Tag Archives: Sindhi Association of North America

Asanjhi pyari Sindh

by: Dial and Lachmi Gidwani, USA

Please allow me to briefly accompany you back to the most memorable events over the weekend of July 04, 2009. For me, personally, it was a heart felt pleasure and a great honor to be a guest at the SANA retreat. I have rarely felt myself so welcome. It is sometimes harder than one can imagine, to simply finding the right words in a state of emotional ecstasy. For the first time, my wife and I met Sindhis from Sindh, we could listen and converse in our mother tongue Sindhi and relive our roots – and indeed my very self – after 61 years. I feel that I am backing home after 61 years.

I was rightly asked by some Sindhis present the best question: “Why did you leave us? We are lonely without you.” My honest response: Circumstances changed and conditions prevailed that forced us to leave and no one could stop the exodus. With silent tears we departed peacefully from our motherland in the firm belief that we would return.

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Sindhis of North America celebrate 25th Convention with gusto and an eye on future generation

By: Khalid Hashmani, USA

St. Louis – July 6, 2009 – The 25th convention of Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) was successfully ended in St. Louis , Missouri today. It was a historic event with more than 500 registered attendees. The programs included Adabi (Literary) session, SANA Vision Brainstorming session, several medical seminars, women programs, speaker’s forums, and General Body meeting of SANA members. One of the most important aspect of the convention was extra-ordinary musical, fashion, and plays organized and acted by Sindhi youth depicting conflicts and convergence of the cultures of their new country and their parents’ Sindhi heritage. Indeed it was like witnessing passing of baton from the grey hair generation to the young adult generation of North American Sindhis.

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Positivity outweighs negativity

By Munawar Laghari, Washington, DC, USA

As I suggested at the SANA ‘Vision’ Session, in St. Louis, USA, I will be happy to assist in many areas. I will do what ever I can do for the ‘Sindh Cause’ from any platform. I have a firm belief that there are all means and tools available to work for the future generation of Sindhis, provided we lay a solid ground of cooperation and create a conducive environment for them. For a long time, we are passing through very difficult times. Presently, when the most alarming challenge is the false impression that “Sindhis are now ruling Sindh”. We need to create a new momentum for Sindh. I understand and cannot underemphasize the fact that any major change will have to come from within Sindh itself. However, we the Diaspora can contribute very effectively to gear up the efforts of our sisters and brothers in Sindh, by offering our best from outside of Sindh all over the world. In June 2009, I attended the United Nations Human Rights Council Conference, held in Geneva, Switzerland. This was a great opportunity for me to meet our very dear and respectable friend and representative of World Sindhi Congress, Madam Suriya Makhdoom. Through our extremely useful exchange of ideas, we came to a clear understanding of some strategies for future plans and projects. Hence, I am willing to coordinate with all other Sindhi Forums and organizations, in order to build a better concerted and result oriented initiatives of all Sindhi overseas Organizations in whichever capacity I may be able to contribute in.

Dear friends, the challenge we all are confronted with is exponential. We need to be ready to face it by getting serious, sincere, honest and positive.

Early Years of SANA

Early Years of SANA – A Tale of Achievements and some Disappointments

This article was written on the occasion of 25th anniversary of Sindhi Association of North America (SANA)

By: Khalid Hashmani, USA

About the author: Khalid Hashmani is a Washington DC-based veteran human rights activist. He is the founding President of Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) and Chief coordinator of Sindhi Excellence Team (SET) that participates in advocacy activities on behalf of rural Sindhis.

Desperation and Urge to Organize

It was early 1984, when the clouds of cruelty and discrimination in the form of General Zia’s regime overpowered Sindh and its people. The news of killing of scores innocent villagers demanding restoration of democracy and political rights had become unbearable for few Sindhis, who then lived in the vast continent of North America. Often they shared their pain and sorrows and mourned the inability of Sindhis back home to secure their rights.

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Extraordinary Success Story of Overseas Sindhis

Celebrating 25 Years of SANA: Extraordinary Success Story of Overseas Sindhis

by: Aziz Narejo, TX, USA

The members of the Sindhi Association of North America (SANA), feel extremely proud today as they gather in St. Louis, MO to participate in the Silver Jubilee Convention marking an important milestone in the distinguished history of the organization. It is an occasion to celebrate 25 years of the organization’s continued service to the community and also an opportune moment to take stock of things, learn from experience and continue march into the future.

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