By Khalid Hashmani

Today is March 4th, a day to celebrate Sindhiat, Sindhi language and Sindhi struggle. Exactly, forty one (41) years ago, the last generation of Sindhis refused to give up on their rights by sacrificing their blood on this day of 1967. The legacy of their resolve and commitment has taken unto a new meaning.

Today, is the day when the the next generation of Sindhis should be renewing their vow to keep the light of Sindhiat alive for ever. Sindh has survived many troubles and cruelties.

Today, we must:

Remember the great student movement of late 1960’s which never gave up on their motherland.

Remember the journalists and staff of the Sindhi newspaper who sacrificed their jobs but did not bow to the rulers who wanted them to stop writing against the Kala Bagh and other dreadful dams on the River Indus.

Remember the Sindhi sons and daughters who lost their lives and underwent torture, imprisonment and other cruelties for betterment of Sindh and Pakistan. Several sons Of Sindh including Dr. Safdar Sarki remains behind bars.

Pledge to re-energize Sindhi struggle for their rights, justice, and control over their natural resources.

Our struggle has survived so far because all succeeding generations continue to fight any and all injustices. The new generation of Sindhis must show the same resolve.

For the last five thousand years, Sindh has seen many cruel invaders and many peaceful migrants who, in their own way, have tried to destroy or enrich Sindhi civilization. Sindh’s history clearly shows that those who came in peace, contributed not only to the civilization of Sindh but left an ever lasting mark of their culture on it. But, those who came in violence, ultimately perished leaving nothing tangible to appreciate or remember.

Today Sindh too is the home of many people of diverse cultures. It is up to these newcomers to realize that only by joining the rich and all encompassing culture of Sindh, they will enrich themselves from the peaceful and sufi nature of it and make it more richer. If they choose the politics of confrontation and cruelty in their deeds such as denying water to the inhabitants of Sindh or imposing their culture on peaceful Sindhis, they too will perish without leaving any significant mark on the civilization.

Let Sindh live for ever! let Sindhi language foster for ever! Let other languages and cultures of Sindh enrich and add their beauty to Sindh’s culture and language!