Inaugural

Volume - 8 : Issue - 2

Published : April - June 2009

Group : Issues

 

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GRIEVANCES AND WISH LIST

OF THE SINDHI COMMUNITY

By Ajay Kumar Pamnani

GRIEVANCES

1.       Sindhis were not granted a "state" in India and no part of Sindh was made to be a part of India after partition and independence.

2.       Sindhi language was not included in the Indian constitution and its recognition and inclusion took place as late as 1968.

3.       There have been clamours of exclusion of "Sindh" word from national anthem and even a PIL had been filed in 2005.

4.       There was a ban of education in Sindhi by the state government of Gujarat for sometime.

5.       The locality of Ulhasnagar near Mumbai in Maharashtra has not been renamed as Sindhunagar despite the demand of locals since years.

6.       There is no recognition given to the fact that the Vedic religion emanates from Sindhis and the country is named after them.

7.       Sindhis have been defined as "refugees" in their own country.

8.       Sindhi heroes and freedom fighters do not find a place of honour in the text books in India

9.       Sindhis have only nominal or negligible presence in government jobs and ministerial positions in "states" of India. There has been no Sindhi chief minister of a state in India

10.     There are mass facilitations in jobs / admissions / politics / business etc. based on caste / mother tongue / place of birth in the name of "state" in India, but none for Sindhis

11.     There are facilitations of upper castes, reservations of SC / ST / OBC (despite some OBC castes being affluent / politically sound) in government jobs and admissions in various 'states' of India but none for Sindhis

12.     The Sindhi business success stories on foreign soil are not given proper recognition in management institutes and business magazines in India

13.     Sindhis are often dubbed as "business community" in India and there are only a few individuals at the helm of affairs, unlike people of other communities / castes whose members find prominence in India, because they have their "state" to back up & support.

14.     There are many Sindhis in India who still remain 'poor' because they do not belong to any caste and due to the fact that their culture is almost under threat of extinction.

15.     Sindhi festivals are not recognized, nor are  Sindhis entitled to restricted holidays on such occasions

16.     Denomination of Indian currency, carries all other script adopted in the VIIIth Schedule other than Sindhi

WISH LIST

Based on the aforementioned grievances, I, strongly put forward my view points:-

1.       A separate Union Territory (preferably consisting of areas from Gandhidham, Adipur & Kandla in Gujarat) should be carved out in the name of Sindhurajya in India.

2.       The Sindhi refugee colonies such as Ulhasnagar near Mumbai, Kubernagar in Ahemdabad and Bairagarh in Bhopal should be renamed as Sindhunagars.

3.       There should be reservations for Sindhis in jobs and admissions and for which a suitable formula should be worked out.

4.       A separate chapter on Sindhis and their culture should be developed and introduced in the text books in India and included for compulsory education in curricula for students.

5.       There should be reserved and nominated members in the parliament (Loksabha) / State legislatures from Sindhis in India.

6.       The Sindhi festival of "Chetichand" should be declared national holiday as "Jhulelal Jayanti" all over India.

7.       "Sindhiyat" should be recognized as an emergent philosophy in India across state boundaries by all educated people.

8.       Sindhi language & literature (in Devanagri script) should be introduced in all prominent and central universities in India.

9.       A tableau representing the Sindhi community be made part of Republic Day parade as there is no State to sponsor this participation.