Sindhudesh

Map of Sindh

Flag used by Sindhi nationalists showing an axe in opposite to the most popular Muslim Sufi symbols of Ajrak and Sindhi Topi in Sindh

Districts of Sindh

Sindhudesh (Sindhi: سنڌو ديش‎, literally "Sindhi Country") is a concept floated by some Sindhi nationalist Parties in Pakistan for the creation of a Sindhi state, which would be independent from Pakistan.^[1][2] The movement is based in the Sindh region of Pakistan and was conceived by the 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 Muhajir (Indian Muslim refugees) settled in the province.^[3]

No Sindhi nationalist party has been ever voted into power in Sindh at any level of government.^[4][5] Some nationalist parties and associations are banned for "terrorist, anti-state and sabotage" activities by the Pakistani government.^[6] A Sindhudesh rally was organised in Karachi in March 2012, which had a notably low turnout,^[7] followed by a freedom march by the pro-separatist Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) which, according to sources, gathered hundreds of thousands of people to demand independence for Sindhudesh.^[8]

A strike called by the pro-separatist Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM) on 25 January 2014, resulted in a complete strike in the province, excluding some areas of Hyderabad, Tando Allahyar, Matiari and Ghotki.^[9] Sindhis feel that they are separate and full-fledged nation, so they have been struggling for self-determination of Sindh ^[10]

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Historical Kingdom

According to the epic Mahabharata, Sindhudesh was the ancient name for modern Sindh,^[11] translated as the Sindhu Kingdom.

History of the Movement

In 1972 G. M. Syed proposed the formation of an independent nation for the Sindhis under the name Sindhudesh. He was the first nationalist politician in Pakistan to call for the independence of his land in a Pakistan divided by the liberation of Bangladesh.^[3] The movement for Sindhi language and identity led by Syed drew inspiration from the Bengali language movement.^[12] In post independence Pakistan, the machinations of the Pakistani state convinced Syed that Sindhis would be marginalised in the set up.^[3] The concept of Sindhudesh as propounded by Syed calls for the liberation and freedom of Sindhis from Punjabi-Mohajir imperialism.^[3]

With his political base largely weakened after election, Syed later advanced his position towards openly demanding separation from Pakistan and the 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.^[13]

The concept of Sindhudesh is also supported by the Sindhi diaspora^[14] including Sindhis in India,^[15] most of whom had to be relocated out of Sindh after Partition, leaving behind their property as evacuee trusts under reciprocal government supervision. Pre-partition, Sindh was a relative peaceful province, with communal violence only erupting sporadically and during partition.^[16] This peace stopped after partition, with post-partition migrants to Sindh angry at the "non-co-operation" in the killing of Hindus; and communal hatred multiplied post partition.^[17][18]

Re-emergence of Sindhudesh Movement

Banner in support of Sindhudesh movement, Shikarpur, Sindh.

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 Muhajir people in key areas of Sindh including Karachi, 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.^[19] 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.^[20]

JSQM 'Freedom March'

The Daily Times reported that on March 23, 2012 in Karachi, Hundreds of thousands of leaders, activists and supporters of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) attended a freedom march denouncing the Pakistan Resolution and chanting pro Sindhu Desh slogans, with many rallies being present. The paper also reported that processions occurred in many other cities and towns in Sindh. JSQM Chairman Bashir Khan Qureshi expressed his desire for the Urdu-speaking community to integrate with Sindh, calling them "brethren and part of Sindhi nation".^[21]

Sindhu Desh Liberation Army

The Sindhu Desh Liberation Army or SDLA is an organisation based in the Sindh province comparable to the Balochistan Liberation Army in terms of is objectives strives to establish an independent state of Sindhu Desh. A series of minor blasts^[23] took place on railway lines — the attacks carried out between November 2010, and February 2011 were claimed by the SDLA, who left pamphlets on the scene that mentioned “atrocities” being carried out against Sindh and promising to continue their “struggle” till Sindh was granted “freedom”.^[24] The attacks were condemned by fellow Sindhi nationalists such as Dr Qadir Magsi of the Jeay Sindh Tarraqi Passand Party, who warned of negative consequences from violence.^[23] The SDLA claims moral inspiration from (BLA) armed struggles in Balochistan, which they term as a response to "Punjabi domination" of the Pakistani state.^[25]

Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz

Jeay Sindh Qoumi Mahaz is the main guardian of Jeay Sindh theory, a legacy inherited from the G.M Syed. JSQM believes in peaceful independence based on (Ahinsa).

-Flag of JSQM

Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz

JSMM is an other faction of Jeay Sindh movement who believes in gorilla war for independence. Shafi Muhammad Burfat is the leader of JSSM operating from Kabul.

Sindh United Party

The Sindh United Part believes in the parliamentary system and strives to seek autonomy for Sindh including financial autonomy.

Sindh National Movement Party

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.^[26]

See also

• Human rights abuses in Sindh
• Jeay Sindh
• Indus River
• Indus Valley Civilization
• Separatist movements of Pakistan
• Muhajir Sooba

References

External links

• G. M. Syed. A Nation in Chains
• FreeSindh.org a site dedicated to the Sindhi Freedom Struggle
• Sindhudesh.com

Sindhi nationalism Historic figures Raja Dahir Jam Nizamuddin II Mian Adam Shah Kalhoro Gernal Hosh Mohammad Sheedi Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi Molana Ubaidullah Sindhi Abdullah Shah Ghazi Mir Sher Muhammad Talpur Dodo Bin Khafef Soomro III Modern figures G. M. Syed Shafi Muhammad Burfat Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Ayaz Latif Palijo Baba-e-Sindh Comrade Hyder Bux Jatoi Bashir Qureshi Qadir Magsi Rasul Bux Palejo Sajjad shar Mumtaz Bhutto Safdar Sarki Zarina Baloch Muhammad Ibrahim Joyo Benazir Bhutto Asif Ali Zardari Culture Ajrak Sindhi cap Sindh Culture Day Sindhi tribes Malakhra Sassui Punhun Sindhudesh Poets Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Sachal Sarmast Tajal Bewas Shaikh Ayaz Sami Contemporary controversies Sindhudesh Kalabagh Dam Human rights abuses in Sindh Battles and conflicts Debal Battle of Fatehpur (1519) Battle of Dubbo Battle of Hyderabad Battle of Miani Battle of Halani Battle of Kachhi Political parties Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party Awami Tehreek Sindh National Front Sindh United Party Sindh National Party Sindh Hari Committee Militant Organizations Sindhudesh Liberation Army Non profit organizations World Sindhi Congress World Sindhi Institute