Sindhudesh
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
Please see the discussion on the talk page. |
Sindhu Desh (Sindhu Land) (Sindhi:سنڌوديش) is a part of the Indian Subcontinent. It is often defined as the valley of the river Indus.
Sindh is one of the most archaeologically interesting regions on Earth, having been the home of at least part of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
Contents |
[edit] Indus Valley Civilisation
Many historians speculate that the people of the Indus Valley were ethnic Dravidian. Clear evidence proving or disproving this is unavailable. Folklore relates to an island in the Mediterranean sea that sunk due to a catastrophe, most probably an earthquake. The survivors migrated eastward to the Indus Valley, where they established a civilisation merging elements of the previous one with Egyptian and Mesopotamian influences.
The Indus Valley civilisation continued till possibly 3700 BCE, when an Aryan invasion destroyed the civilisation. While much of the population seems to have been massacred, it is also speculated that many were taken captive and enslaved. It is assumed that these were then assigned the caste of Untouchables.
Slowly, a complex culture grew up in the Valley. The Aryan religion was the forerunner of the Sanatan Dharma, better known as Hinduism. Elements of the Indus Valley religion seem to have been incorporated into the Aryan religion. The most striking example of this is a clay seal found in the Valley that depicts the Harappan God Pashupati (Lord of the Animals), a forerunner of the Hindu deity Shiv.
Historical evidence suggests that following the Aryan invasion, the Persian Empire assimilated Sindh around 500 BCE. Persian architectural influence remains visible in Birhamanabad, Bhambore and Ranikot. When Alexander the Great defeated the Persian Empire, Sindh became part of his Empire.
After the death of Alexander, General Demetrius ruled Sindh. After numerous revolts, he was overthrown by the local populace. Soon, Sindh was to be part of the Sassanid Empire.
In the 7th century, the Arabs too entered Sindh, as merchants and conquerors. But later on when their grip slackened, the Pathans, the people from North Western part of undivided India often interacted with the local people. After that, the local tribesmen, the descendants of Soomras and Samas, gained power. They ruled' Sindh for a span stretching over three to four hundred years. The reign of Samas and Soomras also came to an end. They too submitted before the Arghoons and Turkhans. It is worthwhile to note that the untouchable status of Sindhi people under Aryan caste system was overturned by the Muslim Invaders. As a result Sindh is now predominantly Muslim.
[edit] Mughal and British Empires
So the continued exercise of changing hands from one dynasty to the other ultimately brought in the Mughal Emperors. During their reign the colonization of Sindh continued. When the Mughal Empire of Delhi became weak and broke into fragments, an independent state in Sindh emerged under the leadership of Kalhoras and Talpurs. It existed till the advent of the British rule. The Agents of the British Imperialism, for their vested interests, attached Sindh with Bombay Presidency. They ruled Sindh through Bombay for about a hundred years Their rule proved a terrible experience for the people of Sindh who suffered humiliation in almost every walk' of life. During this long span of time, the plight of the common man was most pitiable. Not an iota of social uplift could be seen in any aspect of life. Political slavery had its effects on social conditions, which remained as coercive as the Serfdom in the Medieval Poland. The tyrannical colonial rule, with its unjust gross injustice, exasperated" the people' to, launch a campaign against the British Government for separation of Sindh from the Bombay Presidency.' The constant struggle of the people at last bore fruit and in 1936, Sindh consequently got its' recognition, though unfortunately in the shape of a province. The Sindhis did' have a distaste once again, but they nurtured the hope that, after the shackles of slavery were done away with, Sindhu Desh would emerge and exist as an independent and sovereign state in the community of nations.
[edit] Independence movement
The basic fact about the two wings of the country was that East Pakistan enjoyed a much greater majority of men, whereas the Western wing was much larger in area. Since the advent of Adult Franchise every inhabitant of the East wing had the right to vote, hence its representatives in Federal Parliament were also in majority and could pass or lay any rule which they deemed for the betterment of their own people. The ruling clique of West Pakistan realized this undeniable fact as early as 1962. Therefore, the bureaucracy, aided by the military, wanted to keep its, grip by all possible mean on the East' wing for its own political, social and economic benefits. The bureaucracy and the military obviously hailed from the Western wing of the country. In view of the above realistic socio-political conditions, elements of the East Wing began their struggle for political, economic and social independence.
For a variety of reasons such as the political motivation of men with vested interests, their mutual differences, lack of foresight and the ignorance of the masses, the real objectives of freedom could not be achieved in 1947. G.M.Syed fought all his life to cecede from Pakistan but failed to do so. His political aspirations came from a belief that India is going to support another break up of Pakistan after the 1971 war. Thats why he worked as a traitor to the state of Pakistan. Karachi, the biggest city in Pakistan is in sindh and is also the most richest.
