SINDHI REFLECTIONS
LATA JAGTIANI
INTRODUCTION
A little while and you will have forgotten everything:a little while and everything will have forgotten you... Marcus Aurelius
"Somebody should write about our Sindhi elders and their Partition experiences before we lose that history forever."
This is what many Sindhis were saying until last year. I wondered why nobody was writing a book on the experiences of Hindu Sindhis. The subject kept re-surfacing online. From Dr. Nargis Awatramani (USA) to Govind Jhangiani (U.K) from Arjan Daswani (Singapore) to Shewak Nandwani (Thailand), the question was practically a refrain. In Mumbai, it was me saying--Somebody, write the book before its too late! But there were no volunteers.
I began work. Now that I have collected true stories of Hindu Sindhis, do read the book and preserve it for generation next. This is a serious work of research, of historical significance for all Hindu Sindhis.
The journey through this book has been interesting, to say the least. Sometimes, to my surprise, I met total strangers who welcomed me warmly, at other times, with sadness I interviewed elders with multiple aeging troubles; and then, I met many who were too cynical to "waste their time" being interviewed for something which promised no monetary returns. Access to the rich and famous was often blocked off by over-zealous secretaries. One day I was shocked, another day delighted and on a third day, depressed, it was a real roller-coaster. I often asked myself why I should continue. I lost count of recorded interviews that became useless with one phone call. One 85-year old told me of all the mischief he had done, after the Partition. He became embarrassingly rich, divorced his wife, and sailed through life. I watched him agape, as he really walked into the sunset with a spring in his step, towards his girl friend and chauffeur-driven expensive car. I wrote the account out, and a week later, he said he would prefer to keep his life private.
I kept my focus on ordinary Hindu Sindhis and their experiences during the Partition. However, these 100 plus accounts and profiles are a very small number when one compares it with the 12, 25,000 Hindu Sindhis evacuated from their homes between 1947 and 1950. I am one of those who believe that big oak trees grow from small acorns, and I offer you my tiny, hopeful acorn of a book.
Subjected to communal cleansing in Sindh, with the tacit compliance of Jinnah's Muslim League, most Hindu Sindhis had only one option: leave. A friend told me the story of a Papadawaree (a lady who sells Papads door-to-door). She was a woman living in Sindh and had several children. Her teenaged daughter was sitting outside in the back of the house, sunning herself and wara paee sukaye (drying her wet hair.) Suddenly there were shouts, telling the woman to run, there were riots, and people were coming for them. Along with her several children, she ran to the station, practically with one chappal, and boarded a train leaving Sindh. However, it was only on the train that she noticed the absence of her teenaged daughter. It was already too late. What happened to the girl? For long, nobody knew. Then years later, she got news. A Muslim family had adopted the abandoned teenager, raised her to become a well-established doctor. A meeting was arranged between the daughter and the mother in Ulhasnagar. After the initial joy at the re-union, they parted and returned to their lives, the mother back to selling papads in India while her daughter healed the ill in Pakistan.
I read a story where a writer, Wali Ram, about one Viundri Tejomal from Hyderabad Sindh, who hid written a note in Sindhi and hidden it her cupboard before rushing away from home. The note read: Vundri Tejomal jo hee kabat jeko kholeendo, un khi pap lagando."(Opener of this Vundri Tejomal's cupboard will be sinning.) Who was she and what became of her during and after the Partition? This is a mystery. Inside the note it appears she expressed a desire to return home to take care of her personal belongings. She might had left her things behind, packed quickly and left the note behind.
Another family that was torn asunder was that of Maama Rupachand Mahtani, a close in-law who had another story. He wanted to cross over to India, but his wife didn't. She and their sons remained in Sindh while he crossed the border. His children went on to become highly qualified professionals, but weren't too keen on meeting with their father. In Mumbai, Maama Rupa's life was full of interesting twists and turns, he was an impish gypsy who spread his grin and jokes from Sindhi home to Sindhi home. He charmed ladies with poetical lines from Shakespeare alternating them with absolutely witty and wicked jokes. He had the Dev Anand debonair air about him and he was a hit with both sexes. He praised the cooking in his tobacco-laden voice, listened attentively to the men, and hugged children affectionately. He brought the house down everywhere. Once he admitted that he missed his family, in a moment of candour, before taking refuge behind his favourite line with a twinkle in his eye, "Sigh no more, man, sigh no more, women were deceivers ever!"
I believe Hindu Sindhis are a wonderful community of survivors. I have presented the journey of this brave and strong Hindu community, forced into poverty and terrorized out of home and hearth. These Sindhis stepped out of inhospitable barracks, wore brave smiles when they went in search of work in new, strange lands. Many had a zero balance after they left Sindh; today, it might be difficult to count the number of zeroes in most of their balance sheets. If the Sindhi community ever gets a listing on the New York Stock Exchange, it would surprise me if Warren Buffett isn't amongst its first investors. Sindhi Hindus are multi-baggers all right.
I would like to add that our elders left Sindh not out of cowardice but in fact, they chose wisdom over foolhardiness--they faced an unpleasant reality and did what was necessary for survival. Imagine a USA and UK where 75 percent of the population is Muslim and the government is Muslim as well. Even George Bush and Tony Blair would run for cover. How could 22 percent Hindus stand up to 75 percent Muslims? And then, matters were deteriorating by the day, with Hindus decreasing and Sunni Muslim numbers rising. When the mayhem began, survival was all everything.
Had Netaji Bose and Sardar Patel been at the helm of national affairs, to my mind, the Muslim League would have failed. The British played their divide-and-rule to the hilt, Jinnah played his, "We are different, we are Muslim" tune, Gandhiji undemocratically by-passed Patel to hand over power to Nehru, and the rest is history. Nehru told Sindhi journalists "Partition, yeh sab bakwas hai!" (Partition, this is all rubbish!), Gandhiji also stated that Partition would take place over his dead body. These remarks lulled Hindus into a dangerous
complacency. Finally, when things got ugly, Hindu Sindhis left.
The Sindhi Hindus paid the highest price. Gandhiji's idealism was expressed when he said, "Aap baithe raho aaram se!" (You stay in Sind, without fears!) In Bombay, Morarji Desai, wanted the refugees to stay on the outskirts of the city and not come into Bombay, treating Sindhis as pariahs or pollutants. Nehru, on his part, admitted he felt little for Sindhis, when he said, `I don't know Sindh. I don't feel attracted to it.'' In a letter he wrote,``The Sindhi people have their good qualities and I rather like them. But they are a curious mixture of the Muslim feudal classes and the Hindu bania class, neither very admirable, as classes go. Still they have push and energy and that is something to be thankful for. They seem to be singularly devoid of any artistic sense. And the colour they sport in their striped pajamas are a trial." If he had tears, Nehru wasn't prepared to waste them on Sindhi Hindus, as Dr. Choithram Gidwani, a Congress leader, discovered, to his dismay.
We went from being a prosperous community, to the new untouchables. There was a push from within--the Muslim League and the Mohajirs wanted us out, and there was a push from without—Indians found us, "chee"(yuck) and a needless burden. Hindu Sindhis were inconvenient on both sides of the border. Who can call the great Sadhu Vaswani a coward? Even a wise man of spiritual depth, had to leave Sindh along with Dada J.P. Vaswani. Can we entertain any doubts on this subject after reading their story?
Doors of Hindus were marked with a red cross, making Hindus sitting ducks for fortune-seekers. Hindus watched as armed bands of people roamed the streets, crying, "Hindu ko maro!"(Kill the Hindu!") All weapons had been surrendered to the government by law, so, self-defense was out. Muslims went to Hindu homes and business premises, with documents declaring them as "Intending Evacuees." They had to vacate since the authorities had chosen to assume they were "intending" to leave; therefore, they had no business to continue living there. Nobody knew on what fact the assumption was rooted, nobody knew who was next. Everything Hindu was up for grabs.
Many Sindhi Muslims protected their Hindu neighbours from attacks by Mohajirs; but there are also stray instances of those that gleefully occupied their homes. Sadly, their glee was short-lived since they soon had to surrender their gains to the Mohajirs. Sufis at heart, many Sindhi Muslims saw their neighbours depart with a tear in their eye.
Now where are the Sindhi Hindus? Rootless, we were now a community, which chose to blend, adapt, and wear masks. We succeeded, full marks to Sindhi Hindus. But, now that we have, why do we continue with those useless masks? Do we have to change our names and surnames? Are we flattered if somebody mistakes us for Punjabis or Parsees? What's wrong with us? If Narayan Murthy and Azim Premji can make it in the world with their difficult names, can't we do the same with ours? But we want to say to the world-- Look, look, I am like you, I am not a Sindhi. And so Harry (Hariram) cries over the shoulder of Sally (Sundari), "Sally, why do Sindhis lack culture?" Sally replies, "Charyo thyo aahen,( are you mad) naturally, it's all about money, Harry!"
One of the subjects of many discussions is the issue of the Sindhi script. I am grateful to Mr. Mangharam Sipahimalani who first educated me on this subject when I interviewed him. But, in a nutshell this is the reality of the script and its history. The original script of Sindhi was not one, but eight, Devnagri, Thattai, Khudabadi, Luhaniki, Memonki, Gurmukhi, Khojiki and Hatvaniki. At the time of Mahmud Ghaznu, Al Bruni found three scripts current in Sindh—all three were variations of Devnagri.
Later, when the British arrived they found the Pandits writing Sindhi in Devnagri. Traders were using the secret Hatvaniki, which has no vowels. The women men were using Gurmukhi and the government employees were using a form of Arabic script. British scholars felt that the Devnagri script would be right for Sindh. Government servants, many of whom were Hindus, favoured the Arabic script, since they did not know Devnagri. A debate went on with Capt. Burton favouring the Arabic script and Capt. Stack favouring Devnagri. Sir Bartle Frere, the Commissioner of Sindh, referred the matter to the Court of Directors of the British East India Company, which favoured Arabic on the ground that Muslim names could not be written in Devnagri. Sir Richard Burton, and local scholars Munshi Thanwardas and Mirza Sadiq Ali Beg evolved a 52-letter Sindhi alphabet. The Indian government recognizes both the Devnagiri and Arabic scripts.
Sindhi is an ancient language, with over seventy percent words in Sanskrit. Professor E. Trumpp in his monumental `Sindhi Alphabet and Grammar' (1812) writes: "Sindhi is a pure Sanskritical language, more free from foreign elements than any of the North Indian vernaculars." The Rev. Mr.G. Shirt of Hyderabad, one of the first Sindhi scholars, considered that the language is probably, so far as its grammatical construction is concerned, the purest daughter of Sanskrit. It has small sprinkling of Dravidian words, and has in later times received large accessions to its vocabulary from Arabic and Persian. Writes Dr. Annemarie Schimmel, Harvard professor of Islamics, and versatile linguist: "Since every word in Sindhi ends in a vowel, the sound is very musical." After understanding the background of the Sindhi script, one can only hope the controversy will be give a decent burial. Sindhi is our mother tongue, Devnagiri is our mother script.
Sindhi Reflections is divided into many equally important sections. Where more than one family member was involved, I have put them under one umbrella heading. All chapters has been edited. Photographs were included practically at the last minute.
If you are ashamed to be a Sindhi, I hope this book changes you. Do add your comments here or email your feedback
at latajagtiani@gmail.com,
at http://sindhireflections.blogspot.com/Lata Jagtiani
THE BOOK COST: RS 800
NO OF PAGES: 543
Contact Lata Jagtiani for the book in Mumbai 022 22047283/85 and mobile 9820260962.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Sindhi Reflections: Foreword by Mr L.K.Advani
Foreword
Nearly sixty years after the partition of India, looked at from the Sindhi Hindu perspective, it seems almost unreal that our community suffered so much, when what you get to see is educated, progressive and successful Sindhis today.
But like many tragedies that have happened—tragedies that have defined the existence of a people—the partition of our country too was a defining moment in history. This is true for Indians in general, but even more so for those that actually experienced being dispossessed of home and hearth, and of the trials that came their way in the years after the partition.
Sindhis in particular have another, unkind cut to be unhappy about, that being that while Bengal and Punjab were divided on August 14/15, Sindh was not. As a consequence, the distancing from our culture and language began to happen soon after the partition itself, something which is an unfortunate development.
And yet, it is amazing that our community has survived, and survived well. Like the Phoenix from the ashes, we have risen from being down and out, to a people who take the lead in commerce, and have fair representation in the Arts, in Medicine, in Engineering, and a variety of fields. And the upside is also that we are truly ‘transnational’.
Lata Jagtiani has attempted to bring together many people together on a stage, so to speak—people who had direct experiences of before, during and after the partition. This she has done mostly through interviews, and in some cases, through articles, biographies etc. I am sure students of history, as well as Sindhis in general will find this compendium of much value.
L.K. Advani
Nearly sixty years after the partition of India, looked at from the Sindhi Hindu perspective, it seems almost unreal that our community suffered so much, when what you get to see is educated, progressive and successful Sindhis today.
But like many tragedies that have happened—tragedies that have defined the existence of a people—the partition of our country too was a defining moment in history. This is true for Indians in general, but even more so for those that actually experienced being dispossessed of home and hearth, and of the trials that came their way in the years after the partition.
Sindhis in particular have another, unkind cut to be unhappy about, that being that while Bengal and Punjab were divided on August 14/15, Sindh was not. As a consequence, the distancing from our culture and language began to happen soon after the partition itself, something which is an unfortunate development.
And yet, it is amazing that our community has survived, and survived well. Like the Phoenix from the ashes, we have risen from being down and out, to a people who take the lead in commerce, and have fair representation in the Arts, in Medicine, in Engineering, and a variety of fields. And the upside is also that we are truly ‘transnational’.
Lata Jagtiani has attempted to bring together many people together on a stage, so to speak—people who had direct experiences of before, during and after the partition. This she has done mostly through interviews, and in some cases, through articles, biographies etc. I am sure students of history, as well as Sindhis in general will find this compendium of much value.
L.K. Advani
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Book review by Anil Balchandani
Book Review: Sindhi Reflections
Anil N. Balchandani
Sindhi Reflections – 140 Lives and the Indian Partition by Lata Jagtiani
The book chronicles the lives of 140 Sindhi men and women who experienced partition. Most of them are first person accounts of the experience whist others are narrations by relatives and some biographies of well known Sindhi personalities. The author reproduces her labor of love by compiling these somber experiences into a well categorized book to record the difficulties by the Hindu community of the state of Sindh, now a part of Pakistan.The stories shed light on many types of sufferings experienced, not only by the Hindus but also the Muslims of Sindh. Some go further to articulate new found riches that have fallen on the community since their flight.
Like most oral histories, these reflections showcase the confusion that existed during the forgotten months between 1947 and 1948. The book has a few essays on the environment in Sindh in the decades after partition by those who migrated much later. The stories are well edited with the author's notes sprinkled amongst the many authoritative pieces. Not all stories are of hardship and horror. Some, like Dr. L.H. Hiranandani describe the blessing that befell his family and is thankful that partition gave him an opportunity he would never have otherwise. There is one poignant outcome from reading these reflections; not many wish or long to go back to visit Sindh.This book will bride a growing divide between many generations of Sindhis; the remaining few that experienced partition and choose not to discuss it and those who only associate it with a single date of a bygone era.Here is a summary of the book by the author:"Sindhi Reflections" is a compilation of 140 accounts of Hindu Sindhis who were terrorised out of their ancestral homes by Muslim mohajirs. These 140 accounts cover the broad spectrum of Sindhis from all parts of what is now Pakistan. These Hindu Sindhis believed that they were safe, they were used to the Sufis who lived in Sindh; they were in for a rude shock because they did not know Wahabi Muslims. The Mohajirs were mostly fortune-seekers who came to what was expected to be the capital of Pakistan; they continued presence of Hindus in Sindh irked their sensibilities. Many of them had seem bloodshed and were keen to settle scores. These 140 accounts are divided into 8 categories: Businessmen, educationists/writers, politicians, fighters, professionals, other professions, young Sindhis and spiritual lights such as Sadhu T.L.Vaswani. There is an introduction, followed by a brief Historical background of Sindh accompanied by a map of Sindh and bibliography, glossary, etc. It is a must read for all students of Indian History, especially for all those who are interested in the Partition of India."
These reflections showcase the confusion that existed during the forgotten months between 1947 and 1948. The book has a few essays on the environment in Sindh in the decades after partition by those who migrated much later. The stories are well edited with the author's notes sprinkled amongst the many authoritative pieces. Not all stories are of hardship and horror. Some, like Dr. L.H. Hiranandani describe the blessing that befell his family and is thankful that partition gave him an opportunity he would never have otherwise.There is one poignant outcome from reading these reflections; not many wish or long to go back to visit Sindh.This book will bride a growing divide between many generations of Sindhis; the remaining few that experienced partition and choose not to discuss it and those who only associate it with a single date of a bygone era. Here is a summary of the book by the author:"Sindhi Reflections" is a compilation of 140 accounts of Hindu Sindhis who were terrorised out of their ancestral homes by Muslim mohajirs. These 140 accounts cover the broad spectrum of Sindhis from all parts of what is now Pakistan. These Hindu Sindhis believed that they were safe, they were used to the Sufis who lived in Sindh; they were in for a rude shock because they did not know Wahabi Muslims. The Mohajirs were mostly fortune-seekers who came to what was expected to be the capital of Pakistan; they continued presence of Hindus in Sindh irked their sensibilities. Many of them had seem bloodshed and were keen to settle scores. These 140 accounts are divided into 8 categories: Businessmen, educationists/writers, politicians, fighters, professionals, other professions, young Sindhis and spiritual lights such as Sadhu T.L.Vaswani. There is an introduction, followed by a brief Historical background of Sindh accompanied by a map of Sindh and bibliography, glossary, etc. It is a must read for all students of Indian History, especially for all those who are interested in the Partition of India.
The book chronicles a community reduced to rags from riches, goes through harrowing experiences but finds its way back to riches, with no regrets or blame. A community that is beyond compare in the annals of history, one that cannot be put down.
Anil N. Balchandani
Anil N. Balchandani
Sindhi Reflections – 140 Lives and the Indian Partition by Lata Jagtiani
The book chronicles the lives of 140 Sindhi men and women who experienced partition. Most of them are first person accounts of the experience whist others are narrations by relatives and some biographies of well known Sindhi personalities. The author reproduces her labor of love by compiling these somber experiences into a well categorized book to record the difficulties by the Hindu community of the state of Sindh, now a part of Pakistan.The stories shed light on many types of sufferings experienced, not only by the Hindus but also the Muslims of Sindh. Some go further to articulate new found riches that have fallen on the community since their flight.
Like most oral histories, these reflections showcase the confusion that existed during the forgotten months between 1947 and 1948. The book has a few essays on the environment in Sindh in the decades after partition by those who migrated much later. The stories are well edited with the author's notes sprinkled amongst the many authoritative pieces. Not all stories are of hardship and horror. Some, like Dr. L.H. Hiranandani describe the blessing that befell his family and is thankful that partition gave him an opportunity he would never have otherwise. There is one poignant outcome from reading these reflections; not many wish or long to go back to visit Sindh.This book will bride a growing divide between many generations of Sindhis; the remaining few that experienced partition and choose not to discuss it and those who only associate it with a single date of a bygone era.Here is a summary of the book by the author:"Sindhi Reflections" is a compilation of 140 accounts of Hindu Sindhis who were terrorised out of their ancestral homes by Muslim mohajirs. These 140 accounts cover the broad spectrum of Sindhis from all parts of what is now Pakistan. These Hindu Sindhis believed that they were safe, they were used to the Sufis who lived in Sindh; they were in for a rude shock because they did not know Wahabi Muslims. The Mohajirs were mostly fortune-seekers who came to what was expected to be the capital of Pakistan; they continued presence of Hindus in Sindh irked their sensibilities. Many of them had seem bloodshed and were keen to settle scores. These 140 accounts are divided into 8 categories: Businessmen, educationists/writers, politicians, fighters, professionals, other professions, young Sindhis and spiritual lights such as Sadhu T.L.Vaswani. There is an introduction, followed by a brief Historical background of Sindh accompanied by a map of Sindh and bibliography, glossary, etc. It is a must read for all students of Indian History, especially for all those who are interested in the Partition of India."
These reflections showcase the confusion that existed during the forgotten months between 1947 and 1948. The book has a few essays on the environment in Sindh in the decades after partition by those who migrated much later. The stories are well edited with the author's notes sprinkled amongst the many authoritative pieces. Not all stories are of hardship and horror. Some, like Dr. L.H. Hiranandani describe the blessing that befell his family and is thankful that partition gave him an opportunity he would never have otherwise.There is one poignant outcome from reading these reflections; not many wish or long to go back to visit Sindh.This book will bride a growing divide between many generations of Sindhis; the remaining few that experienced partition and choose not to discuss it and those who only associate it with a single date of a bygone era. Here is a summary of the book by the author:"Sindhi Reflections" is a compilation of 140 accounts of Hindu Sindhis who were terrorised out of their ancestral homes by Muslim mohajirs. These 140 accounts cover the broad spectrum of Sindhis from all parts of what is now Pakistan. These Hindu Sindhis believed that they were safe, they were used to the Sufis who lived in Sindh; they were in for a rude shock because they did not know Wahabi Muslims. The Mohajirs were mostly fortune-seekers who came to what was expected to be the capital of Pakistan; they continued presence of Hindus in Sindh irked their sensibilities. Many of them had seem bloodshed and were keen to settle scores. These 140 accounts are divided into 8 categories: Businessmen, educationists/writers, politicians, fighters, professionals, other professions, young Sindhis and spiritual lights such as Sadhu T.L.Vaswani. There is an introduction, followed by a brief Historical background of Sindh accompanied by a map of Sindh and bibliography, glossary, etc. It is a must read for all students of Indian History, especially for all those who are interested in the Partition of India.
The book chronicles a community reduced to rags from riches, goes through harrowing experiences but finds its way back to riches, with no regrets or blame. A community that is beyond compare in the annals of history, one that cannot be put down.
Anil N. Balchandani
SINDHI REFLECTIONS: BOOK REVIEW IN THE PIONEER
My book, "Sindhi Reflections" has been reviewed in "The Pioneer" in February 2007. Here it is:
==============
Pain refuses to subside
MV Kamath
Sindhi Reflections, Lata Jagtiani; Jharna Books, Rs 800
When Partition took place and Pakistan came into being, murder and looting became the order of the day. But neither Punjab nor Bengal was handed over to Pakistan in toto. Just as these States were partitioned, so should have been Sind.
Sind, too, should have been partitioned. One part of it, howsoever small, should have remained with India. It should not have become necessary for all Hindu Sindhis to leave their homeland and come to India, too often penniless, in addition to being homeless. What is most ironic is that our National Song includes Sind as part of our heritage, if not of the country itself. But none of that mattered and Sind was handed over to Pakistan on a platter. What followed was utter misery for lakhs of Hindu Sindhis.
Now, 60 years later, Lata Jagtiani has taken up the challenge with commendable determination. And what stories have these Hindu Sindhis have to tell? Thousands went through hell after they landed in Mumbai as migrants. They went about systematically to rebuild their broken lives and forget the past.
In his forward to the book, LK Advani says, "It is amazing that our community has survived and survived well. Like the phoenix (risen) from the ashes, we have risen from being down and out, to a people who take the lead in commerce and have fair representation in the arts, medicine, engineering and a variety of fields... It seems almost unreal that our community suffered so much when what you get to see is educated, progressive and successful Sindhis today." Not only have they prospered, but they have also built schools and colleges, hospitals and public service organisations.
What Lata Jagtiani has done is to put together a fascinating collection of over 140 true accounts and profiles of Sindhi Hindus who came to India to make it their next home and build a new life for themselves. Says Jagtiani, "Many had a zero balance after they left Sind; today, it might be difficult to count the number of zeroes in most of their balance sheets..." But that is really putting on a brave face. It could be that the Sindhis do not want to live in the past and let the dead past bury its dead.
One, however, cannot still forget the pain and angst of another day, Jagtiani recounts the story of a Sindhi woman with several children who was told to quit her home at once along with her kids before a riotous gang came to kill them all. She has to run to the nearest railway station with as many of the children around. It was only when she and her lot were safely in a train coach that she realised that her teenage daughter was missing. There was no way to get the teenager as the train started moving. For long nobody knew. Then it turned out that the abandoned daughter had been adopted by a Muslim family which raised her to become a well-established doctor.
Writes Jagtiani, "A meeting was arranged between the daughter and the mother at Ulhasnagar. After the initial joy of the reunion, they parted and returned to their lives - the mother back to selling pappad in India and the daughter to heal the people ill in Pakistan."
Sindhi Reflections is divided into eight equally important sections. Jagtiani herself interviewed many people. A few who were interviewed later did not want their thoughts and experiences recounted in print.
Jagtiani starts her book with an account of a brief historical background to Sindhi life and culture, while it ends with the tragic Partition.
Of about 14 lakh Sindhi Hindus, as many as 12.25 lakh had to leave Sind for India and other parts of the world. Some of the stories recounted came straight from the mouths of those who left Sind between January and match 1948. Jagtiani says, quite rightly, that Sindhis left Sind "not out of cowardice but, in fact, they chose wisdom over foolhardiness" and "faced an unpleasant reality and did what was necessary for survival".
Jagtiani has brought alive a past which many would rather forget. But the historian has a duty to perform and Jagtiani has done it well.
==============
Pain refuses to subside
MV Kamath
Sindhi Reflections, Lata Jagtiani; Jharna Books, Rs 800
When Partition took place and Pakistan came into being, murder and looting became the order of the day. But neither Punjab nor Bengal was handed over to Pakistan in toto. Just as these States were partitioned, so should have been Sind.
Sind, too, should have been partitioned. One part of it, howsoever small, should have remained with India. It should not have become necessary for all Hindu Sindhis to leave their homeland and come to India, too often penniless, in addition to being homeless. What is most ironic is that our National Song includes Sind as part of our heritage, if not of the country itself. But none of that mattered and Sind was handed over to Pakistan on a platter. What followed was utter misery for lakhs of Hindu Sindhis.
Now, 60 years later, Lata Jagtiani has taken up the challenge with commendable determination. And what stories have these Hindu Sindhis have to tell? Thousands went through hell after they landed in Mumbai as migrants. They went about systematically to rebuild their broken lives and forget the past.
In his forward to the book, LK Advani says, "It is amazing that our community has survived and survived well. Like the phoenix (risen) from the ashes, we have risen from being down and out, to a people who take the lead in commerce and have fair representation in the arts, medicine, engineering and a variety of fields... It seems almost unreal that our community suffered so much when what you get to see is educated, progressive and successful Sindhis today." Not only have they prospered, but they have also built schools and colleges, hospitals and public service organisations.
What Lata Jagtiani has done is to put together a fascinating collection of over 140 true accounts and profiles of Sindhi Hindus who came to India to make it their next home and build a new life for themselves. Says Jagtiani, "Many had a zero balance after they left Sind; today, it might be difficult to count the number of zeroes in most of their balance sheets..." But that is really putting on a brave face. It could be that the Sindhis do not want to live in the past and let the dead past bury its dead.
One, however, cannot still forget the pain and angst of another day, Jagtiani recounts the story of a Sindhi woman with several children who was told to quit her home at once along with her kids before a riotous gang came to kill them all. She has to run to the nearest railway station with as many of the children around. It was only when she and her lot were safely in a train coach that she realised that her teenage daughter was missing. There was no way to get the teenager as the train started moving. For long nobody knew. Then it turned out that the abandoned daughter had been adopted by a Muslim family which raised her to become a well-established doctor.
Writes Jagtiani, "A meeting was arranged between the daughter and the mother at Ulhasnagar. After the initial joy of the reunion, they parted and returned to their lives - the mother back to selling pappad in India and the daughter to heal the people ill in Pakistan."
Sindhi Reflections is divided into eight equally important sections. Jagtiani herself interviewed many people. A few who were interviewed later did not want their thoughts and experiences recounted in print.
Jagtiani starts her book with an account of a brief historical background to Sindhi life and culture, while it ends with the tragic Partition.
Of about 14 lakh Sindhi Hindus, as many as 12.25 lakh had to leave Sind for India and other parts of the world. Some of the stories recounted came straight from the mouths of those who left Sind between January and match 1948. Jagtiani says, quite rightly, that Sindhis left Sind "not out of cowardice but, in fact, they chose wisdom over foolhardiness" and "faced an unpleasant reality and did what was necessary for survival".
Jagtiani has brought alive a past which many would rather forget. But the historian has a duty to perform and Jagtiani has done it well.
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