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