Sindhudesh (Sindhi: سنڌو ديش, literally Sindhi word meaning 'Sindhi Country') is a concept floated by some Sindhi nationalists in Pakistan, for the creation of a Sindhi state, which would either be independent from, or autonomous within Pakistan. It was conceived by senior Sindhi political leader G. M. Syed. A Sindhi literary movement emerged in 1967 under the leadership of Syed and Pir Ali Mohammed Rashdi, in opposition to the One Unit policy, the imposition of Urdu by the central government and to the presence of a large number of Mohajir (Indian Muslim refugees) settled in their province. During the 1970 national election campaign, Syed proposed the formation of an autonomous Sindhudesh within a loosely federated Pakistan. The movement for Sindhi language and identity led by Syed drew inspiration from the Bengali language movement, but the emerging Sindhi nationalism was marginalized as the populist agenda of pro-Pakistan Sindhi politicians such as Zulfikar Ali Bhutto with his Islamic socialism,which drew mass support amongst Sindhi people opposed to the previous regimes.[1] To this day,not a single party provoking Sindhi nationalism has been voted into power in Sindh.[2][3]
With his political base largely weakened, Syed later advanced his position, towards openly demanding separation from Pakistan and build-up of an independent Sindhudesh in his books Heenyar Pakistan khey tuttan khappey (Now Pakistan Should Disintegrate) and Sindhu Desh - A Nation in Chains.[4]
The idea of Sindhudesh is also supported by Hindu Sindhis, most of whom had to be relocated out of Sindh after Partition, leaving behind their property as evacuee trusts under reciprocal government supervision ; however it is not known whether Sindhudesh would be open to Hindus or not. Sindh was a relative peaceful province,with communal violence only erupting sporadically and during partition[5]
Contents |
Sindhudesh was also ancient name of modern Sindh, as the state of Sindh is mentioned in the epic of Mahabharata by this name only. For more information refer to Sindhu Kingdom.
After the death of former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, the Sindhudesh movement has seen an increase in popularity. Sindhi nationalists judge that Sindh has been used to the advantage of people from non-Sindhi ethnic groups, citing the dominance of Mohajir people in key areas of Sindh including Karachi, the unrecognition of the Sindhi language at provincial or national level, large scale migration to Sindh from other regions of Pakistan, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, alleged Punjabi dominance in the defence sector, and an increase in Taliban migrants moving to Sindh; as well as terrorist related attacks on the region.[6] and believe this to be the cause of recent troubles in Sindh (see Sindhi nationalism). Pro-Sindhudesh organisations such as the JSQM and World Sindhi Congress have gained a wider support base.[7]
The Sindhu Desh Liberation Army of SDLA is an organisation based in the Sindh province often compared to the Balochistan Liberation Army in terms of is objectives strives to establish an independent state of Sindhu Desh. Recently a series of attacks on railways lines have been claimed by the SDLA leaving pamphlets on the scene, mentioning the “atrocities” being carried out against Sindh and promising to continue their “struggle” till Sindh was granted “freedom”.[8] It has considerable support from the disgruntled people of Sindh who are oppressed by the Punjab dominant politicians, army and bureaucracy of Pakistan since the 1970's.
A new left wing party for a politically, culturally, economically and geographically independent Sindh was formed in December 2011. It wants to see Sindh as it was in 1843 before the British conquered it and opposes the development of Zulfikarabad, referring to it as a new Israel.[9]
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||