Report by Ali Memon, Information Secretary, WSC
Press Release January 13th , 2009
WSC TO CELEBERATE 105th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF SAEEN G. M. SYED
London (UK): World Sindhi Congress will celebrate Saeen G.M. Sayed’s 105th birthday in England, Scotland and USA on Saturday 17th January 2009.
In England the ceremony will be held in London, in Scotland it will be in Hawick and in USA, World Sindhi Congress and G.M. Sayed Memorial Committee will conduct the celebrations in Houston. The events will include speeches, cake cutting ceremony and music. Saeen G. M. Syed (1904 -1995), a great Sindhi leader, who pioneered the Sindhi freedom movement, remains a beacon of light for the Sindhi people’s struggle for national self-determination. He was repeatedly detained and imprisoned by authorities, spending more than thirty years without trial or ever being charged. He died in custody in 1995. The Amnesty International adopted him as a Prisoner of Conscience. Mr. Sayed wrote extensively on Sindhi identity, history, and political conditions in Sindh. His views continue to inspire Sindhi writers, poets, political and civic leaders, and social and religious activists. He is widely respected for his forthrightness, courage, simplicity, and insightfulness.
Tag Archives: Sindh
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS IN APPOINTMENT AND PROMOTIONS
by Dr Ali Akbar Dhakan, Karachi, Sindh
With reference to a news item appeared in some local news paper regarding 13 ministries are working without Secretaries.In this regard it is added that during the Marshall Law rule of the Government of Pakistan, nothing constitutionally is observed in the field of recrimtments, promotions postings and placements in all the ministries, divisions and departments of the Faderal Government for the people of smaller provinces.In order to remove sense of deprivation and heart burnings from the minds of people of Pakistan, in all the ministries and departments working under the Federal Governmnet of Pakistan, ratio of Provincial Constitutional quota may be observed in recruitments, people from smaller provinces may preferably be selected as it has sorrowfully been observed that no provincial quota has been maintained in the past years and therefore no provincial representation is available in many departments, sections and offices of various ministries and divisions of federal Government.
Continue reading CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS IN APPOINTMENT AND PROMOTIONS
Sukkur’s misery
by: Altaf Hussain Qureshi
Sukkur, the third largest City of Sindh , because of its excellent geographical location, was considered to be one of the most prosperous, culturally, socially as well as economically, not only after partition of subcontinent but even before that. Unfortunately for some time this once beautiful city has been completely ignored by the very people who are made in charge of its civic affairs. As a result its entire roads and lanes are in complete shambles; sewerage gutters are flowing into the houses of low-lying areas where most the poor and middle class people live and multistory buildings have mushroomed with so much of speed with the active blessing of its Nazim that even pedestrians find it difficult to cross streets. One such building which was built few months back has collapsed due to substandard material used in the construction. This horrible incident has taken many innocent lives…
Of all the miseries, although Sukkur is on the bank of River Indus yet its residents have no potable water available, therefore they are forced to drink unhygienic water resulting in spread of hepatitis C.
I also urged the government, if it is really interested in the well-being of the people of Sukkur to please hold impartial audit of the funds allocated to city. But of course there should not be party politics involved so far audit of the funds is concerned.
11th January 2009
Usman Deeplai: a valiant reformer
by Manzoor H.Qureshi, Karachi, Sindh
The writer can be reached at: mh.kureshi@yahoo.com
Courtesy and Thanks: The letters to the Editor, Daily Dawn, Karachi- 7.1.2009
“The greatest are the men who master our mind by the force of truth, and not those who enslave them by violence, that we owe our reverence” “Voltaire”
This old age maxim of 18th Century French thinker befits perfectly on a name like Muhammad Usman Deeplai whose ten re-printed books were launched recently at Shaikh Ayaz Auditorium of the Faculty of Arts, University of Sindh as reported by dawn (November 23). While speaking at the occasion the Provincial Minister for Education Pir Mazharul Haq rightly said that Late Usman Deeplai was a legend Sindh has produced. His entire life is nothing but ceaseless fight for the betterment of the society and uplift of the poor from the influence of nefarious designs of vested privileged class through the sword of his pen.
We should condemn the attack on Sindhi daily Awami Awaz
We must condemn the attack on daily Awami Awaz
by Aziz Narejo, TX, USA
The writer can be reached at: anarejo@yahoo.com
You may have read about SNF’s armed leaders’ attack, threats and harassment of daily Awami Awaz. I think It is an attack on the freedom of media and should not be permissible. I have talked to Dr Jabbar Khattak, editor of daily Awami Awaz and on my behalf have condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with him, with Awami Awaz and with Sindhi media… I think no one – feudal, any political party, group or urban terrorists – should be allowed to dictate and harass media. All of us should support freedom of media.
Sindh Government deprived of 70 crore rupees of Production Bonus
By Ali Asghar Laghari
DADU: A media workshop was held at Dadu by the Participatory Development Institute on Thursday at a local hotel. Addressing on the occasion, the speakers including, PID Program Officer, Ishaq Soomro and others said that the province of Sindh has been deprived of the 70 crore rupees of Production Bonus by the petroleum companies and the Federal Government.
Continue reading Sindh Government deprived of 70 crore rupees of Production Bonus
Sindh & Sindhis
Sindh and Sindhis- The modern literature in anthropology, sociology and linguistics
Ibn Khuldun: The Annihilations of Nations and Sindhis
by Gul Agha
To understand the on going social, cultural and linguistic decline among Sindhis, one can look at the modern literature in anthropology, sociology and linguistics to see how nations perish. But the causes have been long understood — the new twist is that the rates can be more precisely measured (each rapid shifts in vocabulary and grammatical forms). A classic work of Ibn Khuldun, *The Muqaddimma, *provides great insight and is a recommended read for any serious student. Ibn Khuldun, a giant of his time, understood how nations perish, and it is instructive to read him and then look at Sindhi society today. Fortunately, Sindhis were able to overthrown other invaders after short periods of time and never had a large scale invasion, at least after the Aryans, until 1947 when Sindh lost 20% of its native population to diaspora, and the remaining nation was linguistically, socially and culturally subjugated by millions of migrants. Here is Ibn Khuldun’s speculation:
*Book I: Kitab al `Ibar (on the nature of civilization) Chapter 2:23. A nation that has been defeated and has come under the rule of another nation will quickly perish.
**The reason for this may possibly lie in the apathy that comes over people when they lose control of their own affairs and, through enslavement, become the instrument of others and dependent upon them. Hope diminishes and weakens. Now, propagation and an increase in civilization takes place only as a result of strong hope and the energy that hope creates in the animal powers (of man). When hope and the things and it stimulates are gone through apathy, and when group feeling has disappeared under the impact of defeat, civilization decreases and business and other activities stop. With their strength dwindling under the impact of defeat, people become unable to defend themselves. They become victims of anyone who tries to dominate them, and a prey to anyone who has the appetite. * (translated by F. Rosenthal)
Another insight Ibn Khuldun provides is how society’s with greater diversity of ideas, sects and beliefs are better able to resist invaders (because, says Ibn Khuldun, they are not prone to conforming with the dominant ideology imposed by invaders, instead they are used to confronting ideas and beliefs, so if you suppress one sect, others dissidents arise). No doubt the deparature of 20% of Sindhi population seriously weaked the Sindhi nation because of the concomittant loss of diversity, but the continued breadth of Sindhi ways remains their strength, their culture of resistance to adopting a single dominant ideology (fundamentalism) and respect for different religious and anti-religious thinking, provides an immense source of residual strength to this day.
We will have to see if the current processes reach their final completion in the perishing of Sindhi nation (*dharnii panaah dde) *or, Sindhis rise to attain their cultural, linguistic, political and social freedom. There is no other stable equilibrium condition in which a nation can survive for long..
The problem of Marriages of Girls in Sindhi Families
by Ali Nawaz
I believe that this is a very sensitive but serious issue for all parents. I am a father of two boys and one girl. My older boy and daughter are married. My younger son is Inshaullah getting married soon. In USA and Canada, marriage is relatively easier for Sindhi parents because boys and girls have greater opportunity of meeting. Whenever they like each other, they convey the information to parents who are able to arrange the marriages. .. Some individuals have also set up informal marriage bureaus. In Sindh we must try this too.
I believe that parents have to be more proactive. Within religious and moral limits, the children must be given opportunities to meet. Children grow up together in same families– this facilitates marriages among relatives. However, if matches are not available within families, then chilren meet each other in schools and colleges. Parents have to keep eye on preferences of children when they are of marriage age.
Part of the problem is that parents wait until the girls have passed their prime. Once they have reached 25 or even 30, then marriages become very difficult. The girls must continue their education. However, if suitable match is available, then agreement can be made to continue education. In case of my children, they all continued education after marriages.
I know that there is question of honor and family status. However, families and the children themselves must cooperate to find suitable solutions.
From the archive of the history: Mass movement in Sindh- Every minute has story to tell
By Anne Weaver, Special to The Christian Science Monitor
In a surprisingly strong, rural mass movement in Sindh – the first such political movement outside the cities that Pakistan has seen – thousands have continued their defiance of General Zia’s martial law regime. At least 38 people have died in the protests. According to opposition sources, 80 are dead. The opposition claims 7,000 have been arrested or successfully ”courted arrest.” The government acknowledges that some 1,400 Sindis are under arrest.
Driving through Sindh’s interior, where slate hills turn to desert and large tracts of rice, wheat, and cotton fields are flooded by monsoon rains, one is struck by the poverty. There are few development programs here.
People live on the margin of an agricultural economy. One passes through a score of hamlets and villages hugging the banks of the Indus River.
In recent weeks, they have all, in one way or another, protested against the Zia regime or gone on the rampage. They have defied police lines, been beaten back by teargas or a lathi charge. They have burned government buildings, disrupted transportation links, broken into Sindhi jails and court buildings, or engaged in general strikes.
Inside the dirty, overcrowded jail in Dadu, one of Sind’s most violent, up-river towns 200 miles from Karachi, 77 political prisoners told why they were willing to defy martial law, endure flogging, and go before special military courts-martial whose sessions last less than five minutes.
Their reasons for submitting to the punishment are as eclectic as the four provinces of Pakistan.
The province of Punjab, they acknowledge, is the key to the longevity of the Zia regime. If the country’s most populous province, its breadbasket and dispenser of army positions and posts in the federal bureaucracy, does not enter the protest, Zia and his army will probably be able to control the situation here in Sindh.
But, that is not the end, they add quickly. In Sindh, the fuse has been lit. And, if the protest is confined within this southern province’s borders, if others do not join, it will give far greater impetus to the more radical voices favoring Sindi independence, a movement called ”Sinduh-Desh.”
All of the young men crammed into one of the barracks of Dadu’s prison want to speak. They include medical students, provincial government civil servants, workers, shopkeepers, and peasants. Most are supporters of Mr. Bhutto’s Pakistani People’s Party, which has always dominated the politics of Sind. Others belong to the ”Sinduh-Desh” movement or are followers of the traditional ”sardars” or hereditary ”pirs.”
Some are political protesters, demanding a return to democracy and the end of martial law, others are protesting Zia’s Islamization program – most interior Sindis are Sufi Muslims who charge that General Zia has made heresy of the Koran. Still others are there at the behest of their ”sardars,” who have refused to pay the Islamic ”usur” land tax, on their vast holdings, which dominate the Indus River valley of Sindh. Some are here because they went to the streets to avenge Mr. Bhutto’s death. Others are followers of G. M. Sayed, the father of Sindhi nationalism, a hereditary ”pir,” who is the guiding force behind the Sinduh-Desh movement.
Strangers here are eyed with suspicion. But when people discover a journalist , they immediately want to talk. It is not surprising that their primary topic of conversation is their long-time resentment over domination by governments, armies, and bureaucracies coming from the Punjab region.
Protests sweep Pakistan in effort to restore democracy
Courtesy: CSM
The early days of Pakistan
About quota system
By Mohammad Ali Mahar, USA
….It was not Mr. Z. A. Bhutto who had introduced the quota system. It was Liaquat Ali who had initiated the system in the early days of Pakistan to facilitate Mohajirs and create his own constituency in Sindh. Mr. Bhutto only created balance in it. …My grandfather told me that Liaquat’s quota system was devised in such a way that 0% (yes, zero) jobs were allocated for indigenous Sindhis for the number of years and the whole bureaucracy was brought in from UP and CP….
Development takes time.. as does public pressure
– Prof. Gul Agha
Take simple step: Demand that the Sindh Assembly to pass a law requiring the govt. to publish all local budgets, projects, tenders and awards on-line (in Sindhi, Sindh’s official language) so citizens can see how funds are being allocated and spent. Structural changes are needed in how business is done… Development takes time.. as does public pressure. Let’s see how much time we have..
Dec 4, 2008
Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) condemns Mumbai attack, calls for global action for peace and justice
Press release by: Sarfraz Memon, Information Secretary, SANA
Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) has condemned the terrorist attack in Mumbai and expressed grief and sorrow at the loss of life in the major South Asian metropolis.
In a statement issued in Houston, Texas, SANA president Aziz Narejo said the most inhuman and barbarian attack in Mumbai, India and acts of violence in Pakistan speak of the failure of the world leaders to cope with the militancy and terrorism. He called upon the United Nations, world leaders, intellectuals and statesmen to urgently hold a global conference to discuss the growing militancy and terrorism and devise a comprehensive action plan to save the future of the mankind.
Opinion- Raising Taliban bogey, MQM prepares for massive bloodshed in Sindh
By Aziz Narejo, TX, USA
Taliban are coming! But what is the real agenda of MQM? Are they preparing for a massive bloodshed in Sindh to cause final blow to the unity of the province and the country? The civil society and the Government have to take notice before it is too late.
How come one of the major partners in the ” Britain is allowing Pakistani chief terrorist Altaf Hussain to use its land to launch terrorism in Pakistan?” Speak of double standards and hypocrisy!war on terror
(I know people are rightly preoccupied with events related dictator Musharraf’s impeachment but this is very important issue too and it should not be ignored).
MQM is known for terrorism, violence, use of force and its undemocratic, racist and fascist ways to establish its hold in the urban areas in Sindh. Who has forgotten Pakistani terrorist chief Altaf Hussain’s call to his followers in 1980s to sell TVs and VCRs and buy Kalashnikovs? People are witness what happened in Sindh in late 80s and 90s.
Continue reading Opinion- Raising Taliban bogey, MQM prepares for massive bloodshed in Sindh
Pakistan is legging behind in education than it’s neighbouring countries
Report by: Prof. Mukhtiar Ahmed Samo, Larkana, mukhtiarsamo@yahoo.com
“It is disappointing to note that our country is legging behind in education even from our neighbouring countries, which shows lukewarm response of our governments of all times to the education in the country. It is crucial to take measures for educating and safeguarding children because if we fail to ensure good education, and protection to the child today we can not expect stable, peaceful and prosperous society tomorrow because child is the foundation of the society. Firm foundation is essential for fortified building”. This was stated by the girl students while speaking in speech competition on ” Education to child is like water to crop” held here by Knowledge Centre Larkana. It was presided over by panel of educationists Nawab Ali Khokhar and Prof. Mukhtiar Ahmed Samo.
Continue reading Pakistan is legging behind in education than it’s neighbouring countries
Sindhis throughout the history
Sindhis throughout history have battled imperialist invaders, whether these were Arabs, Arghuns, Mughals, or others… none found it easy to conquer Sindh. Many had to make several attempts. ..the story of the valiant defence of Sindh during the Soomra period against Allauddin Khliji and Sama period against the imperialist Feroz Shah who suffered three humiliating defeats at the hands of Sindhis. He finally succeeded because of natural catastrophe, if only to see his own kingdom in ruins due to his obsession of conquering Sindh. Unfortunately, textbooks in Sindh after partition praise every imperialist invader and don’t teach much about native history and their patriotic defense of motherland Sindh throughout history…
SINDHIS AND THE PAKISTANI ESTABLISHMENT- by Manzoor Chandio
SINDHIS AND THE PAKISTANI ESTABLISHMENT
By Manzoor Chandio, Karachi, Sindh
The writer can be reached at: catalyst2pk@yahoo.com, Manzoor Chandio, works in daily Dawn, Karachi.
Mr. President of Pakistan, Chairman of the Senate and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may be part of the Pakistani Establishment, but the powerful component of the establishment–the Pakistan Military, intelligence agencies, including the ISI, which enjoys considerable influence in the decision-making, MI and IB and the bureaucracy-does not belong to Sindh. There are a few Sindhis in the presidency out of its about one thousand officials.
Continue reading SINDHIS AND THE PAKISTANI ESTABLISHMENT- by Manzoor Chandio
Krishna Chander, an eminent Urdu writer paid a glorious tribute in one of his Urdu novel to ‘Sindhi community
By Katejas, India
The writer can be reached at: rukateja@gmail.com
When the Muslim look-alike Sindhi Hindus writing their language in Arabic script, men with surma-laden eyes and wearing striped pajamas, women wearing loose western Indian attire covering their heads with rao or poti landed penny less on Indian shores,
Sindhi language was declared to be a ‘kafir’ language by them!
When Sindhi students started demonstrations in support of their language and culture, the Commissioner of Hyderabad, Masroor Hassan, ordered to open fire on the bare-handed student at Jamshoro Bridge , killing a number of Sindhi youth. Sindh still celebrates 4th. March as the Day of Martyrs to remember the proud sons of the land who laid their lives to save their language and culture.
By Mohammad Ali Mahar, Austin, TX, USA
..The fact of the matter is that Sindh has been the biggest victim of this onslaught of the foreign culture. As soon as the country came into being, Karachi, the heart of Sindh, was taken over by the immigrant dominated central government.
Continue reading Sindhi language was declared to be a ‘kafir’ language by them!
Green Economics: Land for landless haris in Sindh
Civil Society Consultation on “Land for landless haris in Sindh”
By: Zulfiqar Halepoto, zhalepoto@yahoo.com
The Sindh Government has announced distribution of land to the tiller. Initially, it plans to distribute 2, 20,000 acres of land to the poorest of the poor ‘haris’. This is highly laudable and desirable. However, there are some major hurdles, not only in the implementation but also size of plot and choice of farming method.
Continue reading Green Economics: Land for landless haris in Sindh
Has not Sindh given birth to any Economist?
By Zulfiqar Halepoto, Hyderabad, Sindh
I still remember the words of dictator Musharraf that Sindhis are in-efficient. His replacement by a Sindhi President is the spongiest revenge of his hatred, ethnic and racist biases against Sindhis.
Continue reading Has not Sindh given birth to any Economist?
Religious tolerance in Sindh
By Javed Qazi, Karachi, Sindh
Surely there is a reasonable religious tolerance that exists in Sindh and in southern Punjab ( Balochs also have more historical and cultural links to the people living here). We know these are the areas where Sufi moment has deep roots. But also these are the areas that are living under same old feudal and clan norms and are highly primitive. Why has sufi moment been a failure in order to bring down the feudalism as it was also a part of its struggle, apart from bringing religious tolerance (where it had been a tremendous success)?
Sindhies Denied Job Opportunities in Oil and Gas sector of Sindh
By Khalid Hashmani, McLean, Virginia, USA
It would really be shameful if the same kind of discrimination and job denial practices against native Sindhis are still prevailing in Sindh’s oil and gas sector as before the current people’s government came into power. I believe that the time is now to put pressure on the current government to appoint native Sindhis and native Baluch to head all government controlled oil and gas organizations in Sindh and Balochistan respectively. We should also write to the Board of Directors (BOD) of the multi-national and other Pakistani oil and gas companies to have affirmative action programs in their organizations to recruit and promote native people and meet their civil society obligations to local areas/people.
Continue reading Sindhies Denied Job Opportunities in Oil and Gas sector of Sindh
Karo Kaarii: Whose culture is this?
By Gul Agha
..Shah Latif teaches different. Suhrnii is revered, not condemned as kaarii. We have to take the message of Shah Latif and outcast the fundamental religious scholars who talk of stoning people.
Karo Kaarrii (honor killing) is Arab cultural import we should reject it. It doesn’t belong to Sindhi culture.
“The Sindh Story” A Great Account on Sindh by Dada Kewal Malkani
By Zulfiqar Halepoto, Hyderabad
Karachi: Queen of the East
“It is a book which should find a place in every Sindhi home.” Shaikh Ayaz
Mushtaq Talpur shared an interesting and thrilling link to me, which is sent to him by Iftikhar Soomro. This is about a book “The Sindh Story” written by Dada Kewal Malkani, a renowned journalist, scholar and professor of Indian History. Book is dedicated to “the sacred memory of Shaheed Allah Bux Soomro & Bhagat Kanwar Ram”. Foreword is written by Dada Ram Jethmalani.
I believe that this book must have gone through by lots of friends but for me it was an amazing account.
Though the entire book is a must read account but four chapters are incredible “Sindhu is Devine” “Karachi: Queen of the East” “I am a Sindhi- Gandhi” and “Alexander’s Waterloo in Sindh”
On Karachi I must suggest to you all that you should also read our friend Gul Hasan Kalmati’s Encyclopedia like new book on Karachi “Karachi: Marvi of Sindh”
Content of the book “The Sindh Story” is very inspiring:-
Cover
Preface to Reprint
Preface
Foreword
Sindhu is Divine
Sindhu Mata
The Immortal “Mound of the Dead”
Alexander’s Waterloo in Sindh
Truth about Dahir Sen
“Jhoolay Lal”
Karachi: Queen of the East
From Brahmo Samaj to RSS
Freedom Movement in Sindh
“I am a Sindhi” — Gandhi
Thrown to the Wolves
Jiye Sindh
Allah Alone Knows
Sindhi Society and Culture
Shah, Sachal and Swami
The Sindhi Revival
Appendix: G M Syed’s Visit
Bibliography
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY LIES WITH RURAL DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY LIES WITH RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN SINDH
By Dr Ali Akbar Dhakan
1.Do not concentrate at one place. It should be avoided by restricting migration of people from other places. 2. At the distance of each 50 kms, along the both sides of Super and National highways, Model Industrial towns may be established and there all Industries and Factories may be installed. 3.Saperate Funds may be allocated for such new places of Industrial settlements.
Continue reading ECONOMIC PROSPERITY LIES WITH RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Let’s leave a better world for our children
Larkana needs Univeristy
By: Mukhtiar Samo
Larkana is the one century old district which had population of 2.2 million before its recent bifurcation into two when district Kambar Shahdadkot was carved out from it in the second half of the year 2005. It has now population of 1.2 million people. Larkana has been the centre of education, business and the politics throughout the history. It is the home town of Two Prime Ministers, three Chief Ministers and many ministers, present education minister of Sindh included, prominent politicians, intellectuals and the professionals.
Continue reading Let’s leave a better world for our children
Sindh: The Sehwan Sharif festival
The greatest party on earth?
By Declan Walsh
(Women dance outside the ‘golden gate’ at the central Shrine of the Sehwan Sharif festival. Around 1 million people attend the three day event that combines partying and prayer to mark the death of the Sufi mystic Lal Shahbaz Qalander, who died 755 years ago. Photograph Declan Walsh.)
Pakistan’s tourism ministry designated 2007 as “Destination Pakistan”, the year when tourists were urged to discover the country’s sights and delights. Their timing couldn’t have been worse. A military ruler clinging to power, al-Qaida fanatics hiding in the mountains, suicide bombings booming across the cities – in 2007, Pakistan has become a byword for peril and turmoil.
But there is another Pakistan, one the majority of its 165 million people are more familiar with. It is the thrusting software entrepreneurs and brash new television stations. It is the kite flyers and partygoers and the strangers who insist you sit for a cup of tea. And it is Sehwan Sharif.
A sleepy town on the Indus river, Sehwan Sharif is on the heroin smuggling route that runs through Sindh from Afghanistan to the Arabian Sea. In summer it is a sauna – stepping from my air-conditioned car last month, the heat carried a five-knuckle wallop.
I joined about 1 million people who come to Sehwan Sharif for three days every year, to mark the death of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, an ancient Sufi mystic. It is one of south Asia’s greatest parties.
A giant, infectious drumbeat fills the night air. Red-clad women spin like dervishes and old men dance like teenagers. Men kiss the railings of the shrine; some burst into tears. A conga line of worshippers pushes into a glittering shrine at the heart of festival. The soft aroma of hashish and cooked bread wafts through the tiny alleyways; old men with watery eyes suck on clay pipes; barefoot families doze on the rooftops.
A million people – it’s enough to give an embassy security officer a heart attack. Yet I’ve rarely felt so secure. Impromptu singing sessions erupt by the roadside. People offer strangers a bed, a meal, or a drag from their joint. Smiles and handshakes are everywhere. Qalandar, a sort of medieval hippy, would have approved. Wandering through this area almost 800 years ago, he preached tolerance between Hindus and Muslims and peace to all men. Legend had it that he could transform himself into a falcon.
One night I met Muhammad Fiaz, a burly bus driver from Gujrat with glitter on his cheeks. He had taken his annual holiday to come and sit at the feet of a pir, or holy man. He brushed off any talk of politics. “Musharraf and his lot are one thing,” he said. “This is entirely another”.
Thursday October 4, 2007
Courtesy: The Guardian
Source – http://www.guardian.co.uk/pakistan/Story/0,,2183119,00.html
Sindhi language has ancient links with Sub-continent
Sindhi is an ancient language; over seventy percent of Sindhi words are Sanskrit. The fact that Sindhi is mostly written in the Arabic script, gives some people the impression that it is a Persio-Arabic tongue..
DR ANNEMARIE Schimmel, Harvard professor of Islamics, and versatile linguist writes: “Since every word in Sindhi ends in a vowel, the sound is very musical.” The treasures of the ancient Sindhi literature, of the immortal Sufi poet-saints, Shah, Sachal, Sami or the saints of Modern India: Sadhu TLVaswani, sung in sweet, melodious, rhythmic Sindhi tunes, fills the hearts and souls of the listeners with sheer rapture, joy and ecstasy. The Sindhis of India don’t have a land, nation or state to call their own. They are a scattered community, spread all over India, and in most countries of the world. If there is one thing that will help them retain their identity, it is the language. Unfortunately Sindhis have neglected their mother tongue, and if we don’t use the language, we will lose it. Language is the root of our community. Language is the soul of our community. If the soul is lost, how long can the community last?
Diwan Thakudas Pribhdas, advocate of Hyderabad said: “The language is probably, so far as its grammatical construction is concerned, the purest daughter of Sanskrit. It has a sprinkling of Dravidian words, and has in later times received large accessions to its vocabulary from Arabic and Persian.”
Sindhi language has evolved over a period of two millennia; with waves of invasions by Greeks, Arabs, Arghuns, Tarkhans, Scythians, Turks, Mughals and so on. Sindh, on the north west of undivided India, had always been the first to bear the onslaught of the never-ending invaders, and as such absorbed Hindi, Persian, Arabic, Turkish, English and even Portuguese words. The language of the people of Sindh has a solid base of Prakrit and Sanskrit, showing great susceptibility towards borrowings from Arabic, Persian, and Dravidian (such as Brahui in Baluchistan) . Sindh was the seat of the ancient Indus valley civilization during the third millennium BC as discovered from the Mohen-jo-Daro excavation. The pictographic seals and clay tablets obtained from these excavations still await proper deciphering by epigraphists
Sindhis in India have made their mark. Eminent Sindhis include Jairamdas Doulatram, LK Advani, Parso T Malani, Nari Hiranandani, Ashok Advani, Hindujas, Rahejas. Sindhi’s have 17 colleges and 19 hospitals and many others institutions.
Dr Lila Harchandani of Hyderabad, Sind, in her book ‘The Scattered Treasure’ has an interesting logic to back her theory. According to her some scholars confused the words Prakrita (meaning=natural) with the word Purakrita (meaning-formed first), which misled them. In the same way, she says, due to affinity towards Hinduism, litterateurs like Kishinchand Jetley translated a couplet from Sindhi poet, Shah Abdul Latif’s poetry into Sanskrit and concluded that the similarity shows the derivation of Sindhi from Sanskrit. She rightly argues that it could be the other way round too and cites two authorities to elucidate this point. One is Siraj-ul-Haq of Pakistan who states:
“The history of Sindhi is older than that of Sanskrit and its related civilization or culture are derived from the civilization or culture of Sindh and from Sindhi language…Sanskrit is born of Sindhi – if not directly, at least indirectly.”
Sindh is where Persian and Indian cultures blended, for the area was introduced to Islam in 712 AD. Thus, very little of Sindhi literature of the earlier period has survived. The Summara and Summa periods are virtually blank except for the few poems of Hamad, Raju and Isack. The heroic ballads of this period set to music by Shah Abdul Karim (1538-1625) are the earliest records of the Sindhi language.
Real flourish of Sindhi poetic talent came during the last stages of the 18th century. Although the time was not appropriate for cultural developments as invaders repeatedly plundered the country during this period. Several works like Shah Abdul Latif’s ‘Shah-Jo-Rasalo’ , the magnum opus of Sindhi literature, were produced.
It describes the life of a common man, the sorrows and sufferings of the ill-starred heroes of ancient folklore. Sachal, another eminent poet closely followed Shah Abdul Karim. He was a Sufi rebel poet who did not adhere to any religion and denounced religious radicals. The poet, Saami, was a complete contrast to Kari, more pious than poetical, yet possessing a charm of his own. There was an excess of songsters in Sindhi who recited similar ideas and themes in varied tones. The notable among them are Bedil, his son Bekas, and Dalpat. Gul Mohamad introduced Persian forms of poetry replacing the native baits and kafees. Mirza Kaleech
Other Articles by Ramesh Manghirmalani
Beg who composed on the same lines contributed a lot to Sindhi literature.
Dayaram Gidumal and Mirza Kaleech were two of the early prose writers. The former was a great scholar and he was famous mainly for his metaphysical writings. The noted lexicographer and essayist, Parmanand Mewaram, wrote essays that educated and instructed both young and the old. This peer group also comprised of Bherumal Meherchand, Lalchand Amardinomal and Jethmal Parsram and Acharya Gidwani, NR Malkani and Dr HM Gurbuxani.Tikamdas Wadumal Mansukhani, Bar-at-law from Qeens College, become first Mayor of Karachi, ZA Bhutto and Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada were legal associates in Karachi.
Courtesy: http://www.merinews.com/catFull. jsp?articleID= 137849
What is in Sindh’s interest?
By Ali Nawaz Memon
A debate is going on if the lawyers march is in Sindhi interest. This raises a simple question in my SIMPLE mind. What is in Sindhi interest?
Some have argued that some elements of Sindh have fooled people of Sindh for too long in the name of being Sindhi. For example:
1. Corrupt Sindhi officials from Secretaries, DC, SP police down to clerks and policemen. They dare not touch powerful Sindhi individual or non-Sindhis in Sindh. But they will charge every ordinary Sindhi. When some daring sindhi journalist speaks up against them, we try to protect our few remaining “sindhi officials”.
2. Corrupt landlords who regularly provide protection to thieves and dacoits. Most analysts tell us that law and order in Sindh is controlled and ruined in Sindh because of this group. Similarly, no one will dare to invest big amount in rural thanks to this group. Is it in Sindhi interest to protect these people?
3. Jagirdars and huge landowners who all got their lands for loyalty and pimping to British or subsequent brown babus. Should this jagirdari be abolished? We are afraid whether it will be in Sindhi interest.
4. Corrupt Sindhis politicians who are always available to join military governments. We have seen these individuals and families who have appeared and reappeared. They rob Sindhis and obey every command of their non Sindhi bosses. Is it in Sindhi interest to speak up and punish these “Sindhi leaders”?
5. Corrupt politicians who steal in every elected government, who charge for every appointment, posting and transfer, every award of public contract. Yes, every! We get tired of military rulers and are fooled by promises of democratic Sindhi politicians. But Zulfiqar Ali Bhuttos and Benazir Bhuttos of this world get murdered. But these democratic Sindhi politicians remain and behave exactly the same way as they did last time.
Will they save Sindh from Kalabagh or get larger NFC award for Sindh? Some think that larger resources when obtained in the name of Sindh, go to the pockets of their “friends”. Is it in Sindhi interest to protect them?
Yes, I know that 100% of officials, landlords or politicians do not fall in that category. But most or at least many do.
PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT IS IN SINDHI INTEREST AND WHAT SHOULD WE DO TO PROTECT SINDHI INTEREST.
Remembering Benazir Bhutto – An eyewitness account of Conditions in Balochistan after her assassination
She walked with us bare foot during her last visit of Balochistan
by: Khalid Hashmani
Washington D.C.—The “Justice and Democracy in Pakistan” forum organized an event to meet renowned writer and analyst Jawaid Bhutto, who was visiting Pakistan, when Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. The event was held on Saturday, June 7, 2008 at a local restaurant.
Jawaid Bhutto obtained his Master’s degree from Belgrade-based Sofia University and has taught at the International Relations department of Sindh University for several years. He began by saying that his primary purpose to visit small towns and villages of Sindh and Balochistan was to recognize the changes that may have occurred in him on account of living in the Western world for the past eight years, away from his homeland.
On the dreadful day of December 27, 2007, Jawaid Bhutto was visiting Dr. Abdullah Jan, who is the Dean of Balochi Literature at the Balochistan University in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan. They had just exchanged pleasantries for few minutes, when a few persons knocked the door of Dr. Jan’s house and informed him about the sad news that Benazir Bhutto, who was the last hope of millions of people of Pakistanis had been assassinated. Within few minutes of receiving the news, the electricity went off, shutting down television that they had just turned on. They switched to a battery-operated radio, but for some reason, that too was not giving any details as to what was happening in Pakistan. Soon, they learnt that there were no taxis, rickshaws, or other modes of transportation playing on city roads were closed and that angry mourners had shutdown everything in Quetta.
Jawaid ended up staying at Dr. Jan’s residence for three days before he could venture out and get to his hotel. During those three days, local Baloch visited Dr. Jan several times but all the news they brought was based on heresy. At the hotel, Jawaid soon learnt that there were no trains going to Sindh and other parts of Pakistan. There were no petrol stations that were open for other form of land transportation and the airport was closed. He was stranded in Quetta for ten days when a friend offered to drive him to Shikarpur, Sindh (about 200 miles away).
Trains that had left Quetta few hours earlier were forced to return back to Quetta. The trains that had left earlier got stranded in various cities and towns in Sindh and Balochistan. In acts similar to 1987, people had removed tracks in many places with bare hands.
They traveled on one of a major highway, which is normally heavily traveled. They were immediately taken back by the emptiness of the road as they seldom saw any other vehicle on the road. While trailing, they saw many burned gas stations, government buildings, railway stations, and police stations. Soon they made a stop at “Dera Allahyar”, which many people know as “Teople Dera” for “Temple Dera”. Upon reaching the town they went to the house of a non-political and traditional tribal elder man, who was a distant family relative of his friend who was driving him to Shikarpur. The elder said that in spite of him wanting to stop the destruction of property, he could not do much as he found his own sons, daughters, nephews, and nieces were participating in the carnage. The people of the area were extremely angry at the loss of Benazir Bhutto and felt that the country had become too cruel and not worth saving.
As they traveled through another town “Bhag”, they observed the similar expressions of grief and resulting anger in form of the destroyed, trucks, trailers, buildings and railway stations. Some people they met in Bhag were crying and reciting the stories about Benazir Bhutto’s recent visit to their town, just few days ago. They pointed out the spot, where she had addressed the people of town from a truck.
Everywhere, as he traveled from Quetta to Shikarpur, the only topics that people were talking about whether the Pakistan would survive after Benazir’s assassination and who killed her and who was behind her killing. The opinions were diverse but there was a consensus on one thing that … and General Musharaaf were behind her killing as they would be the primary beneficiaries of her death. No one was blaming religious elements as not a single mulla or madrassa was attacked. Some political pundits and commentators blamed Al-Quaida or Taliban for her assassination. But no one at least in rural Sindh and Balochistan bought that theory. Even today, many blame … and cite the swiftness of authorities to clean the crime scene as an evidence of their involvement.
In response to a question, Jawaid Bhutto said he did not meet any one who indicated suspicion in Asif Zardari but he observed that political enemies of Benazir Bhutto had started maligning Zardari.
Much of the damage to government offices, railway tracks and gas stations was done by unemployed youth. It was neither instigated by PPP nor by intelligence services but was simply a reaction of exploited people, who have suffered a lot. The young persons in rural Sindh are very angry and frustrated with high poverty levels in their areas and had hoped that Benazir would do something to alleviate poverty in their areas. 43,000 people were arrested – most of them unemployed youth.
What was amazing that in spite of the spontaneous nature of their actions, protestors were very careful not to harm other people. Many from many adjacent villages brought bread, milk, and other food items and served meals to the stranded travelers. For three days, while train service remained suspended, people took care of those impacted by the suspension in travel. Not a single person appeared before the Human Rights Commission (HRCP) saying that any intentional harm was done to human life.
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