Excerpt:
Asad Chandio is a journalist and a human rights activist based in Sindh, Pakistan. He has been the force that has exposed brutalities done against Pakistani Hindus by extremists and has often treaded on the path where even angels fear to tread in this nation. He is a secular dyed in the traditions of Sindh and is a Sindhi by blood. Here is an exclusive interview with one of the bravest men of Sindh.
Mr. Chandio, what is the situation of Sindh in Pakistan? In India, we keep hearing about the demand of Sindhudesh or the right of Sindhi people over the natural resources of Sindh. Are such talks something that you often encounter in Sindh?
The situation of Sindh in Pakistan is same as that of any other state which is forcibly occupied by another country in any part of the world.
In 1843, despite being an independent state, Sindh was made a slave due to the British Rule, but in 1947, rather than making Sindh as an Independent State, it was again handed over to a system where the people could not even talk about their rights and when they do, they are declared traitors…they demand their rights envisioned in the constitution of Pakistan.
Yes, in Sindh, there is ideologically political movement for creating Sindhudesh but it is alike dreaming for heaven as Mullahs do.
In Pakistan, Sindhis can be declared traitor when they raise the demands for their rights. Sindh and its Sindhis have become victims of countless injustices and are deprived of socio-economic, national, political rights. They are considered second-grade citizens in the country.
Where and exactly who is fighting for the Sindhudesh as per your opinion? Do you believe it can succeed? Or rather, do you think it should succeed?
There is no strong movement except chanting slogans which cannot be a real movement.
Practically, organizations following the ideology of GM Syed have withdrawn from demanding the separation of Sindh.
That’s why, there is neither a movement for demanding Sindhudesh nor even any movement is seen demanding rights of Sindh and Sindhis in Pakistan.
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Why do you think that Sindhi Hindus did not leave for India in 1947 when the country got divided? This question is important as now the Hindu exodus has many people in India wondering about it.
Sindh was and is the homeland of Sindhi Hindus and why should they leave it?
That’s why, during partition in 1947, Sindhi Hindu did not want to leave Sindh because it was their homeland as it was considered as the partition of two countries, not Sindh.
The migrations of Sindhi Hindus started from Sindh, when the Mohajirs (Refugees) with strong religious hatred against Hindus came from UP, Bihar and others areas of India in Sindh. These Mohajirs (Refugees) started to persecute and murder Sindhi Hindus and to forcibly occupy their properties like shops, homes, and lands in Nawabshah, Hyderabad, and Karachi . After such situation, Sindhi Hindus living in the urban areas of Sindh were compelled to migrate to India. Recently, the same communal mindset has further been spread in the country and it sees the Sindhi Hindus as their enemy.
You are a secular voice in Pakistan, don’t you think that you must extend your reach as Pakistan is now in the grip of extremism? Maybe join politics besides doing journalism?
Not only we have taken efforts to save the Sindhi Hindu against religious persecution but also drew the attention of many politicians and political parties toward those issues.
Politics is not my field and I am a journalist and taking all efforts for the cause of Sindhi Hindus. However, politics has become an expensive job and I can not afford to do it.
The last question, any plans of coming to India, especially because many Sindhis live here?
Whoever raises the voice against persecutions of Sindhi Hindus is deemed as an Indian Agent because all Hindus here are considered as the ‘citizens of India.’
So my friends are strictly suggesting me not to visit the India because once I would dare visit India, I would be declared an agent of India. It would be a big challenge and a risk for me to visit India under such circumstances. But despite all this, I wish to visit the brethren neighboring country because it has same history and culture there as we have.
Courtesy: Currentriggers
Read more: http://currentriggers.com/politic/pakistani-hindus-asad-chandio/
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Sindhi remains the second-most widely spoken language in Pakistan, according to MoveHub, a website for people looking to move abroad.
