation demands).It is said that even a mother does not give her milk to her child unless he/she cries (nowadays “fights:”). So let us all stand together and voice our demands. In addition, it is our revered duty to talk in Sindhi with our children. Sindhi subject should be taught and made compulsory in at least the schools & colleges run by Sindhi managements. We should solve the two scripts problem by consensus. Create interest for Sindhi language among young generation through electronic media and should not relax till we get Sindhi State/Land in India. The whole world can be stirred but there should be a worthy person to do so. Even if we get a deserted land, we can definitely make it an oasis as Jews have made their land Israel. However we have to persevere in maintaining sincere love for our land & language like Jews. Even if we get a small land like that of Gandhidham, our all problems will automatically be solved. It may not be necessary for all Sindhis to go there. Some may go there & other affluent Sindhis can purchase buildings and plots there. Even all “Sindhworkis” stayed outside Sindh in pre-partition days. During vacation time when all students go to their native place, where can Sindhi students go? At least then they can even boast of going to their native place like their friends from other states!

7. Not only that, today there has been an attack on the word “Sindh “in National Anthem and the word “Sindhu Darshan” yatra in Leh (Ladakh) as well as attack on Right of Indian Citizenship of Sindhis in Chhatisgarh State. Who knows tomorrow there could be a possible attack on inclusion of Sindhi language in National Educational Board (as once it unsuccessfully occurred in Gujarat State recently) and the then there could be an attack on inclusion of Sindhi language in the VIII Schedule of the Constitution of India and our very existence would be at stake. If there is fundamentalism on linguistic basis in the country, where will Sindhis go? (As it has happened a number of times in Maharashtra when non-Maharashtrians were asked to leave Mumbai!).Will we go under the Arabian Sea? Is this the “compensation” of scarifying whole Sindh by all Sindhis that they have become escape goats? Therefore, we have to achieve our goal under any circumstances even if by scarifying our life. No one gets anything significant without any sacrifice. For example Andhra Pradesh State was formed in 1956 after the sacrifice of life through fast-unto-death by Shri Sri Ramulo.

8. Recently when new states of Jharkhand, Uttaranchal and Chhatisgarh can be formed, why can’t Sindhi community with the total strength of over 70 Lakh, get their own State particularly when they had their own State in pre-partition days? As we can not pardon past Sindhi leaders for unintelligently “donating” complete Sindh, similarly if we now don’t acquire Sindh State in India, then the next generation will intensely curse us. Moreover, we can consult famous advocates like Shri Ram Jethmalani, Ram Punjwani etc. to fight legally by filing a Writ Petition in the Honorable Supreme Court and /or by moving an amendment bill in the Parliament by creating such public opinion etc. to achieve our object. I am quite sure that after considering all these avenues, if we take some practical steps in this direction with a strong will and determination, God willing, we will be able to achieve our aim and thus all our problems will be automatically solved.

Mohan G. Rohira

Advocate

Sindhi-Dham

Fifty years ago in 1947, Sindhis became stateless and homeless, after their home-province Sindh was sacrificed at the altar of Indian Independence.
When approached by Sindhi leaders like Acharya J.B. Kriplani and Bhai Pratap for alternate home-land for Sindhis, Father of Nation, realizing the plight of Sindhis, uprooted from their ancestral lands, for no fault of theirs, suggested that Sindhis should settle down in the princely state of Kutchh, adjoining Sindh.
On the advice of Mahatama Gandhi, Maha Rao of Kutchh allotted 15000 acres of land spread over 20 sq. miles around Kandla on seacoast, to provide alternate home for migrating Sindhis. The land was transferred, after legal formalities, to Bhai Pratap, who established a Public limited Company named Sindhi Resettlement Coorporation, to man the land for raising a township and settling the migrated Sindhis there. The township which ought to have been named Sindhi-DHAM sacred home of Sindhis-home of Sindhis-was graciously named as Gandhidham by the grateful Sindhis, after the immersion of Gandhiji’s ashes in sea and establishing second Gandhi Samadhi, in the town on 12th February 1948.

Gandhi-Dham thus became the only legally constituted Sindhi speaking territory in the whole of partitioned India.
The selection of the soil of Kutchh by Mahatama Gandhi and Sardar Patel, the then Home Minister, for the alternate home for migrating Sindhis was based upon the following considerations:-

1. The Geographical, Topographical and climatic conditions were similar to that of proper Sindh, especially of the lower region around Hyderabad Sindh
2. But for, Runn-of-Kutchh separating the Sindh province and Princely State of Kutchh, the entire territory belonged to same Geographical setup. Holy river Sindhu used to flow through Kutchh before submerging with sea near Lakhpat town in Kutchh, as late as 1850 A.D. till she changed her course, leaving behind Holy Pilgrimage center of ‘NARAYANSAR’ as testimony.
3. Had it not been a princely State, Kutchh like Sindh would have been politically part of Bombay presidency;
4. Sindhis and Kutchhis belong to same ethnic stock of people. In fact majority of the inhabitants of Kutchh, have migrated from proper Sindh at one or other time of History. Even today, people living on both sides of man-made border have close blood relations;
5. Both Sindhi Hindus and Kuchhi Hindus worship Jhulelal, the incarnation of VARUN DEVTA, and have almost similar religious believes as well as ritualistic practices. Sindhis therefore feel completely AT-Home in Kutchh territory.
6. Sindhis and Kutchhis have age-old affinities in the cultural field. Both have similar customs, folklores and folk songs;
7. According to linguistic experts, just as Haryanvi, Bhojpuri, Rajasthani, Bihari and Chhatisgarhi of Madhya Pradesh are the dialect of Hindi language in the same way, Kutchhi is the dialect of Sindhi language. Thus, this is the only territory in Indian Union, where, the language of Sindhi people can survive and florish.
8. Both Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel acknowledged that Sindhis being primarily traders, having ancient commercial links with almost all overseas littoral countries through mighty Karachi Port, can do away with fertile agricultural lands, but cannot survive in a land locked province. Both leaders were sure that enterprising Sindhis would transform the economic face of entire Kutchh State and would develop the hitherto ignored Kandla on the sea shore, into major all-weather sea port comparable to Karachi port of pre-partitioned India, which eventually would reduce the pressure on Bombay Port.
Thus after careful consideration of all aspects. Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi and Integrator of princely states Sardar Patel assigned the challenging task of developing the arid territory of princely State of Kutchh to enterprising Sindhis in 1948, through the medium of a public limited company named Sindh Resettlement Corporation (S.R.C.).
Imagine the miseries of people who were required to develop total forest area into flourishing modern township, without the active assistance of Government machinery. Poor Sindhi refugees, who left all the worldly possessions in their ancestral homes, had to work day and night with almost empty bellies, as there were very scant means of livelihood in the forest area. How can one expect to earn full livelihood in an area, where there was hardly any railway line, hardly any road, hardly any fertile agricultural land, hardly any factory, hardly any big government office. They were paid Rs 2/- only for killing a snake and Re 1/- only for killing one scorpion (Bichhu) by the Sindh Resettlement Corporation (S.R.C.) as an incentive to expedite clearance of the place, infested in those times by poisonous snakes and scorpions. But how long can one survive on this meagre and dangerous avocation? Hence the initial enthusiasm soon died down and most of the immigrants left in search of livelihood in other big cities like Ahmedabad, Bombay, Baroda, Calcutta, Madras and Delhi.
Fortunately, with the laying down of the foundation stone of Kandla port in 1952; inauguration of Kandla Airport in 1959; inauguration of Kandla Free Trade Zone in 1964; laying down of broadgauge railway line connecting Bombay with Gandhidham in 1969 and opening of IFFCO fertilizer factory and spinning mill, the trend of DESERTION of home, allotted to Sindhis has temporarily has been halted, But the people who left, were settled elsewhere in India never to return to the promised province, because of the memories of the past hardships.
The S.R.C. was able to develop excellently planned modern township of Gandhidham in face of heavy odds, but the task of converting it into a big city like Karachi and Bombay is still incomplete. S.R.C. is still alive and doing its utmost to achieve the goal.
Presently Gandhidham complex comprises of mainly three settlements- Proper Gandhidham town, flanked by Adipur, about eight kilometers away on its one side. And Kandla port about 15 kilometers on its other side. As soon as the gaps between three towns are filled up by resettling about 5 lakh Sindhis, the original objective of the establishment of Sindhidham could stand fulfilled.
It is not impossible. It is not even difficult. It is only the question of effective publicity for attracting the rich Sindhis of Hongkong, who are bound to return after the merger with mainland in 1992 and for persuading Sindhi traders of gulf countries to repatriate and invest in Sindhidham-sacred home established by Mahatma. Sindhis living in other provinces and Union Territories can also invest their surplus funds and send atleast retired persons to live peaceful life there to achieve the target of resettling five lakh Sindhis in their allotted home.
Is it difficult for fifty lakh Sindhi Hindus to spare only five lakhs for the far reaching objective? Farsightedness demands planned hard work by all who have burning desire to preserve “Sindhiyat” till eternity.
Common objective can only be achieved by common sacrifice- the sacrifice of routine type- sacrifice of surplus resources – sacrifice of luxurious and lethargic life style- sacrifice of extravagance in social ceremonies. This is not at all difficult, if we look into the sacrifice of others for similar objectives.

सिन्धु स्मृति दिवस

आज अगस्त की चौदहवीं तिथि है बासठ वर्ष पूर्व भी यह तिथि आई थी चौदह अगस्त १९४७ की मनहूस तिथि, सिंधी इतिहास का काला शोकजनक दिवस था इसी दिन, हमे अपनी माता से अलग किया गया था हमे अपना नाम(सिंधी) और भाषा(सिंधी) देने वाली पवित्र भूमि, सिन्धु भूमि, हमारी अपनी मात्रभूमि, हमारी माता, देखते ही देखते, अजनबी और परायी बन गयी
आज हम अपनी मर्जी से वहां जा भी नहीं सकते माता का दर्शन भी नहीं कर सकते कितने न अभागे है हम जननी माँ के घर केवल घुमने, मुलाकात करने के लिए जाने पर भी हमे पासपोर्ट, वीजा लेना पड़े, तरह तरह की पाबंदियों का सामना करना पड़े, पुलिस ठाणे पर हाजिरी देनी पड़े, सी.आई.डी हमारे ऊपर कड़ी निगरानी रखे - इससे अधिक शर्म की बात और क्या हो सकती है? परन्तु करे क्या? मजबूर है हम मजबूरी की हालत में ही, हमे अपना वतन खोना पड़ा राजनेतिक जाग्रति और सूझ बूझ के आभाव में, हम सरल स्वाभाव वाले सिंधियों ने अपने अखिल भारतीय गैर सिंधी नेताओं पर आवश्यकता से अधिक विश्वास किया इनके विश्वासघात के परिणाम हम, अब तक भुगत रहे हैं वर्तमान परिस्थितियों के बदलने की शक्ति हम बटोर नहीं पा रहे हैं वास्तव में, शक्ति प्रदर्शन का सही समय भी अभी तक आ नहीं पाया है तब, इस समय, हम क्या करें?
वर्तमान में, आवश्यकता है, अपनी सिंधी पहचान बनाये रखने की अपनी सिंधियत को सुरक्षित रखने की सिंधियत कायम रही तो एक न एक दिन, हम अपनी माता को गैरों की गुलामी से आजाद कराकर ही दम लेंगे इसमें लेश मात्र भी संदेह नहीं है परन्तु यदि सिंधियत ही समाप्त हो गई और अपनी सामाजिक आत्म हत्या करके हम स्थानीय समाज में ही पूरनतया समा गए-घुल गए, तो सारा खेल ख़तम तब तो सर्वनाश निश्चित है
यहूदियों का उदहारण हमारे सम्मुख मशाल का काम कर रहा है- हमे रास्ता दिखा रहा है यहूदियों ने अपनी भूमि को लगभग दो हज़ार वर्षों की लम्बी अवधि के उपरांत पुनः वापस प्राप्त किया इस सफलता के पीछे एक मात्र बड़ा कारण था - यरुशलम को, अपनी याद में संजोये रखना यहूदियों के हर छोटे बडे औरत, मर्द, जवान, बूड़े ने हमेशा अपने धर्म स्थान यरुशलम को दिल में याद रखा
इंशाल्लाह! यहूदियों की भांति हमे दो हज़ार वर्षों तक प्रतीक्षा नहीं करनी पड़ेगी और गहरी नींद से जगाने के लिए हमे किसी हिटलर की आवश्यकता नहीं पड़ेगी बर्शते हम अपनी माता सिंधु की स्मृति को अपने हृदयों में स्थायी रूप से संजोये रख सके
अतः १४ अगस्त को " सिंधु को न भुलाओ दिवस " अथवा " सिंधु को याद रखो दिवस " अथवा " सिंधु स्मृति दिवस " के रूप में मनाना होगा इस दिन, संपूर्ण विश्व में फैले हुए सिंधियों को वह सब करना होगा, जो सिंधु को याद रखने में मदद कर सके- सिंधु की स्मृति संजोये रखने में सहायक बन सके इस उदेश्य की प्राप्ति हेतु, विश्व की सिंधी जनता के सम्मुख, निम्न कार्य बिन्दुओं को प्रस्तुत कर रहा हूँ
1) अखिल भारतीय सिंधी संस्थाओं तथा प्रादेशिक सिंधी संस्थाओं को सिंधु प्रान्त के नक्शे छपवाकर वितरित करने चाहिए, जिनको फ्रेम करवाकर प्रत्येक सिंधी परिवार अपने घर के ड्राइंग रूम टांग दे ताकि छोटे बच्चों और सिंधु से बाहर जन्मे नौजवानों को कोतुहल वश उसके बारे में पूछने और हमे उनको माता सिंधु से परिचित कराने का अवसर मिल सके माता सिंधु की यह तस्वीर न केवल कम आयु के सिंधियों अपितु उन बड़े बूड़ों जिन्होने अपनी माता को बिलकुल भुला दिया है, की सोई हुई आत्माओं को जगाने और उनके हृदयों में जाग्रति का संचार करने में यह तस्वीरें(नक्शे) सहायक सिद्ध होगी वर्ष में कम से कम एक बार, १४ अगस्त के " सिंधु स्मृति दिवस " के अवसर पर इन नक्शों को वितरित करने हेतु प्रत्येक शहर में बड़े पैमाने पर कार्यक्रम आयोजित किये जाने चाहिए
2) १४ अगस्त के " सिंधु स्मृति दिवस " पर सिंधु के संतों, दरवेशों, महापुरषों, महात्माओं, साहित्यकारों, स्वतंत्रता संग्राम सैनानियों, सिंधु के तीर्थस्थानों व पर्यटन केन्द्रों की तस्वीरों आदि की प्रदर्शनिया भी लगायी जानी चाहिए
3)वृद्ध/बुजुर्ग सिंधी जन, जिन्होने अपनी युवा अवस्था सिंधु भूमि में व्यतीत करी, शीर्ण स्वास्थ्य के कारण, अधिक परिश्रम करने की स्थिति में नहीं है परन्तु वे अधेड़ आयु तथा कम आयु के सिंधियों को सिंधु के बारे में जानकारी करा सकते है - मौखिक रूप से, कैसेटों के माध्यम से तथा पुस्तकों के द्वारा पुणे के श्री लोकराम दोदेजा द्वारा लिखी पुस्तक " विसारियो न विसरन, मुहिंजो वतन, मुहिंजा माणहु " इस दिशा में उपयोगी उधाहरण का काम कर सकती है इसी प्रकार की पुस्तकों द्वारा हम अपने नवयुवकों तक सिंधु की जानकारी एवम स्मृति को पहुंचा सकते हैं १४ अगस्त के " सिंधु स्मृति दिवस " के मौके पर सिंधी संस्थाओं द्वारा आम सभाओं तथा गोष्ठियों का आयोजन करना चाहिए, जहाँ वृद्ध सिंधी जनों, विद्वानों, और सिंधु की जानकारी रखने वालों को आमंत्रित किया जाये, इन्हें सम्मानित किया जाये उनके व्याख्यान कराये जाएँ और पेपर पड़वाये जांए इस प्रकार के कार्यक्रम भी सिंधु भूमि की याद को फिर से जगाने में सहायक सिद्ध हो सकते हैं
4) " सिंधु स्मृति दिवस" मनाने हेतु आयोजित सभों में निम्न प्रतिज्ञा पत्र (Pledge) को सामूहिक रूप से पड़ा व दुहराया जाय:-
“में सिंधी हूँ - इस हिंदुस्तान के उस प्रान्त का मूल निवासी, जिसने इस देश को हिंद का नाम दिया वह प्रान्त जो हिंदुस्तान की पवित्र नदी सिंधु नदी के दोनों किनारों पर बसा हुआ है
१४ अगस्त के " सिंधु स्मृति दिवस " के अवसर पर में शपथ लेता हूँ कि में सिंधु भूमि को कभी भी नहीं भुलाऊंगा जबतक सिंधु पराधीनता से मुक्त हो , में सिंधु माता की अमानत अर्थार्त "सिंधियत" को सुरक्षित रखूँगा और इस के लिए:-
i) अपने परिवार के सदस्यों और सभी सिंधियों के साथ केवल सिंधी भाषा में ही वार्तालाप करूंगा
ii) सभी सिंधियों के साथ केवल सिंधी भाषा में ही पत्राचार करूंगा
iii) अपने बच्चों का रिश्ता केवल सिंधियों के साथ करवाऊँगा अति विशेष अपवादों में, गैर सिंधी पुत्रवधु के, घर आने पर, उसे बोलचाल की सिंधी सीखनी होगी
iv) पारिवारिक उत्सवों में सिंधी लोक गीतों (लाडा) और संगीत का आयोजन करवाऊँगा ताकि सिंधी कलचर जीवित रह रखे
v) सभी सिंधी उत्सवों और व्यवहारों को घूम घाम से मनाऊंगा
vi) जहाँ तक संभव होगा अपने बच्चों को सिंधी शिक्षा वाले स्कूलों में प्रवेश दिलवाऊंगा ऐसे स्कूलों के आभाव में बच्चों को १९४७ वाली सिंधी लिपि में सिंधी सिखाने का इंतजाम घर पर ही करवाऊँगा
vii) आपने घर के ड्राइंगरूम में सिंधु का फ्रेम किया हुआ नक्शा तांगूंगा
viii) जीवन में कम से कम एक बार माता सिंधु के दर्शन हेतु तथा सिंधु के तीर्थस्थानों के दर्शनार्थ सिंधु की यात्रा सुनिशिचित करूंगा
ix) सिंधी उपराष्ट्र की एकता एवम हिन्दुस्तानी राष्ट्र की एकता के लिए आवश्यक मूल सिद्धांतों, धर्मं निरपेक्षता, प्रजातंत्र और अहिंसा में पूरा विश्वास रखूंगा
x) १४ अगस्त का “सिंधु स्मृति दिवस " दुःख, दुआ, प्राय्शिचित व मातम का दिन होने के कारण उस एक दिन के लिए शोक और विरोध सूचक काले कपड़े पहनूंगा
कल पंद्रह अगस्त ब्रिटिश साम्राज्य से आजादी पाने का दिवस है कुशियों और उत्सव मानाने का दिन है उस दिन हमे अमर शहीद हेमू कालाणी और अन्य शहीदों को याद करना है परन्तु अमर शहीद हेमू कालाणी के सपनो के भारत का वह भू-भाग, जहाँ उन्होंने जन्म लिया, अभी तक स्वतंत्र नहीं हो पाया है भारत के नक्शे को ध्यान से देखने पर स्पष्ट होगा की भारत माता आजाद है परन्तु उनकी दोनों बाहें अभी भी जंजीरों में जकड़ी हुई हैं अतएव, देश की आजादी अभी अधूरी है इस बात का अहसास न केवल सिंधी जनता को, अपितु अन्य हिन्दुस्तानी कौमों को भी करवाना होगा


जय सिंध ! जय हिंद! जय जगत!

SINDHI SURVIVAL

During last sixty years or so, Sindhis have been dormant politically. Few politicians produced by them were so much dependent upon and obedient to the all India leaders of their respective political parties that they could not assert and were merely meek spectators inspite of activities detrimental and fatal to Sindhis’ existence. While Sindhi congress leaders, with the exception of Dr. Choithram Gidwani always danced to the tune of all India Congress leaders at the cost of Political interests and right of Sindhis, Sindhi Nationalist leaders like G.M. Sayed surpassed even staunch Sindhi Muslim league leaders like M.A. Khuhiro & Pirzada Abdul Sattar in following blindly M.A. Jinnah.
With the result that father of Sindhi nationalism became instrumental in sealing the fate of Sindhis by moving the Pakistan resolution in Sindh Assembly. Although he later regretted his action.
So Sindhi leaders sacrificed their mother Sindh, to please their All India leaders, in their respective political parties.
Partition of India in 1947 culminated into virtual secession of a large chunk of Indian Territory both in west and east, against all cannons of International law, as wishes of the Indian People were never ascertained. There was no referendum. Vote in provincial assembly or constituent assembly is no substitute for referendum, as the members of these bodies were elected not on the sole issue of partition. Whims & ambitions of the top leaders of Muslim League and abject surrender of the top leaders of the Congress are the only reasons of the partition. Two nation theory was never accepted by the majority of the Indian people otherwise there would not have been the emergence of secular India, Bangladesh and ethnic strife torn West Pakistan. So Indian population on both sides of artificial borders drawn in 1947, especially the Sindhi people have not accepted the illegal partition and would be happy if reunification of all the three parts of India takes place.
Original Pakistan plan was to include entire Punjab, entire Bengal and entire Sindh, but the boldness of Punjabi & Bengali Hindu leaders enabled them to get 1/3rd territory of their home provinces in the ratio of Hindu population, while weakness of Sindhi Hindu leaders denied 1/4th territory of Sindh in the ratio of Hindu population, which was 25% of total population of Sindh in 1947. Otherwise, like Indian Punjab and Indian Bengal there would have existed Indian Sindh comprising the districts of Tharparkar, Kuchchh, Barmer, Jaisalmer and Nagaur, where majority of people speak either Sindhi language or some dialect of Sindhi language. The whole holocaust of partition, enabled the Indian Muslims to get their homeland in Pakistan, which ironically could rehabilitate only 40% of them, the 60% of Indian Muslims still remained in their native places in remaining Indian Territory. But almost entire population of Indian Sindhis, were doomed to exodus-to wander in vast land of partitioned-India, like vagabond & Banjaras. Speakers of all fourteen Indian languages have been given their own homes in form of linguistic provinces, but speakers of fifteenth Indian language i.e. Sindhis have been denied this fundamental right. They are asked to treat entire India as their home. “Rahne Ko Ghar Nahin Hai – Sara Hindustan Hamara – Sara Jahan Hamara”
Sindhi people like their brothers, speaking other Indian languages, would strive to achieve the goal of Sindhi linguistic province or Union Territory within the present political boundaries of India, till their original home province of Sindh is restored to them either by Indian reunification or otherwise. In compact linguistic province comprising the districts of Tharparkar, Kuchchh, Barmer, Jaisalmer and Nagaur, they will be taking all aspects of life seriously, instead of only money making. Presently, Indian Sindhis are almost nil in administration, politics, and agriculture, insignificant in art, literature and culture, while considerable in trade, commerce and fashion culture. But official patronage in their own province is bound to change this imbalance and force them to grow in all fields in a balanced way. They would regain their self respect as equal partners with other linguistic provinces of Indian Union.

INDIAN SINDHIS- Neglected Linguistic Entity

Over half a century has passed, when we migrated from our native Sindh province, due to Indian Partition.
Sindhi Hindus have always been a neglected lot in national life, although they are filled upto brim, with Indian nationalism and Patriotism. Perhaps, their unflinched faith in Indian national leaders of the time, prevented them to raise voice against the injustice of discrimination, which played havoc with their interests, their fundamental rights and their very existence as Sindhis.
Thirteen lakh Sindhi Hindus, forming 1/4th population of Sindh in 1947, were always taken for granted & were never consulted even in the matters vitally affecting them. Their wishes were not ascertained, while accepting partition of India, converting them, over-nightly, into “Aliens” in their own home land. While Punjabi & Bengali Hindus were given 1/3rd territory of their home province, in the ratio of Hindu population, Sindhi Hindus were denied 1/4th territory of Sindh in ratio of Hindu population, which was 25% population of Sindh in 1947. Radcliff Commission was appointed only for Punjab and Bengal, although all the three provinces Punjab, Bengal and Sindh were Muslim majority provinces. Justice was thrown towards Wind, again, when different yardsticks were adopted in two similar situations. Entire Assam was Hindu majority province except SYLHET district, which was Muslim majority. Similarly, entire Sindh was Muslim majority province except THARPARKAR district which was Hindu majority district, While SYLHET district was given to Pakistan after holding a Plebiscite/referendum, this right was denied to the people of Tharparkar. Indian Sindhis thus lost their right over the only Hindu majority district of Sindh. Otherwise, like Indian Punjab & Indian Bengal there would have emerged Indian Sindh comprising the districts of Tharparkar, Kutch, Barmer, Jaisalrmer & Nagaur, where majority of people speak either Sindhi language or some dialect of Sindhi language. This act of discrimination with the Sindhis was repeated in 1956 when India was reorganized on linguistic basis. While speakers of all fourteen Indian languages were given their homes in the form of linguistic provinces, Speakers of fifteenth Indian language i.e. Sindhis were denied this fundamental right. The Sindhi speaking territory was allowed to be divided between two neighbouring provinces of Gujarat & Rajasthan. Scores of provinces and Uniion territories with full fledged assemblies were created even after 1956, on the basis of language and ethnicity, but Indian Sindhis were again ignored. Perhaps our national leaders were waiting for some violent agitation on the pattern of Darjeeling & Jharkhand & Bodoland movements.
Honestly speaking, our national leadership does not feel any need for caring about interests of Indian Sindhis. As their attention is drawn only when there is violent agitation or prospects in election are affected adversely. The haphazard rehabilitation of migrant Sindhis & consequent widest dispersal throughout the length & breath of India have rendered them in to microscopic minority everywhere, so no election constituency in India threatens politician’s prospects in election adversely.
Secondly, national leadership which is virtually non-Sindhi breed, consider all the Indian Sindhis, well settled & rich people, requiring no attention. They perhaps do not know that only 5% of Indian Sindhis come under the category of rich people. Almost 5% are below poverty line and rest 90% either belong to lower middle class (70%) and upper middle class (20%).

SHORT STORY OF SINDHIS

If you look into the political maps of India, printed between 1935 and 1947, you would find a small province of eight districts, on the western tip, called Sind or Sindh. The natives of this province are known as Sindhis, whose mother tongue is Sindhi language, whatever be their religion & place of present inhabitance.
In this small article, I would be telling the story of these Sindhis­­ ---------------- story of suffering silently & story of betrayal by their own countrymen, their own compatriots. Who for half century shouted at top of their voice – “Bharat Mata ki Jai”, but on one black fourteenth mid-night of August, 1947, agreed to murder this very “Bharat Mata” by cutting her into three pieces.
Sindhis, thereby, became foreigners in the lap of their own mother, as SHE herself was thrown to wolves. Never before in the history of world, had people seen the replacement and displacement of masses. They had seen the ouster of Kings and “Rajas” only, but not of their subjects – their “Praja”.
Sindhis were, thus, ousted from their hearths and homes, for no fault of theirs to live the lives of ‘KHANABADOSHS’ in the vast ocean like land of partitioned India.
Now, let us read the story of discrimination. India was partitioned to provide home for Indian Muslims, Punjab was partitioned to provide home for Punjabi Hindus, Bengal was partitioned to provide home for Bengali Hindus but Sindh was not partitioned to deny home for Sindhi Hindus. Nobody cared to know their wishes. Nobody even bothered to respect their right of self-determination. There was referendum in N.W.F.P., but not in Sindh. There was referendum in the sole Muslim majority district of Sylhet in the Hindu majority province of Assam, but no referendum in the sole Hindu majority district of Tharparkar in the muslim majority province of Sindh.
Sindhis were, thus, doomed to live the lives of ‘REFUGEES’ till eternity.
Then, started the story of struggle-------struggle for existence, struggle for sustenance, struggle for bread, struggle for resettlement in unknown pastures. Sindhis by dint of diligence & business acumen succeeded to defeat the odds and solved to a great extent, their economic problems, but at what cost? At the cost, which cannot be calculated. At the cost of their four thousand year old culture, at the cost of their rich language, at the cost of their ownself, at the cost of their ‘IDENTITY’.
Sindhis thus became ‘PAUPERS’ in their skyscrapers. To sum up, I would narrate the story in present tense----the current story. This is the story of aloofness from mainstream of national life, story of their de-recognition by national leadership, story of their virtual write off.
Fifty lakhs Sindhis, living within the borders of partitioned India, have hardly any representation in the numerous democratic institutions. Their voice never reaches to the ears of those who are at the helm of affairs. National press hardly take notice of their seminars, their conferences, their cultural activities or their praiseworthy role in building Indian economy and past glorious role in Indian freedom struggle.
Radio and Television, has no time to spare for Sindhi speaking citizens, as they have to divide the working time among national and provincial programmes. How can they accommodate Sindhi programme, which is neither national nor provincial?
“APNA UTSAV” can include ‘Utsavs’ of all the twenty eight provincial cultures and few Union territory cultures, but not the ex-provincial culture of Sindhis.
Republic Day parade in the national capital depicts the ‘Jhankis’ of all small and big Indian nationalities minus Sindhi nationality. So Sindhis are completely ignored.
These circumstances produce the real danger of the extinction of Sindhi species, like Red Indians of America.
Nation is concerned for preserving the ‘Gir Lions’. Nation is concerned for preserving wild life species. Nation is concerned for preserving French culture in Pondicherry and Portugees culture in Goa. But nation is unconcerned for the preservation of the oldest national culture, that is, the culture of the natives of Mohan-Jo-Daro.
So, Sindhis have no alternate but to awake from long slumber and depend on themselves to achieve their due place in the national mainstream.
The beginning of the end of all stories would be to resettle at the feet of our own mother, who is languishing in the dingy cell of prison, ever since her own mother, the ‘Bharat Mata’ was assassinated in 1947. The place I indicate is the soil of Kutchh, adjoining our native land, who native inhabitants speak the language, which is the only dialect of Sindhi language. This is the place, where voice of river Sindh is audible. This is the place, where Sindhis can hear the voice of their enslaved mother. This is the only Sindhi speaking territory in entire partitioned India.

INDIAN SINDHIS AND NATIVE SINDH

We are Sindhis. Sindh is our Mother province, who gave us the name – Sindhi. We are dead, the moment we forget Sindh, treating her as alien land. If we want to be alive, we should never get detached from the roots. Mahatma Gandhi also has said this in following words, inscribed on the walls of Mahatma Gandhi’s native home at Porbandar :-
“Jab hum mool se juda hote hain, tab marte hain. Yeh nahin ki aatma se sharer juda hota hai tab”
No other people, with the sole exception of Indian Parsis, have ever accepted their exile so easily, so permanently, as we Sindhis have. Jews didn’t forget Jerusalem even after wilderness of four thousand years and ultimately succeeded in getting back their homeland of Jerusalem & Israel. Palestinians under the leadership of P.L.O and Yasser Arafat struggled to get their homeland back.
No mother can be alien to her sons, whether they live with her or live elsewhere. We Sindhis, whether we live in Sindh, or in other provinces of India, or live in other overseas countries, can never and should never forget our native Sindh.
It is a fact of history that we Sindhi Hindus have not accepted the partition by our hearts. It was thrust on us and there was no alternative but to suffer till opportune time. Fortunately, Sindhi Muslims also withdrew their recognition and fought for throwing the yoke of theocratic State of Pakistan, under the very leadership of G.M. Sayed, who incidentally, was the mover of Pakistan Resolution in Sindh Assembly.
Sindh sub-nation, consisting of Sindhi Muslims and Sindhi Hindus is, therefore, unanimously determined to remove the cruel effects of partition. The de-recognition of Pakistan ideology by Sindhi Muslims has removed the only irritant between Sindhi Hindus and Sindhi Muslims. We Indian Sindhis, must therefore endeavour to forget and forgive and should strengthen the bonds of friendship and brotherhood between two sets of Sindhis, forced by circumstances to live separately on either side of man made artificial political border. It is a fact that even now there exist communal elements in the Sindhi Muslims, but then Sindhi Hindus also have communal elements among them. It is however, the need of hour to ignore such negligible communal elements and strengthen the saner and secular predominant block, for the sake of sacred duty towards our native land Sindh.
It is relevant to mention that like us, they are also worried about the future of “Sindhiyat”. To keep alive the “Sindhiyat” would, therefore, be the common endeveour and common objective for the two sets of Sindhi people. With the passing away of older generation and adverse effect of non-Sindhi surroundings here, Indian Sindhis are fast loosing their grip over Sindhi language; Sindhi literature; Sindhi Art; Sindhi Culture; Sindhi way of life and other aspects of sindhiyat. People to people contacts by way of seminars, conferences, debates and arranged tours/pilgrimages etc. are bound to arrest this trend of loosing oneself; our face; our identity; our Sindhiyat. Their Sindhiyat is comparatively safer, as they have got the advantage of living in the lap of mother Sindh and their connection, with the roots is still intact. It is, therefore, vital and more advantageous for Indian Sindhis to refresh their memories by contacts with people of Sindh. We, Indian Sindhis, are therefore to take initiative and not to miss any opportunity for people to people contacts, cooperation and coordination in all fields.
Fortunately, we have got scholars like Dr. Satish Rohra and Lakhmi Khilani, who have established Institute of Sindhology in Adipur, which is bound to emerge as Sindhi University in course of time. They can start and maintain contacts with similar institutes of Sindh for better coordination and quick results. It is my earnest hope that such mutual cooperation and coordination between like minded Sindhi scholars and men of vision, would ultimately succeed in purifying our Sindhi language, which of late, has become out of Sindhi shape and naturality, with the unnecessary and extensive use of Hindi/Sanskrit words in this side and similar heavy use of Urdu/Persian/Arabic words on that side of the border. They say, they are enriching the language by such use. But the problem is that by such transformation, our language and literature is not easily understood by the masses there, and similarly their literature/language looks strange even to educated Sindhis here. Certainly such enrichment doesn’t bring the two sets of Sindhis nearer and hence it is despicable for larger objective in view.
Sindhi Women Forum “Marvi” of Veena Shringi in New Delhi is another organization which is doing commendable job of people to people contact by organizing literary seminars where literary figures on both sides of the artificial border, come in contact and enrich each other’s knowledge about our great national poets; Shah Abdul Latif, Sachal, Sami. This is bound to erase the bitter memories of black communal period of 1946-47. I would suggest that this organization should also start cooperation and coordination with the similar Sindhi women organization having similar name”Marvi forum” of Ershad Qamar, based in Karachi.
Akhil Bharat Sindhi Boli and Sahit Sabha and other all India literary organizations can similarly establish contacts with literary organizations of Sindh for better results in the objective of the enrichment of Sindhi literature.
If problems of Sindhis all over the world are to be solved and if Sindhi sub-nation is to regain its lost glory, we have to bring all public workers belonging to three sets of Sindhi people – Sindhis of Sindh, Sindhis of present Hind and overseas Sindhis on single powerful platform.
I am quite confident that we would be able to shed our individualistic approach; our personal egos; our ambitions and our old prejudices for the sake of wider cause of Sindhi unity, which is essential for the very survival and gradually regaining lost glory of Sindhis and their beloved native land Sindh.

POLITICAL RIGHTS OF SINDHIS

All Indian Citizens, irrespective of cast, creed and nationality are equal, as far as political rights enshrined in the constitution are concerned.
But in actual practice, the Indian nationalities who have territorial base within present political boundaries of Indian Republic, are more equal than those who have no territorial base. Over Fifty lakh Indian Sindhis belong to this latter category of Indian nationalities.
Their scattered re-settlement after the tragic partition in 1947 has reduced them into a microscopic minority in every state and in every parliamentary constituency. They have therefore, become orphans as far as their political rights are concerned. Because they are unable to send their political representatives to democratic Institutions, whether it be village Panchayat, Muncipal Board, Zila Parishad, State assembly or Parliament.
Over a crore people are thus practically “Dead citizens” as far as Democratic life of the “Republic” is concerned.
“Government of people, for the people and by the people” the lofty definition of Democracy propounded by Abraham Lincoln has therefore no meaning what-so-ever, for these unfortunate Indian citizens, whose voice doesn’t reach the corridors of power. The present stateless disposition has crippled them so much that they are no better than “Zinda Lashes” – “Alive Corpses”.
Fifty Lakh Indian Sindhis can therefore play their full life-role in Indian polity, if, and only if they manage to have territorial base within Indian Union.
There are two other alternatives before them : One, to liberate their native Sindh. Two, to commit cultural suicide by submerging in the ocean of native cultures and loose their five thousand year old Sindhi Identity. But even this humiliating course in not easy and instant, if the experiment of Parsi people is any guide.
There is no other permanent solution towards the goal of achieving Political rights. Reservation of seats in Assemblies and parliament can only be an eye-wash and poor consolation.
The only effective alternate under the present circumstances is to merge with the “Identical” native identities of the people living in the territory comprising of four vast districts of Kutch, Jalore, Barmer and Jaisalmer. It is the sole compact landmass, where spoken language of the natives, according to eminent Linguistic experts, is the dialect of Sindhi language. It is therefore defacto Sindhi territorial base, whatever be the present political status.

INDIAN SINDHIS – PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Over sixty two years ago, on a BLACK Fourteenth August, owing to dismemberment of United India and forcible conversion of sufi-secular Sindh into part of theocratic State of Pakistan, Sindhis were compelled to disperse and settle in every nook and corner of remaining Indian territory.
While leaving behind, their hearth and home in their Mother Province, Sindhis believed that new Indian Dominion would be a well knit entity, divided only into administrative units. They dreamt to be full members of an egalitarian Indian Society, where they would be equal partners to shape the destiny of new Indian nation, without distinction of origin, region, caste, creed and sub nationality.
But, alas, their hopes were shattered to pieces. With the creation of linguistic provinces, ‘MOTHER INDIA’ became ‘GRAND MOTHER INDIA’ – Assam, Bengal, Punjab, Gujrat etc. playing the role of MOTHERS of respective child communities residing there. In this sordid step of disunity (enthusiastically called Diversity), while every other national community got her mother, physically present, ‘Mother Sindh’ found her place only in National Anthem. Sindh child, thus became orphan for time indefinite. This was second time in single century, Sindhis stood betrayed.
In retrospect, during pre-independence period, Sindhis trusted national leadership for taking care of their interests. In fact, they never thought in terms of parochialism, regionalism and communalism. They considered themselves Indian first and Sindhis last. They could never foresee, even in their remotest thoughts, that this selfless idealism, would bring disastrous results in the form of truncated Independent India- throwing their own mother to wolves – their wholesale exile and slavery for their compatriots, left in Sindh.
Post – partition period i.e. past six decades, for Indian Sindhis narrates the unpublished story of their heroic struggle against all odds, struggle for resettlement – nay for existence with self respect intact. They started from scratch – homeless and penniless as they were.
Today, by the dint of sheer enterprise and miraculous business acumen, the Sindhi Community in India is one of the prosperous communities – yet homeless-motherless and isolated. They are earning millions worth Materialistic wealth, but loosing billions worth treasure of five thousand years old language, culture, literature and civilization. They are owners of skyscraper buildings, yet they are virtually paupers, as they have no land, which they can call their own, as, their home is, where they live. Sindhi Hindus now live in over 75 countries, yet they feel homeless like Palestinian Arabs, like Tibetans in India, in absence of any self governed territory.
But, what they can do to liberate their motherland. Being patriotic, they cannot do anything which may cause embarrassment to Indian National Leadership. They can only hope that one day, their unmatched sacrifices and selfless patriotism would be recognized and concrete steps would be taken to safeguard their linguistic, cultural, economic and political interests. This would be possible only when echo of their voice reaches in the corridors of power, through their representatives in various parliamentary forums like Municipal Corporations, Zila Parishad, State Assemblies, State Councils, Parliament and Cabinets. But, it is well…. nigh Impossible to send their representatives in good numbers, at-least in proportion to their population. Firstly, because Sindhis are scattered and secondly because of Indian Society being ridden with castism, communalism, parochialism and regionalism.
The only alternative is to accord it, the status of ‘National Minority’ and to reserve adequate seats in various parliamentary forums, in proportion to their population.
Besides, it may also be advisable to establish one Central Sindhi Assembly at any place having considerable Sindhi population, like Gandhidham (Gujrat), Ajmer (Rajasthan) or Ulhasnagar (Maharashtra). This assembly will be elected on the basis of adult franchise by the entire population of Indian Sindhi community, at the rate of one member per twenty five thousand Sindhi voters or part thereof. But unlike other State Assemblies, it will only be a sort of debating forum, passing resolutions, pertaining to entire gamut of problems faced by Sindhis – linguistic, cultural, economic, political etc., all over India. These resolutions would be forwarded to concerned governments, state and central, for implementation.
This arrangement although does not fulfill the legitimate aspirations of Sindhi community, but atleast, would give them a sense of participation in the democratic main stream of Indian Polity, from which it has been lying cut off, for all these years, since Independence. This would further consolidate the solidarity of Indian Nation.

SINDHI RESOLUTION

We, the Indian Sindhis who came to this country, after the tragic partition of India, strongly feel that we all have made supreme sacrifices and lost our homeland – Sindh for the sake of freedom of the country. We further reiterate that we fifty lakh Sindhis, who are scattered all over the country, have been reduced to a negligible minority in every state. As a result of this, we have been confronted with many serious problems in cultural, educational, literary, social and political fields, threatening our very existence as a distinct cultural and linguistic entity.
Our sad experience is that Central Government as well as State governments have completely ignored the cultural, literary and educational aspirations of the Indian Sindhis for its development in cultural and educational fields. At times, there has been even apathy to the legitimate and genuine grievances of the Sindhi Community.
Such casual attitude towards the Sindhi community is motivated primarily because Sindhi community does not possess political clout to influence the corridors of power. As we do not form a vote bank at any particular place, we are unable to elect our own person from any electoral constituency either for Lok Sabha or for any State Assembly, who could effectively voice our genuine grievances and difficulties, from such democratic forums.
It is a painful reality that over fifty lakh people who inherit a hoary past, who have fully identified themselves with national mainstream, who are enlightened and are fully conscious of their national duties, go unrepresented in the collective community sense, in this great democracy. Our only ‘SIN’ is that we have lost our homeland for the sake of freedom of our beloved Indian nation. On the other hand the political reality in India is that other linguistic communities smaller than Sindhis inhabitating Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim etc. whose population ranges from half a million to a million, enjoy full and separate political status; have full-fledged democratic forums in form of legislative assemblies and are represented in august body of our Parliament.
It is thus only the Sindhi community, which stands to suffer. No democracy is worth the name, if it denies a civilized and enlightened community of more than five million people, the right of being adequately represented by its own electoral representatives. Failure to provide equal participation in the political affairs of the country to the Sindhi community, because of its peculiar and unfortunate circumstances, amounts to negation of the principles of political rights to all citizens, as envisaged in the constitution of the nation.
We, therefore, are of the firm opinion that the Sindhi community be constitutionally declared and given status of a Special Linguistic Minority. To ensure such a status and to accord the Sindhi community to exercise political rights with a sense of equality and dignity, we demand the following specific measures to be adopted by the Central government:-
1. Six seats, one each from the states of Maharashtra, Gujrat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh be reserved in LOK SABHA for the Sindhi community by making a suitable amendment in the constitution;
2. On the basis of the same principle, a constitutional provision may also be made for the reservation of some seats for the Sindhi community in the legislative assemblies of the six of the above states, depending on the proportion of population of Sindhis in each of the above states;
3. At least one outstanding public figure from the Sindhi community be nominated on the legislative Council of each of the above states. A provision to this effect may also be made in the constitution.
4. At least one outstanding public figure from the Sindhi community be nominated on the Rajya Sabha to represent the cultural and literary interests of the Sindhi linguistic minority.

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HOME WITHIN HOME

“You might have lost your home, but remember that the whole of India is your home”.
These were the words of the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to Indian Sindhis, while inaugurating the first World Sindhi Conference in New Delhi in October’83.
Yes, India is our home, nay, whole of the world is our home. After all we are the descendents of those, who propagated the gospel of “Vasudhav Kutambkam”.
Yet, this “VASUDHA” bears the existence of more than hundred nations with well defined boundaries and enforcing rigid laws of nationality, passport, visa etc.
Similarly, “Indian Nation” is divided into more than two dozen sub-nations, known as provinces and Union territories, symbolizing the “Homes” for Punjabis, Bangalis, Gujratis, Tamilians, Nagas, Mizos etc. Even foreign linguistic group like French have been given their “HOMES” in the shape of Union territory of Pondichery.
Briefly speaking, almost every linguistic and cultural group has been provided with “Home within larger home of “Mother India” and still larger home of “Mother Earth”.
There appears, therefore no justification for more than fifty lakh Indian Sindhis, to remain without “Home” similar to other linguistic and cultural groups as described above. After all , what sin have we Sindhis committed as to be denied the right of safe guarding our sub-national identity, by preventing the fast eclipse of our language, culture, customs and way of life? Perhaps, the only sin committed by us, is to have unflinching faith in our national leadership, all these years.
In retrospect, we blindly believed the words of the father of nation that partition of ‘Mother India’ would take place only over his dead body. We could never, even in our dreams, imagine that solemn assurance of the father of nation, would be disregarded by his political followers, during his life time itself, throwing our own mother Sindh to the wolves and allowing thereby our own home the soil of Sindh, to be occupied by the usurpers and political desperadoes.
We became so much complacent by having so much faith in our national leadership that we did not care to demand the logical alternate namely bifurcation of Sindh province, on the analogy of Punjab and Bengal – the other two provinces affected by the calamity of 1947. It is now no secret that original plan of partition was, to lose whole of Punjab and Bengal like Sindh, but effective voice raised by the Hindu leaders belonging to these provinces, prevented the mischief and they succeeded in retaining their “Homes”.
There was third alternate also before our so called Sindhi leaders of the time. That was, to demand plebiscite in the only Hindu majority district of Tharparkar, on the analogy of plebiscite held in only muslim majority district of Sylhet in Assam.
The result of such plebiscite would undoubtedly, have given this large district of Sindh to us along with princely state of Kutchh and other areas adjoining to Tharparkar, would have succeeded in creating, the Indian Province of south Sindh on the analogy of East Punjab and West Bengal.
But, there is no use now to blame anyone – neither our national leadership nor so called Sindhi leaders of that time. However this lapse, this wrong committed sixty two years ago, cannot and must not be allowed to assume perpetuity. We badly need some territory – howsoever small; howsoever marshy; howsoever arid; where we can preserve our culture, our language, our sub-national identity. It will obviously be contiguous to Sindh-bordering Sindh-whose folk lore, whose native people, may be nearest to us.
Fortunately, with the declaration of Kutchhy as ninth dialect of sindhi language by the legally constituted government commission, we have succeeded in identifying the territory for the proposed Sindhi province of south Sindh, which already does exist defacto, being the only sindhi speaking territory within the present political boundaries of India.
When we talk of the idea of Sindhi province in Kutchh, some of our own people dismiss it as impossibility, by citing the example of late Bhai Pratap’s project of Gandhidham, which in their opinion, proved to be a complete failure.
This erroneous surmise is perhaps based on ignorance of facts. Late Bhai Pratap wanted to establish a new township near seaport of Kandla to save his fellow sindhi refugees from the appalling condition of refugee camps, established hurriedly for large scale and unexpected influx of refugees. Secondly, he wanted to develop Kandla Port on the lines of Karachi port. For these purposes, he requested father of nation, who very kindly persuaded Maharao of Kutchh State, to donate 15529 acres of land near Kandla, where a beautiful twin cities of Kandla - Gandhidham has been established.
It was never his objective to establish Sindhi Pradesh, nor was it conceivable to accommodate entire sub-nation of 13 lakhs (population of Sindhi Hindus at the time of partition) in an area measuring 15 thousand & odd acres of land, comprising one town only, completely. It is however true, that full capacity of even this single town was not utilized by the Sindhis. Many who went there and got good pacca dwelling units, returned back in the absence of the means of livelihood. After all they were not expected to eat walls and roofs. The means of the livelihood could have been provided by the capitalists and industrialists among Sindhis, who did not turn up there, in sufficient numbers, in the absence of adequate publicity, opportune planning and emotional urge. For them, in absence of emotional appeal, there was no difference between Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad & Gandhidham.
But even if we presume that Bhai Pratap wanted to establish sindhi province in Kutchh and he failed miserably, we must understand that there is vast difference in forties and present times. One complete decade after the black year of 1947, was necessarily to be spent on struggle for individual survival, search for livelihood and re-establishment of our moorings. During the second decade, when our intellectual leadership found that our language, literature and culture is decaying fast, they thought that perhaps recognition of our language and its inclusion in eighth schedule may arrest this tendency. They tried and succeeded in getting language included in the eighth schedule of the Indian Constitution. Next four decades have been spent to see the effects and results of the inclusion of our language in the constitution.
We now find that the situation, so far as the condition of our language & literature is concerned has hardly improved. All the intellectuals, except few short sighted ones, are now unanimous that regional base is essentially vital, to save our language and literature. Some form of compulsion and/or temptation is necessary for the parents to send their wards for learning sindhi language. This is true in case of other languages also. We find that practically in all the provinces, knowledge of local language has been made compulsory for getting jobs. In the absence of such temptation in case of sindhi language, parents in general are reluctant to put extra burden over their children.
The fate of such people, where members of young blood cannot read and write in their mother tongue, can well be imagined. If the situation does not change, our sindhi language would cease to be people language and would come in category of ancient languages like Sanskrit, Pali and Latin.
So, it is now the question of life and death for we Sindhis. Our very survival as Sindhis is at stake. A consensus is therefore, gradually emerging that we should have also our own linguistic province/union territory like other Indians. Doubts and dissenting voices are murmured only by those who do not want to disturb their individual peace of mind and long slumber for the cause, which will only benefit sindhi sub-nation as a whole and not to them individually. This individualistic approach, they have become habitual of, for the last six decades or so, is preventing them, to raise their voices and to do efforts for achieving the goal.
Many Sindhis belonging to this category often ask “How can Sindhis re-settled after sixty two years of hard labour, afford to wind up their establishments and proceed to the promised province, even if the goal is achieved?” The question would appear to be irrelevant, once we consider the whole plan in proper perspective.
The de-jure recognition of sindhi province of south Sindh does not depend on the wholesale migration of Sindhis from other parts of India. There is no need for all the Sindhis to leave their places of residence, as the entire India is our bigger home.
We know that all Punjabis do not live in Punjab, nor all the Bengalis in Bengal. Before partition even all the Sindhis did not use to live in Sindh. Their permanent homes were in Sindh, but they used to measure entire globe, in connection with business, trade and commerce, being one of the most enterprising communities of India.
In fact, Kutchh although sparsely populated and hence capable of accommodating the entire sindhi community, is an under developed region. It may not, therefore afford to bear the burden of all immigrant Sindhis. Only those Sindhis, who have extra capital to invest can install new industries in this under-developed region, must be persuaded to come forward with or without immigration. But nothing should be done to disturb the rural culture of the native Sindhis (appropriate word for Kutchhis). They are supposed to help in raising the living standards of local native Sindhis and win their hearts. At any cost there should not be any discrimination between native Sindhis and immigrant Sindhis, as far as employment is concerned.
Overseas Sindhis and big capitalists of Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi and Ahmedabad, can play a pivotal role in this direction, who can be persuaded to open at least one branch of their firms in Kutchh area. Due to pioneering work of late Bhai Pratap we have already a nucleus for industrial & commercial centre in and around Kandla, which can be further developed as hub of commercial and industrial activities of Sindhis.
We must now pay our attention for establishing nuclei for culture, language and other aspects of sindhology. Lakhpat town in Kutchh, where our holy river Sindhu, used to fall in Sindh sea (Arabian sea as it is known popularly) till 1850, can be developed for this purpose. We have “Narayansar” near this town, which can be popularized like Rishikesh by opening an Ashram for old, infirms and retired Sindhis, on the pattern of “Swarg Ashram” of Rishikesh.
Sindhi University, on the pattern of Punjabi University of Patiala, can also be established in this area to make it a hub of sindhi intellectual activities.
Since Hindus among native Sindhis (i.e. Kutchhis) are also devotees of Jhulelal, it would be advisable to open more and more Jhulelal Mandirs with the help of native Sindhis, to forge integration of native and immigrant Sindhis.
Above are some of the details of the detailed plan, which cannot be contained in toto, within the preview of this small article.
The purpose of this article is to create and consolidate sindhi public opinion and prompt sindhi intellectuals to come forward, discuss and form an organization, which may not be aligned to any political party. It would be a forum of selfless and devoted Sindhis, who are prepared to subscribe to an ideology, consisting of following fundamental principles:-
1. Firm belief in the principles of genuine secularism, democracy and non-violence.
2. Firm belief in the one-ness & territorial integrity of Indian-Geographical-Nation whose boundaries, are spread from Himalayas in north, to the Indian Ocean in south; from Arakan jungles in east to Hindukush in west.
3. Firm belief in one-ness of sindhi sub-nation within great Indian-Geographical-Nation, irrespective of Sindhis present place of residence, caste, creed, money-status etc. It includes Kutchhy sindhis as well.
4. Firm belief in the justness of the demand of Indian Sindhis, regarding creation of Sindhi speaking province/union territory in the former princely state of Kutchh to be named as South Sindh, on the analogy of West Bengal and East Punjab.
This organization should have following programme:-
1. To demand creation of union territory of Kutchh with separate Assembly and Lt. Governor on the pattern of Pondichery, with Gandhidham as its capital.
2. To demand special allocation of funds for the agricultural development and for solving the problem of water shortage in the proposed territory.
3. To demand establishment of Sindhi University in the region.
4. To demand facilities for sindhi pilgrims to visit religious places like Sadhu Bela, Zindah Pir etc, in north Sindh.
5. To establish National Bank of south Sindh with branches all over India to mobilize savings of Sindhis to be utilized for the re-settlement of sindhis in the promised province.
6. To persuade Sindhi capitalists all over the world, for investment in the proposed province by installing new industries and/or opening branches of their existing firms.
7. To assist Sindhis, desirous of settling in Kutchh with the help of Sindh resettlement Corporation, which already exists in Gandhidham.

With malice towards none and unflinching confidence that our demand is justified on the basis of equality of all Indian communities before Indian Constitution, if we work hard with missionary zeal, I have no doubt that we would be able to achieve our goal, someday, however late it maybe.

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