SINDHI HINDUS | 70+ YEARS OF THE INDIA STORY
Loosely translated to : Live, Prosper, Always remain happy.
This is exactly what happened with all of the 2nd generation and beyond; families and children of post 1947, Sindhi Hindus who came to the newly truncated Bharat.
Refugees they were, the initial lot of lacks of Sindhi Hindu brethren. Forced to leave all they knew behind. Or even coerced into making such a decision in promise of creating a free Hindudesh. The fact that they left behind its precursor the Sindhudesh behind seems to have left many disillusioned. Some rather many broken.
It’s difficult or rather impossible to find befitting words for such an exodus. Many of us learnt off it only from the minuscule words that the 1st generation spoke off in front of us. The prose available during our growing years was eloquent of but a handful of stories and memoirs. These were clearly handpicked by a set of authoritative hands of the then dispensation. Most of it had no ambit of the vastness of caste and creed that should have been documented in any manner for future generations to understand and equally learn from.
Due to such hush-hush and segmented writing it seemingly resulted in many of the direct affectees’ of 1947 choose consciously of not having any discussions of their stories. Few memoirs were shared, believing they were safeguarding the younger lot from the horrors that they had lived to etch out a new way of life. The elders believed that focus needed to be there on life and not loss.
My tryst with my roots
It was not until my mid thirties that the questions of who exactly were we started being top recall every single morning. What background did we come about from started to surface valiantly. Had only read the history books during early schooling days about the grandeur that was Sindh. It ever-eulogized places like Mohenjodaro. It has only added to the mist of how the chain was broken. How did one land up as individuals fighting to find one’s identity. No face to call ones own.
It’s a different story altogether that it was quite later in life that the correct name of the place was understood to be Mohen-jo-daro. Mound of the dead. Till this very late understanding most of us believed it to be a singular word. And not a set of words having distinct meanings. Funny how this small fact tends to showcase the amount of segmented information that the Sindhi Hindus passed on to the next generation. Seldom would this be seen in civilizations history that the download of such ancestral facts and facets would be systematically buried and forgotten. One may say it was the need of the time. Possibly it was. But the question looming is – WHY?
Reading and research - aapbete as it is said!
Not much is known as not much is written or talked about this transitional facet of the Sindhi Hindus story. There are well written and documented accounts of why such a thing would have transpired. Having come to a land believing to be accommodated, the diaspora of Sindhi Hindus who crossed the Radcliffe line, were treated no more than an unwanted guest. A guest with who is there to share your abode. Add to it the doubt in your mind that your resources are getting distributed between you and your unwanted guest which were YOURS till yesterday.
The analogy of guest, I know, is the most ill-chosen one. The reason for choosing the same is to keep matters mild. The feeling though you the reader might be able to partake, understand and equally acknowledge. Our prior generation of refugee-Indians were random seen as an unwanted guest. Not many in those days would have understood what had transpired. And this remains true for all sides except those having the macro view of things. This macro view made some cynical and others choose to turn a blind eye. Become the frog of one’s pond. Well you understand the analogy hopefully.
I have read a few memoirs where explicitly the 2nd generation has shared that the 1st generation of the elders would want to pass themselves off anything but Sindhi’s. This was for lack of wanting unwarranted attention from the people around in who’s surrounding abode they had come to. Reading those words for the first time in my life did I feel a notch closure to what my 1st generation would have felt. Being classified as : refugees.
Self relating to my existing understanding was difficult at so many levels
Refugees in their own country amongst the very people with whom they shared freedom. This term in today’s world brings about visualization of various horrors. Thanks to the enormous number of stories told and written on the ugly face of 1947 or many other wars. One comes face to face with it again when one reads about the likes of Syria, African nations, Korean nations, etc.
Forced displacement and planned displacement have a difference. In most of the cases we see today refugees fall under the umbrella of forced displacements. The displacement of Sindhi Hindus in the late 1940’s and thereafter was more of a planned displacement. Some by external forces and unfortunately some by internal. The authorities managing it possibly knew what could go wrong and how badly, but seemingly many decisions were authorized considering it, the need of the hour. Death was imminent, the question however was how fast or how slow.
In the case of Sindhi Hindus moving on the eastern side of the Radcliffe line, in a way was one of the safest displacements. In the matter of loss of life and violence so to speak. It was not as brutal as for Punjab and Bengal. Hence issues of Sindh never got into the limelight at any juncture. What I and most of the 2nd generation Indians of the new Bharat have learnt is that there were losses of life in Punjab and Bengal to the hilt. It was something that for sure reasons lets anyone's blood boil.
So what exactly did happen?
Not many such stories have I personally come across from any source have had similar lettering's for Sindhi Hindus. The loss however for Sindhi Hindus was of another kind and of prolonged magnitude.
- The first was the new influx of muhajirs from northern states of India and across. That was artificially changing the demography. It was the main reason for distress and pressure. Fact that the way of life was being left behind, in totality, was the biggest pain point.
- Secondly assets both material and abstract, most of which decrepitated.
- Thirdly the exodus kept on happening in segments for over a period of 40+ years
What followed was a classical set of events. Events that are embryonic for India as I see it in a gradual nature
- No structured plan of managing the displaced
- Postponement of decision making by those in authority considering the entire community as “collateral damage”
- Multitudes of solutions being proposed getting no consensus. Leading to immediate displacement of the diaspora into smaller sets across the country. Remember livelihood was driving force
- Need of assimilation into the new land, in order to find a small nook to place themselves
- Differing way of life, food, language as well as enterprising nature. All together brought about paradigm shift in the status quo of the existing populace resulting in alienation
- Creation of a fresh persona at individual, familial and community level resulting in lucid identity as a community
- Partial or nullified knowledge transfer to the next generation. Indirectly became Indian’s first as envisioned by constitution, as caste and creed became lateral identity
Whatever happened in the splintered groups of the diaspora across the country has had far reaching effects till today. The splintering in a way helped the 1st generation to focus only on one aspect – livelihood. This in a way has led to a few positives. Like the fact that the Sindhi Hindu diaspora has been able to etch out a handsome living for many of its people. Going by the legacy of pre-1947 the diaspora used to be majorly divided into Amil's or Bhaibands. Amil's in a way represent the service class and Bhaibands the business class. Various other segmented identities have possibly merged into these two major sets in today’s post-1947 age.
The adjustment and realignment phase
The days of pre-1940’s the diaspora was into multiple forms of livelihood though; ranging from landowners to service to business to exports to artisans. What followed post 1940’s has brought about a possible lasting legacy change to the current generation of Sindhi Hindus. Our current livelihood is restricted to possible only two major sets: Business or Service. The need to focus upon livelihood gave away the other forms of existence and in some portion the community’s pride. Today seldom will one find any agriculturalist who hails from the Sindhi Hindu community. Equally seldom will one find the exposure towards various art forms. This facet in its heydays marked many wonders for the modern world.
This was the third most important loss to the Sindhi Hindus having to shift themselves into fresher lands and lives. The richness of a community lies in its growing arts as arts tend to be the extension of one’s identity. The customs and arts that were a commoner’s way of life pre-1940’s have mostly got related to a rare commodity. Think of how many among Sindhi Hindus know of Ajrak print or the Sindhi ralli and stitch in essence and not just by name. Think of how many understand what is a Nazm or a Kafi. Think of how many know that the Sindhi script. And the fact that its detailing has one of the highest numbers and forms of letters.
It is important to note that the written words are the only known method today to carry along the knowledge forward. Distribution is so easy these days. Unfortunately, unlike bygone days, today's knowledge propagation is not limited by lack of a distribution channel. Sindhi Hindus today read and write in many languages but their own scripts. This has led to lack of possible reading prowess of the yesteryear prose and poems available for the past many millennia. Though the technology today is able to easily translate the written texts into any language of one’s liking, there is a fresher concern at hand. The fact that slowly the understanding of prose and poetry is dwindling due to lack of spoken language amongst the current generation of Sindhi Hindus across the country and equally the world. In matters of prose and poetry a translation is but a form of panhandling effort.
Forward looking time was contoured
There have been efforts by a large number of quantifiable groups of Sindhi Hindus to bring about a renaissance. Renaissance towards all these aspects put in bits and pieces. The fact that these groups are dispersed is an impediment in itself. Know-how and efforts are a form of guerrilla warfare in nature to subdue the opponent. Many strokes but smaller in nature split apart. The spirit is high. The effort is there. What is impeding the results, is the scattered approach!
For however long whatever little I read about these efforts one thing always was strongly edge in my psyche. The lack of strength in numbers at a singular place would lead the Sindhi Hindu efforts to be multi-fold. Unlike other brethren of this vast nation, who because of their numbers get heard. Representation for our causes, being segmented from various places leads us without a clear mandate. This in turn leads to least amount of pressure exercised on the authoritative fold of the country. Its rules. Its regulations. And also, many times in its intent.
Solution is available. Though farsighted and at distance, as the path is not known nor is the actual destination. Bringing these individual efforts together as shared knowledge that reaches every Sindhi Hindu family. This can bring about a detailed shared storytelling that is equally individual in nature and together. These anecdotal mentions, becomes’ the creature of magnitude that has a common spirit.
A singular place of existence
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Sindhi Pride Jhulelal Tirathdham
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Sindhi Pride Jhulelal Tirathdham
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Road to Jhulelal Tirathdham - Bhuj fort
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Road to Jhulelal Tirathdham
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Sindhi Pride Jhulelal Tirathdham
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Sindhi Pride Jhulelal Tirathdham
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Road to Jhulelal Tirathdham - Narayansarovar
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Road to Jhulelal Tirathdham - Narayansarovar
One of the solutions being worked upon is the build-up of a communal and spiritual place. A place Sindhi Hindus can call their own. The project of Jhulelal Tirathdham on the banks of Narayan Sarovar is one such undertaking. The idea, I strongly endorse and believe in. Once the project reaches fruition the logical next step would be that Sindhi Hindus will create their new Sindh; in the new Bharat in and about this place of worship. That is how civilizations have behaved till known memory of human nature. Barren land converts into an oasis if the objective is clear and defined. Rest is a matter of time.
When in motion time oscillates. So is equally true to civilizations. To bear everything in place as well as oscillating in perpetuity there needs to be a Stambha. That stambha happens to be one’s identity that is common among people. Like the fact that we are proud Indians. But we are Indians because we all have a commonality. Similarly, all Sindhi Hindus need a stambha which we can touch, feel and hug as well. We cannot remain if there fails to be that commonality. The way Sikhs look at The Golden Temple; or the way the Bauddh look at Bodh Gaya; Muslims look at Mecca; or the Vaishnavs look at Mathura; similarly, Sindhi Hindus need to create such a place. Wherever they may be they need to have a place to oscillate and yet be connected.
The project is good. It's worthy. It needs to reach fruition sooner than later. 70+ years gone which have drifted us farther and farther as a community. This hub needs to be created and considering approximately 17 lack sindhi speaking inhabitants are there in India today; and considering INR 100 crs needed to build this we are looking at a simple average of INR 590 per person. When this is achieved, we can deliberate to create a New Sindh near about. Small or big that is matter of the lords wish and our perseverance.
Documenting the Literature
One more effort has been in the field of assimilation of all known knowledge by a few torchbearers. Sindhi's who have been documenting as much as possible of the language, its scriptures, its prose as well as poetry. Also then getting them into translated scripts; that have become the forbearing scripts used by the current generations of Sindhi Hindus. Scripts such as Devanagari or Roman English.
Indian Institute of Sindhology, NCPSL and similar others; have been in an effort to create for all of us something to look forward to. This I endorse; however, I see a tussle between the script of choice becoming one reason for further splintering of efforts. Whether Arabic or Devanagari; the important factor to accept and understand is which of these scripts are; and will be easy to pick up on for the reader.
Efforts to digitize this information and make it available further via various platforms for consumption is a noteworthy effort. This is and should be looked into and can help bring a common consciousness among Sindhi Hindus. This is a matter of contemplation. I don’t see why if a Sindhi book of knowledge of yesteryear was available in Devanagari or Roman English script; it would be difficult for it to find takers. All that is needed; is to make it available on online platforms and one will see revival. If not more at least spoken Sindhi by way of reading.
The second layering to this strategy needs to be on the lines of what Sindhi Sangat is doing. Reviving the script in the hands of the newest generation. The recent educational policy to have the initial years of these toddlers to be in their mother tongue should be made a mandatory requirement and not a matter of ‘ifs and buts’. These two-fold efforts I see can and should make a lot of things relevant.
Digital civilizations - the 1st of its kind could be Sindhi Hindus
The other solution being worked upon is the use of technology to bring about all Sindhi Hindus together. The use of Social Media and the various forms of internet are being looked at. Whether for personal fame or for community assimilation or creation – be it whatever the end goal each effort being put in this direction is directed towards; there needs to be a plan to reach its targeted audience. And this definition is not clear it seems to me from the forefront.
- Who to reach - is defined as Sindhi’s.
- How many to reach - is not which is the numbers and places of the target audience.
- How to reach them - is not defined, which is content.
The reason for me to make this inference is the fact that there are eyeballs being achieved. However what I seem to have garnered in recent few weeks of my search on this matter; is the fact that the traffic is again very segmented and minuscule. To make matters complex a fair share of it is being garnered from the other side of the fence. Sindhi habituating in the lost part of Bharat hold a sizable share in the traffic on these channels. Which makes for one point that the content on these channels is not reaching the total possible target.
Here I see a lot of improvement needed. What is needed is a scrapping of the internet handles. As well as the physical contact directories maintained in various cities by Sindhi panchayats; hence finally to bring the non-connected Sindhi Hindus over a singular platform. A singular platform that helps to assimilate every active channel or handle working in this spear onto a singular level. This will lead to different types of content being available to different expectations. The only goal should be to garner traffic by bringing all the possible Sindhi Hindus onto this aggregator.
Once this primary goal is achieved, having every active or inactive Sindhi Hindu bind themselves towards this common thread of information sharing; will lead to the next phase of revival of Sindhi pride and identity that we will hold for ourselves.
Tuhinji raah toe pyo taake,
Ooh muhinja marun,
aldisan saddi aa,
Millay muhinje vattani saan.
Jai Jhulelal! Om Namah Shivaya!