Sir George Greirson A.C.I.E., D.lit., Ph.D, I.C.S. besides being an Administrative Officer in the undivided India, was an eminent scholar of Literature & Linguistics. He authored the book “Linguistic Survey of India” after detailed survey of all the Indian languages of the times of undivided India. He has outlined the geographical boundaries of all these languages, including SINDHI LANGUAGE. The author being a senior officer of the revenue department, this book has the authenticity equivalent to that of Government Gazette.
Remember! The political boundaries, being man made are frequently disturbed, but the geographical boundaries, created by nature, seldom vary. These borders alter only once or twice in a century, by natural calamities like severe earthquakes, etc. The geographical boundaries are therefore virtually permanent. Hence, the Sindhi Linguistic Territory (S.L.T.) bounded by the geographical borders and gifted by God’s nature, belongs to Sindhis and shall always belong to Sindhis till eternity.
Unfortunately, because of greater love for money compared to the love for soil and agriculture, We Sindhis have become “Wealthy Vagabonds” – “Migratory Millioners” – “Kharabpati Khanabadosh” always roaming in search of wealth, throughout the length and breadth of the Globe.
But, how long shall we be wandering like “Khanabadosh”! After all, how long!!
Let, all Sindhis of different varieties – Sindhis of Sindh; Sindhis of hind; Non-Resident Sindhis of the rest of the world; Hindu-Muslim-Sikh-Chirstian Sindhis; may know about the geographical borders of the territory of their Mother-Father tongue – The Sindhi language.
According to Sir Greirson and other experts, besides the standard literary form used in reading & writing, each language has another form, used in speaking only. This spoken form of language called “DIALECT”; varies after every 50-60 miles. For example, Maithly, Bhojpuri, Awadhi, bundeli, Brijbasha, Haryanvi, Garhwali etc, are dialects of the Hindi language.
As per “Linguistic Survey of India”, following are the dialects of the Sindhi language:-
1. Utradi(Siro) : In Northen Sindh
2. Vicholi : In Central Sindh known as SAHITI Area
3. Ladhi : In Southern Sindh known as LADH Area
4. Thari : In THARPARKAR district
5. Datki, Thali, Thareli : In Jaisalmer, Barmer & Jalore districts of India
6. Kachchhi : In Kuchchh district of India
7. Lasi or Laasi : In LASBELA and KALAT area of Balochistan
8. Saraiki : In Multan & Bhawalpur areas of Pakistan
The Map of above Sindhi Linguistic Territory (S.L.T.) is being prepared and would be soon available for the perusal of the Sindhi people of the World.
To start with, let us make a comprehensive appraisal of the Indian part of the geographical S.L.T.:-
Two former princely states of Jaisalmer & Kuchchh and only two districts Barmer & Jalore of the former princely state of Jodhpur, comes within this territory. The total area of this S.L.T. is 47011.4 square miles as per following details:-
1. : Jaisalmer 14,994.7 sq. miles
2. : Barmer 10,878.2 sq. miles
3. : Jalore 4078.5 sq. miles
4. : Kuchchh 17,060.0 sq. miles
Total 47,011.4 sq. miles
The Rajasthan canal, Narmada barrage & other schemes have now solved the acute problem of water scarcity. The technical assistance from Israel has helped in plantation of greenery within the desert area. Successful oil & natural gas exploration, has given flip to the tremendous economic development of this region, increasing thereby, the employment avenues. If our “Migratory Millioners” invest adequately, this region can compete with Dubai & other gulf countries in all round development, to turn this territory into most modern habitat like DUBAI. The major cities of S.L.T. are well connected with rest of India by Air services, highway transport and Broad gauge rail lines.
The development of Kandla port, Mundra Port, Gandhidham, Adipur & Bhuj would transform the entire coastal territory of Kuchchh into “Commercial Capital” like Karachi.
Remember! The entire arid territory of Gandhidham complex was legally handed over to Sind Resettlement Corporation of Late Bhai Pratap, by the then Maha Rao of Kuchchh princely state. The development of this region is the shining example of “Sindhi Purusharth”
Recently, land around Narayan Sar, Koteshwar and Lakhpat has been allotted for establishing Sindhi Pilgrim city, by constructing Grand Temple of our deity Puj Jhulelal.
Remember! Our holy river Sindhu, used to fall in the sea at this very place of Narayan Sar, an ancient pilgrimage center, where Sindhi Pilgrims used to come from Sindh on foot. Later on due to series of earth quakes, Sindhu changed its course to merge into sea at Keti Bandar of Karachi. But, experts predict that our holy river Sindhu may come back to its original course, after natural geographical changes. If nature helps, we would be able to perform all religious customs like “JANEOO Ceremony”, “Asthi-visarjan”, “Pind daan” etc in proposed Sindhi Pilgrim city along with holy Haridwar. Even now the Brahmins & ‘pooja samagiri’ etc are available for ‘Puja path’ etc. Nevertheless, surrounding area of this Sindhi Pilgrim city, would gradually develop into the Cultural Capital.
Narration of above facts does not indicate any political agenda. We merely want to save our “Sindhiyat” & for this sole objective, we want to use this area as “Plantation Nursery” wherein the “Small plant of Sindhiyat”, detached from Sindh, shall grow due to similar soil & similar climatic conditions.
Many eminent Sindhi Scholars, late Uttam Thakur, late Parso Gidwani, late Nanikram Israni, late Jayant Relwani, Shri Pritam Varyani & others have personally visited the Indian part of S.L.T. to examine & verify facts narrated by Sir Greirson and have vouched unanimously that the culture of S.L.T. tallies with our original Sindhi culture. But alas! Our original Sindhi culture has been washed out completely from our memory, as we are now most modern & westernized people on earth. Hence we look at the people of S.L.T. indifferently like strangers.
I quote Shri Pritam Varyani from his book “Sindhi Bhasha Ain Sanskriti” written after through personal study of S.L.T. by long tour:-
“Jaisalmer Ja Manunh Pan Khe Sindhi Kothain main Fakhur Vathanda Ahin. Sach Pach, Hoo Ahin bhi Vishal Sindh ja lok. Sagi Haalat ahe Barmer, Kuchchh-Bani ain Saurashtra Jee Manuhun jee. Pan asaan panhijee tangdiliah karan Khen Parao Kothe, Sindhi Jateea khe nandhiro ain Jamiroh kare chhadio ahe. Sindh main Pinu thari lokan khe paan mein samaye kon saghiya huwasein.”
In above quotation, by the word “Tangdili”, Shri Pritam Varyani, most probably means to convey the sense of “Ahisas Comitri” i.e. “SHORTSIGHTEDNESS” due to which we Sindhis have lost almost the entire S.L.T. bestowed by the nature-God & we are left only with following “murmur”
“Rahne Ko Ghar Nahin hai, Sara Jahan Hamara”
i.e.
“NO HOME to live, entire world is ours”
But remember! There is absolutely no need to despair. We should have positive thinking & hope to re-gain our lost “WISDOM” & “FARSIGHTEDNESS”. When this happens, like Jews, we shall also abandon this “KHANABADOSHI” (Vagabondness) to settle in S.L.T.
Remember! The Jews community regained “Wisdom” after loosing scores of Jews in the Gas Chambers of Adolf Hitler. But we have to awake from the slumber, well before any such tragedy.
Jai Sindh-Jiye Sindhiyat Jai Hind Jai Jagat
Remember! The political boundaries, being man made are frequently disturbed, but the geographical boundaries, created by nature, seldom vary. These borders alter only once or twice in a century, by natural calamities like severe earthquakes, etc. The geographical boundaries are therefore virtually permanent. Hence, the Sindhi Linguistic Territory (S.L.T.) bounded by the geographical borders and gifted by God’s nature, belongs to Sindhis and shall always belong to Sindhis till eternity.
Unfortunately, because of greater love for money compared to the love for soil and agriculture, We Sindhis have become “Wealthy Vagabonds” – “Migratory Millioners” – “Kharabpati Khanabadosh” always roaming in search of wealth, throughout the length and breadth of the Globe.
But, how long shall we be wandering like “Khanabadosh”! After all, how long!!
Let, all Sindhis of different varieties – Sindhis of Sindh; Sindhis of hind; Non-Resident Sindhis of the rest of the world; Hindu-Muslim-Sikh-Chirstian Sindhis; may know about the geographical borders of the territory of their Mother-Father tongue – The Sindhi language.
According to Sir Greirson and other experts, besides the standard literary form used in reading & writing, each language has another form, used in speaking only. This spoken form of language called “DIALECT”; varies after every 50-60 miles. For example, Maithly, Bhojpuri, Awadhi, bundeli, Brijbasha, Haryanvi, Garhwali etc, are dialects of the Hindi language.
As per “Linguistic Survey of India”, following are the dialects of the Sindhi language:-
1. Utradi(Siro) : In Northen Sindh
2. Vicholi : In Central Sindh known as SAHITI Area
3. Ladhi : In Southern Sindh known as LADH Area
4. Thari : In THARPARKAR district
5. Datki, Thali, Thareli : In Jaisalmer, Barmer & Jalore districts of India
6. Kachchhi : In Kuchchh district of India
7. Lasi or Laasi : In LASBELA and KALAT area of Balochistan
8. Saraiki : In Multan & Bhawalpur areas of Pakistan
The Map of above Sindhi Linguistic Territory (S.L.T.) is being prepared and would be soon available for the perusal of the Sindhi people of the World.
To start with, let us make a comprehensive appraisal of the Indian part of the geographical S.L.T.:-
Two former princely states of Jaisalmer & Kuchchh and only two districts Barmer & Jalore of the former princely state of Jodhpur, comes within this territory. The total area of this S.L.T. is 47011.4 square miles as per following details:-
1. : Jaisalmer 14,994.7 sq. miles
2. : Barmer 10,878.2 sq. miles
3. : Jalore 4078.5 sq. miles
4. : Kuchchh 17,060.0 sq. miles
Total 47,011.4 sq. miles
The Rajasthan canal, Narmada barrage & other schemes have now solved the acute problem of water scarcity. The technical assistance from Israel has helped in plantation of greenery within the desert area. Successful oil & natural gas exploration, has given flip to the tremendous economic development of this region, increasing thereby, the employment avenues. If our “Migratory Millioners” invest adequately, this region can compete with Dubai & other gulf countries in all round development, to turn this territory into most modern habitat like DUBAI. The major cities of S.L.T. are well connected with rest of India by Air services, highway transport and Broad gauge rail lines.
The development of Kandla port, Mundra Port, Gandhidham, Adipur & Bhuj would transform the entire coastal territory of Kuchchh into “Commercial Capital” like Karachi.
Remember! The entire arid territory of Gandhidham complex was legally handed over to Sind Resettlement Corporation of Late Bhai Pratap, by the then Maha Rao of Kuchchh princely state. The development of this region is the shining example of “Sindhi Purusharth”
Recently, land around Narayan Sar, Koteshwar and Lakhpat has been allotted for establishing Sindhi Pilgrim city, by constructing Grand Temple of our deity Puj Jhulelal.
Remember! Our holy river Sindhu, used to fall in the sea at this very place of Narayan Sar, an ancient pilgrimage center, where Sindhi Pilgrims used to come from Sindh on foot. Later on due to series of earth quakes, Sindhu changed its course to merge into sea at Keti Bandar of Karachi. But, experts predict that our holy river Sindhu may come back to its original course, after natural geographical changes. If nature helps, we would be able to perform all religious customs like “JANEOO Ceremony”, “Asthi-visarjan”, “Pind daan” etc in proposed Sindhi Pilgrim city along with holy Haridwar. Even now the Brahmins & ‘pooja samagiri’ etc are available for ‘Puja path’ etc. Nevertheless, surrounding area of this Sindhi Pilgrim city, would gradually develop into the Cultural Capital.
Narration of above facts does not indicate any political agenda. We merely want to save our “Sindhiyat” & for this sole objective, we want to use this area as “Plantation Nursery” wherein the “Small plant of Sindhiyat”, detached from Sindh, shall grow due to similar soil & similar climatic conditions.
Many eminent Sindhi Scholars, late Uttam Thakur, late Parso Gidwani, late Nanikram Israni, late Jayant Relwani, Shri Pritam Varyani & others have personally visited the Indian part of S.L.T. to examine & verify facts narrated by Sir Greirson and have vouched unanimously that the culture of S.L.T. tallies with our original Sindhi culture. But alas! Our original Sindhi culture has been washed out completely from our memory, as we are now most modern & westernized people on earth. Hence we look at the people of S.L.T. indifferently like strangers.
I quote Shri Pritam Varyani from his book “Sindhi Bhasha Ain Sanskriti” written after through personal study of S.L.T. by long tour:-
“Jaisalmer Ja Manunh Pan Khe Sindhi Kothain main Fakhur Vathanda Ahin. Sach Pach, Hoo Ahin bhi Vishal Sindh ja lok. Sagi Haalat ahe Barmer, Kuchchh-Bani ain Saurashtra Jee Manuhun jee. Pan asaan panhijee tangdiliah karan Khen Parao Kothe, Sindhi Jateea khe nandhiro ain Jamiroh kare chhadio ahe. Sindh main Pinu thari lokan khe paan mein samaye kon saghiya huwasein.”
In above quotation, by the word “Tangdili”, Shri Pritam Varyani, most probably means to convey the sense of “Ahisas Comitri” i.e. “SHORTSIGHTEDNESS” due to which we Sindhis have lost almost the entire S.L.T. bestowed by the nature-God & we are left only with following “murmur”
“Rahne Ko Ghar Nahin hai, Sara Jahan Hamara”
i.e.
“NO HOME to live, entire world is ours”
But remember! There is absolutely no need to despair. We should have positive thinking & hope to re-gain our lost “WISDOM” & “FARSIGHTEDNESS”. When this happens, like Jews, we shall also abandon this “KHANABADOSHI” (Vagabondness) to settle in S.L.T.
Remember! The Jews community regained “Wisdom” after loosing scores of Jews in the Gas Chambers of Adolf Hitler. But we have to awake from the slumber, well before any such tragedy.
Jai Sindh-Jiye Sindhiyat Jai Hind Jai Jagat
