Migration of Refugees from Sindh is an issue that is close to my heart. Every time I hear about group of Hindu Sindhis coming to India to start life afresh due to difficult circumstances in their home country, my heart fills with sadness. It reminds me of my paternal and maternal grandfather and the struggle they would have gone through to re-start life in India. Dada was lucky to find a Government job early on given his educational background. Nana on the other hand came to Delhi as his brother-in-law had a government job here and was the only close relative that Nani had having lost both her parents early on. In addition, the government was much more benevolent given the huge influx at that time and had allotted land to refugees. Having a home/ a place of your own in new surroundings helps you immensely in developing a sense of identity and often acts as a building block for starting life afresh. I have time and again heard elderly relatives talk about the importance of owning a home , often commenting " Maanu je sar te chut te pehenji huje" (One should have a home of their own).
However, the circumstances are much more difficult for fellow brothers and sisters who are migrating now. Whilst they come with a lot of hope, for many, it doesn't take long for their dreams to be shattered. There is negligible government support except some assistance by few Samaritans / Sindhi organisations every now and then. Having grown up in a doctor household, as kids we used to get irritated whenever the doorbell rang at odd hours. Daddy always used to say " Maanu dadhi aas saan aenda aahin" ( People come with a lot of hope) and would always respond. Today I realize how would lonely these fellow sindhis would feel when they are left to fend for themselves without much assistance. It also makes me realize the important role that "luck" and "timing" play in shaping our futures.
I do think it is no less than service to the entire society to help these migrants. Help need not be monetary ; for a lot of them, help essentially means giving them access to opportunities - whether it is helping them with an application for school or a referral at work etc or probably something as simple as offering them a cup of tea if you happen to meet them. Sometimes all that people need is a support system and they are ready to conquer the world. The next time you meet a refugee family, please act compassionately.
I end with youtube videos of two gentlemen who represent the true Sindhi spirit - of never giving up, of hard work and of zeal to succeed against all odds. The first story is of visually impaired Dada Kalyan Adwani who is based in the Sindhi colony of Jaripatka in Nagpur (Maharashtra).Despite having lost his eyesight at the young age of three years, Dada Kalyan never gave up and today successfully runs a kids snack store from his home to make ends meet. He reminds me of Tina and my visits to " Bhogdi" from whom we used to buy Namkeen when we were young. From the same Nagpur, is another inspiring story of another young Hindu migrant from Pakistan, Lakhi ( now known as Lucky) who runs a roadside cart selling Poha / Chivda. Bhai Lakhi is also specially abled yet rather than relying on charity/alms, runs his own cart to earn an honorable living. He has named his cart SSD after the famous Sacho Satram Dham sect from Deherki Sahib in Pakistan which has a huge following amongst Sindhis in Western India.
It is individuals like Dada Kalyan and Saeen Lakhi who truly represent all that we as a community stand for. As (Late) Dada K. R. Malkani aptly writes in his book "The Sindh Story" :-
" .......... From ``Sharnarthis'', the Sindhis have grown into ``Pursharthis'' and ``Parmarthis''.
What could be the reason for the dramatic success of Sindhis --- and Punjabis --- after the shattering shock of Partition? It is the same reason that enabled Japan and Germany to revive themselves after the trauma of defeat in World War II. This is, the mind of a people. Milton described it long back as ``the unconquerable will, never to submit or yield''. The Sindhi considers it his Fundamental Right to Succeed. Given this frame of mind, men can make gold even out of dust."
Jai Jhulelal.
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