Sindhi
Navjeevan Sabha, Delhi
My first introduction to Sindhi Navjeevan Sabha
was one when of the relatives mentioned about the matrimonial service that is
run by the Samaj every Sunday. In day-to-day usage, in the Sindhi world,
a place of community get-together is referred to as Samaj. It is usually a
built up compound which also generally has a temple / Gurmandir as well. The
temple has a characteristic Sindhi touch in that it not only has idols of
various Hindu deities but of Jhule Lal and Sindhi Saints as well -
notable among them being Bhagat Kanwarram, Swami Lila Shah, Baba Nebhraj of
Rohiri, Swami Shanti Prakash etc.
"Samaj" plays an important role in community
interactions although its popularity is facing steady decline. A Sunday
matrimonial service is quite characteristic of almost all "Samaj(s)"
throughout Delhi and elsewhere where prospective brides and groom register themselves
and bio-data(s) are exchanged between interested families. Some of the major
Samaj's in Delhi are located in Old Rajinder Nagar, Lajpat Nagar (there are a
couple of them here), Janak Puri and Ashok Vihar. Sindhi Navjeevan Sabha is
located in Lajpat Nagar on Jal Vihar Road.
I first went to Sindhi Navjeevan Sabha about a
couple of years ago and have been visiting this place every now and then ever
since. It is an old structure consisting of a spacious courtyard on the
ground-floor with a large hall/temple having idols of various Hindu deities.
There is a similar large room on the first floor where matrimonial services are
usually conducted along with a couple of smaller rooms as well. The ground
floor also seems to have a small living room which I believe is used by the
caretaker’s family.
The
distinguishing feature of Navjeevan Sabha is the small room adjoining the large
hall on the first floor which is full of books giving it a library feel. Books
are neatly arranged in various shelves. I immediately recognized (Late) Dada K.
R. Malkani’s masterpiece – “The Sindh Story” lying on the top of the shelf. I
enquired if the library did get visitors on which a learned gentleman from the
management committee wryly commented that there are books but no readers here.
This is not surprising given the current state of Sindhi Literature and culture
here in India. It is saddening to note that there is a wealth (“Khazano”) of
literature in this library not just in Sindhi but in Hindi and English as well
but unfortunately no takers.
Navjeevan Sabha is also perhaps the very few
places in Delhi (at-least) from where one can buy map of Sindh. I purchased a
couple of them and was very pleased to locate my ancestral city of Kandiaro on
the map. I also was able to locate various other places about which I had heard
earlier such as Sukkur, Larkana, Hyderabad, Pano Akil etc.
Lifetime Membership for the Sabha, I am told, is
available for INR 2,500 which gives you free access to the library. Maps of
Sindh are available for INR 30 each.
“Sabhas” and “Samaj(s)” need patronage from the
larger community to survive and remain relevant. These contributions necessarily
need not be only “financial” in nature (although money contributions never
hurt!) but can also include attending to community functions
/processions/celebrations etc. Perhaps, the next time you get an invite to
attend such an event; do take out some time to attend the same. You may have
something exciting to share with family and colleagues.
As this post has been about language and
literature, Sindhi Academy, Delhi recently organized a National level poet
meet. I am sharing the link below to Dada Vasdev “Mohi”s’ poetry wherein in his
introduction he speaks about the relevance of English, Hindi and Sindhi in his
life.
I hope some of us get inspired and start speaking in our mother tongue at-least in our homes to begin with.
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