The Isreali government has granted a Palestinian a rare residency permit after the man, who is gay, said his sexuality put his life in danger in the West Bank, a Defence Ministery official said.
The 33-years-old- Jenin man was issued a temporary permit to live with his Israeli partner in Tel Aviv after arguing he faced death threats from fellow Palestinians who disapproved of him being gay, the official siad.
March 26, 2008
1. A bad beginning makes a bad ending. 2. A bad corn promise is better than a good lawsuit. 3. A bad workman quarrels with his tools. 4. A bargain is a bargain. 5. A beggar can never be bankrupt. 6. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. 7. A bird may be known by its song. 8. A black hen lays a white egg. 9. A blind leader of the blind. 10. A blind man would be glad to see.11. A broken friendship may be soldered, but will never be sound.
By: Humaira Rahman
In 1940, when the Muslim majority areas of what was then British India resolved to consider forming a loose confederation, only three aspects of governance–currency , foreign affairs, and defense related communication–was granted to a future central government. The rest of the federating units were to assume total control of all their natural resources and all other aspects of government which were to be formed on democratic principles. This is known as the Lahore resolution of 1940. Pakistan emerged as an independent state in 1947 on the basis of this resolution.
Over the last sixty years, however, several bouts of long military rule has not only eroded all democratic institutions and destroyed the constitutional rule of law, but it has also allowed the armed forces to penetrate into the provinces establishing their control over all resources and creating profitable enterprises for retired and active military personnel. Pakistan is now made up of 4 provinces, having lost its fifth through a bloody civil war of secession in 1971 leading to the independence of Bangla Desh. Of the four, the most populous and yet disproportionately powerful is Punjab from where a majority of its million plus armed forces are recruited, making Pakistan the owner of the fifth largest military in the world. Over the last six decades, the military has usurped power several times and during its tenures made considerable strides in enriching itself and entrenching itself as owners of Pakistan’s industry, commercial establishments, and real estate. Province of Punjab is landlocked and does not have the mineral resources that Sindh and Balochistan possess, and therefore seeks to control the coast line as well as the vast reserves of coal, gas, and petroleum that Sindh and Balochistan possess. TOTAL POPULATION OF PAKISTAN : 160 million SINDH: 45 million BALOCHISTAN 12 million PAKHTUNKHWA: 26 millon and PUNJAB : 77 millon.//
Courtesy: Sindh e-lists/ e-groups, March 22, 2008
By Karan Thapar
NEW DELHI- Most people, I believe, grow to fill the responsibility placed on them. Promotions are, therefore, an act of faith. But that said and done I’m flabbergasted by the change in Asif Zardari. He’s literally become a different person.
The Asif I remember was a jovial tease, informal, chatty, fond of the good life and determined not to be boring or even serious. We first met the night after his wedding. “Benazir has told me all about you,” he said with mock gravity. “I’m on my best behaviour!” He then spent the evening pulling my leg and, frequently, his wife’s too. Weeks after Benazir first became prime minister we were together on her special flight from Islamabad to Karachi. It was an aged propeller plane which flew at a sedate speed. Sitting in the prime ministerial drawing room at the front, Asif looked at his watch. We’d been traveling for nearly two hours. “If you’d stuck to PIA not only would you have arrived but you’d be in the hotel pool by now!” I protested I wasn’t in a hurry. “Yeah? Let’s see if you return with us!” I didn’t. The Asif I meet two weeks ago was very different. Now the adjectives I would use are measured, emollient and deliberately self-effacing. Of course, he’s still charming, chatty and can’t resist teasing but there’s new gravitas, a consciousness of responsibility and a convincing sense of wisdom. Consider two examples. I pointed out that Nawaz Sharif would keep the PPP-led government unstable. Benazir’s reply would have been defensive. Asif chose to turn my question on its head. “And I welcome that,” he said. “I need people to keep me in check.”
“You need to be kept in check?” I asked, puzzled. “Power is a tricky thing,” he responded. “What better can I ask for than my own ally should check me?”
It was a winning answer but also utterly unexpected. How many politicians on the brink of power welcome the prospect of being kept uncertain and unstable? Even if he didn’t mean it, it was the perfect thing to say. However, it wasn’t just fluent cleverness that made Asif so engagingly different. He also showed vision and courage. When I asked about Kashmir and the role it has played separating. India and Pakistan, Asif, in a simple heartfelt reply, reversed Pakistan’s stand.
Let’s put Kashmir aside for a wiser generation to sort out, he said. Let’s not be hostage to the UN resolutions, he added. Let’s get on with the rest of the relationship and once we’ve learnt live and love each other then tackle Kashmir. Stunned, I made Asif repeat this three times. Not once did he use the opportunity to resile. Each time he re-affirmed what he’d said.
Finally, I asked: “Can you carry your countrymen? Can you handle the backlash this would provoke?”
Asif’s reply was simple. There were no flourishes or braggadocio. “That’s the test of leadership,” and he left it at that.
I can’t predict what sort of government the PPP under Asif Zardari will give Pakistan. I can’t even state Asif won’t change this position. Politicians often do and Asif has faced flak from the Jamaat at home and the Hurriayat in Kashmir. But I do know that Asif did not get carried away. This was not indiscretion or impetuousness. He meant what he said and, what’s more, he meant to say it.
In fact, when I asked if Dr. Manmohan Singh chooses to invite the new PM what the response would be, Asif said not only would the prime minister come but so too Nawaz Sharif, Asfandyar Wali Khan, Fazlur Rehman, Altaf Hussain and Asif Himself. A new Pakistan would seek to be friend India.
I’m therefore full of hope. And whilst I accept hope can easily be dashed, I would say there’s need to encourage this one. That’s the challenge facing our government. How do we assist Asif Zardari without embarrassing or undermining him?
Courtesy: Hindustan Times
The Associated Press: China accused Tibetan supporters of the Dalai Lama of attacking its embassies around the world. The comments by the Chinese Foreign Ministry came as Beijing vowed to protect its territory and clamp down on week-old anti-government protests in Tibet.
Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao criticized Tibetan independence supporters of using violent acts to break through police cordons in foreign countries and break into chinese embassies and consulates.
As for the anti-Chinese protests in Tibet, Liu vowed that China would “unwaveringly protect” its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. – The Associated Press
March 19, 2008
- Aziz Narejo, Mumbai, India
The seminar was a wonderful experience. It was very well-organized. The most remarkable thing about the seminar was that the audience listened to all the speakers with pin drop silence. It is a marked difference from the various sessions at our conventions.
The gathering was very impressive. It included educationists, professionals, businessmen, students and a large number of men and women from the Sindhi community in Mumbai. They had very lively interaction with the speakers after the seminar.
Seminar topic: “Bombay Presidency, Sindh & Sindhis”
Sheriff of Mumbai, Dr Indu Shahani inaugurated the seminar
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Mumbai, Dr Vijay Khole presided over the seminar. Speakers at the inaugural session were:
Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Mumbai, Dr A. D. Sawant
Member of the Legislative Council Maharashtra, Dr Gurmukh Jagwani
Renowned film producer & president of the Association of Motion Pictures & TV Program Producers, Pahlaj Nihalani
Head of Sindhi Department, University of Mumbai, Dr Baldev Matlani
The papers were presented by:
Dr Ram Buxani (Dubai): “Bombay Presidency, Sindh & Sindhis – Business Implications”
Aziz Narejo (USA): “ Bombay Presidency, Sindh & Sindhis – Political Implications”
Dr M. K. Jetly (Delhi, India): “ Bombay Presidency, Sindh & Sindhis – Academic Implications”
Dr Baldev Matlani (India): “ Bombay Presidency, Sindh & Sindhis – Human Development”
Editor, Sindhishaan, Mumbai, Mr. Ranjit Butani presided over the session
Former Prinicipal CHM College, Ulhasnagar, Dr. Dayal Asha summed up the findings and rendered his poetry.
March 14, 2008
The president, distinguished guests, scholars and Ladies and Gentlemen:
Peace be unto you:
It is good to be here in the great city of Mumbai , which is very familiar to the people in South Asia and is a major world metropolis.
Let me start with a poem that is actually a prayer by the Poet Laureate of Sindh, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai:
“saaneen-m sadaaeen kareen mathey Sindh sukar
Dost mitha dildar aalam sabh aabad kareen”
‘Oh my Lord, shower thy blessings over Sindh
Oh my Friend, bestow abundance all over the world’.
I bring greetings to you from the North American Sindhi community, especially the members of our organization, Sindhi Association of North America (SANA). I wish the organizers of this seminar a great success in their endeavor. I would like to see many more avenues like this to open in future for the betterment of our people and the preservation and promotion of our language and culture.
I am personally grateful to Dr Baldev Matlani, head of the Department of Sindhi, University of Mumbai to have invited me to be here and speak to you on this very important subject: “Bombay Presidency, Sindh & Sindhis – political implications” . Sindh’s merger with Bombay Presidency and an epic struggle by Sindhis to gain eventual separation or “freedom”, “aazaadi”, as it was called at that time, were truly the most significant chapters in the history of the Indian sub-continent. They had very important and momentous impact on the future of British India .
Before I say anything on the subject, I would like to make a few submissions:
First I would request you not to consider this as a research paper. As I live in USA , far away from my land, and didn’t have the research material available to me, I couldn’t possibly write a fully researched paper. Hence, this should be treated as my observations on the subject:
We have to ask one question here: Why do we go back to history? It could sometimes be a very difficult task that might re-open the wounds that need to be healed. At other times it could create dangerous situations that may destabilize societies.
Also as most of us believe, history happens to be very subjective. Many people write it with biased minds and many more see it through tainted lenses. It is very rare to find objective accounts of history. Even those could be questionable for some.
There are also two views of history: one is by and for the scholars and the historians. That is mostly technical and too academic. The other view is that of the common folks. That view may not be authentic and could have more propaganda in it than carrying hard and verifiable facts. It could be used to devastating effect – to fabricate myths, cloud some realities and create new ones.
So why do we go back to history? Do we do it to study it as a science and ascertain facts or do we go to it to learn from it with a clear purpose to avoid any past mistakes to help build a better and more peaceful future?
Again the scholars, academia and historians would be best suited to go for the first choice.
Common folks could go for the second choice. That’s how I would like to deal with this subject.
I would also like to mention here two major forces, religion and economics, which have drawn lines on many controversial subjects as the present one under discussion.
I am of the view that the religion is one of the most powerful elements in people’s lives. It has great influence and plays very important role. It has the potential to cause devastating wars and shaping the destinies of the people and the countries. It is capable of inciting great commotion, crises and upheaval but at the same time it also helps people attain inner peace and a purpose in life.
No one should underestimate the power of religion. It becomes lethal weapon especially in the hands of the politicians. They could use it for their purpose to the detriment of the peace and progress.
That’s one reason, it is advocated that religion should not be mixed with politics and statecraft. It should not have any role in public affairs, governance and civic matters. That is how secularism has grown to be an accepted norm in many societies.
The economics is the other important factor that affects the lives of the people and helps them make far-reaching decisions. The economic interests of a group, a people or a nation either bind them together or separate them from others.
That is not to diminish the role of the social, cultural, linguistic, ethnic and other factors in a society.
Ladies and Gentlemen: Sindh has had its identity from the time immemorial – since the pre-historic age. It gets the name from Indus River , which is one of the world’s largest rivers providing sustenance to the people in the towns and villages on its banks and in its valleys. The inhabitants of Sindh made up one of the world’s oldest civilizations. It was on the banks of Indus River that great Vedas were written.
The people in Sindh had been considered well-to-do and self-sufficient. They had been engaged in agriculture, trade and entrepreneurship. They didn’t need much outside help to survive. Hence they were one of the only few nations around the world that didn’t invade other countries to bring riches to their land.
In the known history, Sindh has been a peaceful land believing in the pacifist philosophy that didn’t need or practice any violence. They have had respect for all the religions and faiths of the world. In Sindh, followers of different religions had co-existed peacefully without feeling any insecurities or threats.
One can safely say that the most peaceful period in Sindh’s history has been the time when it had been ruled by its indigenous rulers. In recent history, it had been the period under Soomra and Samma rule. Soomra rule began in the eleventh century and the Samma rule in the fourteenth century A.D. That period is called ‘the golden period’ for Sindh, which saw peace and progress and an unmatched religious tolerance with no room for discrimination on the basis of faith or belief.
At the end of Samma period in the sixteenth century, Arghus established their rule in Sindh and since then Sindh, although maintaining its identity, has virtually been ruled by non-indigenous groups with only brief intervals. During that period rulers created divisions on the basis of religion and discriminated against the minorities giving birth to ill-feelings among citizens.
British were no different an occupying force when they invaded and conquered Sindh in 1843. They followed the age-old policy of divide and rule and favored one over the other and provided more opportunities of development and progress to one than the other.
They committed another sin when they revoked the identity of Sindh and made it a part of the Bombay Presidency in 1847. That was something unnatural and unfair. Sindhis suddenly ceased to be Sindhis. They became subjects of an alien entity. They did never have any such relationship with Bombay in the history. Nor did the two have much in common.
Hamida Khuhro in her article ‘British administrative policy in Sind and the role of Sir Bartle Frere’ says that the two certainly had markedly different physical features, a totally dissimilar population make up and entirely different historical background. Sindh was also difficult of access from Bombay . She adds that it could be said with confidence that little benefit came to Sindh from the connection.
Other points of major difference were that Sindh had its own language and culture and economy. It had always been either an independent country or a semi-independent, autonomous state or entity paying some revenues to either Indian Kings or rulers in the North West . But Sindh had always maintained its identity and lived according to its own traditions, customs and culture.
Occupation of Sindh by Sir Charles Napier was already an ignoble act. Making it a part of a large and developed area instead of retaining it as an autonomous province was an invitation to disaster.
We have seen it in Pakistan when One-Unit was imposed on Sindh in 1955 making it a part of the West Pakistan province with hegemony of the Punjab . Hordes of immigrants from other areas of West Pakistan entered Sindh and virtually occupied all avenues of economy threatening Sindhi life and culture and subjugating Sindhi masses.
One-unit experience was disastrous for Sindh. Although the system lasted only 15 years, the province is still suffering its consequences. Compared to it, Sindh remained part of Bombay Presidency for about 90 years. One can imagine the negative impact it might have caused to the life and the economy in Sindh.
As Sindh was made a part of the Bombay Presidency, the merchants and various other groups started immigrating to Sindh from Bombay and other parts of India . The ultimate decision makers in Bombay who were not familiar with the conditions of Sindh could not pay any attention to the needs of the people and the development of the area. There were long delays in decisions on important matters due to poor communication links between Karachi and Bombay .
Mr. Malkani commenting on the situation says: “ Bombay officialdom treated Sindh as the Shikargah (hunting ground) during their winter visits”. The irony is that even though they either did not visit Sindh or came to Sindh for a week or 10 days in a year, 1/4th of their salaries were paid by Sindh.
Lack of development work in Sindh can be judged from the fact that for many years, Sindh did not have any center for holding matriculation examination. Students had to travel to Bombay to appear in the examination. There was no rail or road link between Sindh and Bombay . There was a boat service between Karachi and Bombay for postal communication. It carried a few people as passengers and took several days from Karachi to Bombay and back. Land travel was even more cumbersome. People had to take long, difficult and circuitous route. It took longer period. It was next to impossible for poor students to take the journey closing the doors of higher education to them and hence any share in the government employment and any better opportunities.
Bombay Presidency didn’t help or support establishment of a University in Sindh nor did it open any colleges in arts, engineering or any other science and humanities subjects.
Bombay ’s lack of interest in Sindh’s development was also evident from the roads and communications sector. As Rasool Bux Palijo writes in his article on “Simon Commission and denial of provincial autonomy to Sindhi” that during 70 years’ rule, Bombay government constructed only 5 miles of road in Sindh. He says that in 1915-16 a sum of 803 rupees was spent on roads in Sindh while during the same period 2.1 million rupees were spent in other parts of Bombay Presidency, which had 5,118 miles of roads.
Swarna Rajagopalan writes in the “State and Nation in South Asia” that people of Sindh complained of neglect of their province by Bombay authorities. He said that the annexation of Sindh to Bombay Presidency caused important demographic, commercial and political consequences. Outside mercantile class grew in wealth and influence while the majority in Sindh remained poor and uneducated. He also says that migration to Sindh from other parts of Bombay presidency of various trading communities took place during that period.
These and many other injustices and abnormalities forced Sindhis to ask for provincial status for Sindh. A movement for separation of Sindh was launched with wide support from the masses. Initially it had support from all the people irrespective of their faith. Muslim League and National Congress both supported the movement.
It was very unfortunate that in the later stages there was a dissent on the basis of religion and Sindhi society was bitterly divided. It was ironic that the first prominent leader to ask for Sindh’s separation from Bombay was Seth Harchand Rai Vishandas while Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto was against it. After the change in the situation, the two were seen reversing their roles with Seth Harchand Rai opposing the separation while Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto fighting the case of Sindh’s provincial status.
As the movement grew in influence, British government sent a statutory commission also called Simon Commission to ascertain the facts and submit a report.
The leaders that represented the demand for the separation of Sindh from Bombay included Mohammad Ayub Khuhro, Barrister Mir Ayub Khan, Barrister Abdul Rahman, Wahid Bux Bhutto, Jan Mohammad Khan, Mohammad Kamil Shah, Wali Mohammad Hassanali and Ali Bux.
The leaders that represented the opposition to Sindh’s separation from Bombay included Professor Chhablani, Khemsingh, Diyalmal Daulatram, M.L. Chhablani, Seth Shaukat Rai Veerumal, Harchandrai Tahalramani, Moolchand Kauromal, Seth Chelaram, Bhagwandas Ahuja, P.T. Advani and Dr D.G Advani.
The commission didn’t clearly support the separation case. The Bristish government discussed the issue during round table conferences in London and finally agreed to give Sindh a long over due provincial status but that unfortunately happened at the cost of a grave damage to once peaceful land. The people were divided on the basis of their faith – something that was alien to Sindhi culture where people had lived like a big family sharing the joys and sorrows together.
Ladies and Gentlemen: the movement for Sindh’s separation from Bombay had serious political implications. It is said that the movement for Sindh’s separation from Bombay actually paved the way for the future partition of the Indian sub-continent and the establishment of Pakistan . It was the Sindhi leadership that was first to demand the right of the self-determination of Muslims in October 1938. Sindh Assembly was the first provincial assembly that passed a resolution to demand the establishment of Pakistan in 1943.
Sindh’s support for the demand for Pakistan was crucial as Sindh was the only province in whole India with a large Muslim majority. Bengal and Punjab did not have that large Muslim majority. There the Muslims were barely over 50%. The Frontier province did not have clear stand on the issue at that time and Balochistan didn’t have the autonomous provincial status.
Another impact was the polarization and radicalization of people on the basis of religion. Before the movement grew in influence, majority of Sindhi Muslim leaders were members of the Indian National Congress. Muslim League had no significant following in Sindh up to that point. Leaders such as Ayub Khuhro, Shaikh Abdul Majid Sindhi, Abdullah Haroon and Hatim Alvi joined Muslim League in 1938.
It was two years after Sindh attained provincial status that a branch of Muslim League was formally opened in Sindh in 1938 and G. M. Syed who was a prominent leader of Congress at that time joined Muslim League.
The later events in Sindh and other parts of the Indian sub-continent led to the partition that caused one of the greatest tragedies that have ever hit the humankind.
It also caused huge loss to “Sindhi Samaj”, Sindhi society, language, culture and the people’s political and economic rights.
Where do we go from here?
For one, I would caution the people to handle with care the controversial subjects such as the one under discussion here today. They have already caused too much anguish and injury to many societies around the world. We should not let them divide the people any more. Time comes in the history of the people when they should look forward and move on. Yes, we should study such subjects and see them in their true perspective but should not let them reopen the wounds and cause more harm.
I also think that it is incumbent on all the Sindhis living in as well as outside Sindh to play an effective role in the preservation of Sindhi language and culture.
I would like to make a proposal on this forum that Sindhis should celebrate all over the world “Sindh National Heritage Month” – “Sindh jey qaumi virsey jo mahinoo”. All media, related departments of academia, social and cultural organizations, scholars, historians and writers should write and produce programs on various aspects of Sindhi heritage. It could be held during the first Sindhi month “Chet” or any other month agreed upon by various Sindhi scholars and organizations.
We should do it to preserve and promote Sindhi language, literature, music, art and culture and let our younger generations and the world know what Sindh and Sindhi heritage represent.
I request all of you and the distinguished guests to support the idea. We can try to reach various organizations in Sindh and abroad in this regards. It may go a long way in preserving and promoting our heritage.
Courtesy: SANAList/Sindhi e-lists/e-groups
March 14, 2008
Report by: Farooq Tariq
Over 1600 workers from Alnoor Sugar Mill Moro, Sindh took over the factory today on 12 March 2008. They occupied all the administration departments of the Mill and asked the General Manager (GM) of the Mill to sit on the floor. The GM was a retired army brigadier. The GM was then forced to tour around the factory under workers control.
The occupation ended at 5pm when the local Member of Parliament from Pakistan Peoples Party assured the workers that their demands would be met within next 48 hours.
By: Gul Karamchand
It was with utmost interest that I read Theme no. 9 at about Sindhu Putra, the Spiritual Leader of Sindh and the subcontinent in 5,000 BCE.
It is a marvelous account, with dramatic highlights, and touches the heart. Certainly it is worth reading, circulating. and reprinting.
The brutal assassination of Sindhu Putra in 5,000 BC brings home to us with sadness that the sacred soil of Sindh has, from time immemorial, suffered from brutality, violence, murder as also executions under false legal cover and assai nation of the best and brightest by hired guns.
To see this theme 9, please open www.sindhulogy.org and a click of the top heading of ‘Projects’, will list the themes from Return of the Aryans – and among those is Theme 9 about Sindhu Putra.
THAT’S THE CAPITAL SHOW. Lal krishn Advani and Ram jethmalani attended the preview Of KOSHI LALVANI’S FILM THE AWAKENING IN DELHI. Adwani was accompanied by his wife Kamla and daughter Pratibha.
The first SINGLISH film (English + Sindhi) on Sindhi culture and heritage, in a musical journey was very welcomed by one and all,who came to see the preview. Audience was so euphoric that all gave standing ovation after the film.
Dada L.K Adwani was very much emotional and said that he has not seen such a good film in long years.
Dada Ram Jethmalani who has acted in the film too, talked very high about the film to Chanel’s and the press.
Top line artist Smita Vishal vatwani and Dadi Farida were present there.
The film is Directed by Dharambir Kumar. For details of the film pleas log on to
http://www.theawakeningfilm.com
News via Koshi Lalwani, India, at Sindhi e-lists/e-groups, March 2008
HYDERABAD, March 10: National congress of the Jeay Sindh Mahaz held in Radhan, Dadu district, on Sunday paid tribute to the Punjab for its leading role in the struggle for independence of judiciary and said that it was for the first time that the Punjab had risen against dictatorship.
It observed that during the February 18 elections, the people of Sindh had unanimously voted against the Musharraf government due to his dictatorial and anti-Sindh polices.
It said that it was now the responsibility of elected members of the assemblies to come up to expectations of the masses and ameliorate their lot.
The congress called upon the new government to discard the Kalabagh dam project and announce a judicious National Finance Commission award according to international principles.
It demanded abolition of local bodies system, saying that it was a ‘conspiracy against national unity and development of Sindh.’
Announcing support to lawyers’ struggle, it called for reinstatement of sacked judges of superior judiciary.
The congress introduced some amendments to the JSM constitution and manifesto and observed two-minute silence on the death of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
The congress was presided over by JSM convener Abdul Khaliq Junejo. Noted intellectual comrade Rochi Ram attended the congress as an observer. In his speech, he said that true democracy would remain a misnomer unless the constitution of the country was made secular.
Courtesy: Sindhi e-lists/ e-groups, March 12, 2008
By: K.M.KOLACHI
There was a person in our dept in Karachi. He saved some money and purchased a plot. Suddenly the developer disappeared and this poor man was deprived of the hard-earned money. He was very much upset.
After that when he discussed with us on the general topics he mostly tried to state and prove that soon the water level of sea will rise and Karachi will be inundated. Not only will that most of the major port cities of the world will be under water.
We Sindhis have also been deprived of our rights and we are also frustrated and stating like above mentioned person
While we may hope that MQM will soon pass away, we may not forget that it is weak who suffers. If MQM will be over even then there are other forces like our Punjabis brothers, Patthan borthers and other who can usurp the rights of common people of Sindh. Actual problem is our weakness. We have to use all our abilities to cut our weaknesses by education and improve our self to be strong enough to face the pressures of the different forces. We need to work for peace and harmony with all for the betterment of Sindh and Pakistan.
Courtesy: Sindhi e-lists/ e-groups, March 10, 2008
(Hyderabad: Sindh) Professor Qazi Asif Ali elected as chairman of the Institute of Sindh Affairs, Professor Ameer Qadri as Senior Vice Chairman and Advocate Zafar Rajput as General Secratary. The institue is working for betterment of Sindh and for harmony among the new and old Sindhis.
March 10, 2008
All of those who have passed Bachelor’s/Master’s course and now wishing to continue your studies further in MS /PhD course then please come forward, South Korean universities are waiting for you.
As South Korean high-tech research institutes and universities are now emerging with the implementation of latest and advanced technologies. An imaginative research work is going on rapidly for becoming future’s hub of engineering research and technologies. It is now policy of all the high-tech research institutes, Universities along with the Government to increase the number of foreign students. Many students from Punjab and NWFP have tried to search those institutes/universities for getting scholarships and they succeed and now they are studying here with the total support of universities but unfortunately no one from Sindh has tried to avail these opportunities.
This is my request indeed I emphasize that Please search universities, appropriate Labs and forward your documents along with resume and research proposal to the concerned professors and If you were accepted by professor then write to universities international cooperation offices or professor to bear your living expenses along with tuition and dormitory fees in shape of scholarship or any other package. I am sure if you guys seriously and sincerely tried you will definitely avail that chance.
Courtesy: Sindhi e-lists/e-groups, March 09, 2008
USA, TX: The president of the Sindhi Association of North America, Aziz Narejo has been invited to speak at an international seminar at the University of Mumbai. The seminar is being organized by the Department of Sindhi, University of Mumbai, at the Vidyanagari Campus on 11th March on ‘Bombay Presidency, Sindh & Sindhis’. Mr. Narejo is invited to present a paper on ‘Bombay Presidency, Sindh & Sindhis, Political Implications’.
March 07, 2008
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!
Courtesy: Sindhi e-lists/ e-groups, March 4, 2008
Mumbai, March 4 (IANS) Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani and jurist Ram Jethmalani are among the prominent members of the Sindhi community who will attend a special screening of a movie called “The Awakening” at the Films Division auditorium in New Delhi March 9.
The movie, directed by Dharambir Kumar, traces the lineage of the Sindhis from the time of the Indus Valley Civilisation, though it is not a documentary on the community.
Based on a fictitious story written by Vinod Raman Nayar, it is about a New York-based girl called Sindhu and how, while doing her research on the Indus Valley Civilisation, she discovers her Sindhi roots.
Through the eyes of the girl born and brought up in New York and her Mumbai-based grandmother, who steadfastly holds on to her Sindhi heritage, the movie sees the community’s evolution and the subsequent travails, a large section of its members faced following the partition of India.
The movie dramatises the events that led to largescale migration of the Sindhis from their base, losing touch with their roots, and how the close-knit community later disintegrated.
“The Awakening” has been produced by well-known Sindhi composer, lyricist and singer Koshi Lalvani, wife of Dubai-based businessman Lal Lalvani, and daughter of the noted Sindhi poet Kavi Naraindas Malkani.
Better known for her Sindhi music albums and musical ballet, “Jaag Sindhi Jaag”, this is Koshi Lalvani’s maiden attempt at filmmaking “to reintroduce to the Sindhi youth their rich lineage, culture and language.” She has produced “The Awakening” under the banner of Paradise Pictures.
“I have approached the movie as two stories. One is born out of my imagination about a girl called Sindhu and her journey through history and the other is based on my research on the ancient civilisation that had grown on the banks of the Indus river known in India as ‘Sindhu’. But the movie is basically an attempt to remind the Sindhis scattered the world over about their roots,” Nayar said.
A Maharashtrian girl, Smitaa, plays the role of Sindhu in the movie. The cast includes Vishal Vatwani, Farida Dadi and Pankaj.
July 03, 2008
By Ali Nawaz Memon, USA
1. South Korea has practiced a policy of proportional development. Under this policy, for every infrastructure development in urban area, proportional development has taken place in rural areas with objective of providing regional balance and therefore reducing the need of urban to rural migration.
It is with pleasure and pride to note that in the recent U.S.A Presidential Primary elections, two Sindhis, Prem Lalvani and his daughter, Nadja Lalvani, were elected as Alternate Delegate and Delegate respectively to Presidential Candidate, Sen. John McCain.
It will be for the first time that two Sindhis (a father and daughter team) will attend the National Republication Convention scheduled in September at Minnesota, and participate in the U.S.A. political process to elect Republican Nominee for the Presidential post.
The general election is scheduled to be held on November 4, 2008. The Democrat Nominee is expected to be either Sen. Hillary Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama.
It is of prime interest to note that Prem Lalvani is Chairman of Alliance of Sindhi Associations of Americas and founder of International Sindhi Sammelans. For general information, he is also Commissioner of Police and Fire Board, in Bolingbrook , Illinois while his said daughter, Nadja, is Director of Community Relations, City of Naperville , Illinois .
23 Feb 2008
Courtesy: Arjan Daswani, Singapore / Sindhi e-lists/ e-groups
