Saeen Sadhram Sahib / Sacho Satram Sect

Religious leaders, Faqeers or " Sainjan" as we popularly call them,  have played an important role within the Sindhi community. Sindh with its focus on Sufism has always been the land of saints and Darvesh. As Professor Motilal Butani had written about Rohiri ,a town in Upper Sindh - ' Oh Rohiri! Even your stones must be worshiped because in the past at one time all the saints must have passed over them, graced by the touch of  their feet." There were supposed to have been twenty-five thousand saints in Rohiri.* Mummy remembers how Nana ( Maternal Grandfather) always used to encourage them to give a donation ( however small it may be) to a Saint or a Faqeer who knocks at the door. " Faqeer Raazi Allah Raazi"  ( Saint's blessings are God's blessings) is a popular saying in Sindhi. 

 Most Hindu Sindhi households usually have an  affiliation with a "Sainjan". Whilst some still follow "Sainjan"  who have sindhi roots , others have embraced non - Sindhi religious sects in their local areas. One of the more popular Sainjan/ Sindhi religious organisation that is still based in Sindh, Pakistan is Sacho Satram sect with its headquarters at Raharki Sahib, a small town in Upper Sindh located some 100 kilometers northeast of Sukkur. Saeen Sadhram Sahib is the current sect leader. Raherki Sahib is considered to be the the birthplace of the great saint Saeen Satram Das Sahib whom  Bhagat Kanwar Ram Sahib considered as his master. 

Before my quest to better understand my roots began, I had never even thought that there would be a sizable Hindu Sindhi community in Pakistan. The reason I thought i should write about Saeen Sadhram Sahib is as I am told that this sect with its vast following among the Pakistani Hindu Sindhi community acts as a binding force to keep them all together. Dr Sunila tells me about how much influence Saeen has on the Sindhi community in Pakistan. I recently had a conversation with another  Sindhi from Pakistan who was surprised that my family is not a follower of Sacho Satram sect. 

Saeen maintains close relations with his followers  in India as well and I understand that the sect is now establishing Sacho Satram Tirathdham near Nagpur (in Maharashtra). I am told that thousands of Sindhis have  contributed to make this dream a reality.  Saints like Saeen Sadhram have played and will continue to play an important role in helping us retain our cultural heritage and keeping the community together. Saeen's Sindhi Satsangs and his constant message of retaining our unique identity by not allowing Sindhi language to die are important lessons that all of us should try to imbibe. Saeen regularly attends World Sindhi Sammelan as well.

I end with a popular rendition of " Faqeer Raazi Allah Raazi" by Sai Kaliram Sahib. I like the way he narrates the entire kalam. I do hope you like it too. Also for the interested reader, I  am providing a link to Sacho Satram (SSD) website. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnc9ASeGthc

http://www.sachosatram.com/

Stay Safe!

Jai Jhulelal. 

* :  Courtesy : Troubled Pilgrimage : A  Passage to Pakistan by Balwant Bhaneja 

Remembering Lajja Aunty

We are in the fifth week of a nationwide Lockdown in India to prevent the spread of deadly Corona Virus. The last few weeks have turned life upside down for most of us ( not just in India but across the world) . All economic activity has almost come to a standstill and in a developing country like ours, making ends meet is proving to be a challenge for vast majority of the population. The Sindhi migrant refugees are also finding it difficult to sustain themselves during these times when there are limited/no opportunities to earn a daily living. Most of these lower middle class families left Sindh to escape religious persecution. Recently, I was pleased to see a Sindhi Association  in Delhi initiating a fund collection to supply food grains and daily essentials to around 40 such migrant families staying in Jahangirpuri in North East Delhi.These families need  support and patronage from all of us to establish themselves here. As Daddy always says " Asaan hik be ji maddad n kanda seen te ker kando! ( If we ( Sindhis) don't help each other then who will).  I am glad to note that over the past couple of years, there has been a perceptible positive change in the attitude of general public towards Pakistani refugees. If you come across a refugee family , please do extend your support to them during this hour of need. 

This week also saw the unfortunate demise of Kum. Lajja Bhatia, a distinguished Sindhi singer who spent her lifetime serving the Sindhi community primarily in/around Delhi. For many decades, she was the resident singer at all events of Sindhu Samaj, Delhi diligently conducting the Aarti and singing Lal Saeen Palav each Friday and on important festive occasions. A committed student of legendary Motihar Brothers ( Dada Kan and Dewan), she often accompanied them on musical tours both in India as well as abroad. Dada Bhaneja fondly remembers that in most of Dada Dewan's duet songs, she was the lead female singer. She was also a part of the "trio" in the two USA/Canada  musical tours that Motihar  Brothers held. She passed away on 19th  April,2020 due to an illness, few months short of her seventieth birthday.

(Late) Kum. Lajja Bhatia

Mummy was saddened to hear about Aunty Lajja's death. She remembered the first interaction with her which was in early 1990s when aunty had come to our home to enquire about the challenges involved with managing a Kidney failure patient on Dialysis. Upon hearing from a neighbor that my grandfather had undergone (prior to his demise) Dialysis for Kidney Failure at Batra Hospital , she decided to speak with daddy/mummy as her father had also been advised of the same. Dialysis in late 80s/early 90s in India was a difficult procedure due to lack of enabling healthcare infrastructure. 

I last saw aunty a year and a half ago when she spent some time chatting with mummy on a sunny winter afternoon at our home while visiting the Ahuja family who stay right opposite us.

Lajja aunty was a true karmayogi who dedicated her life to serve the community. In order to preserve our cultural heritage and roots, everyone needs to play their part and Lajja aunty played this role to perfection. We owe it to individuals like her in helping us connect with our heritage and for keeping Sindhi boli alive through music and literature. I pray to Lal Saeen to rest he soul in peace.

I am sharing a couple of  photographs from the Ottawa Tour in 1985. The musical evening was organised by Ottawa Sindhi Association and Dada Balwant Bhaneja has been kind enough (as always) to permit me to share these with all of us. 

(L-R) Shyam Khubchandani*, Kan Motihar*, Lajja Bhatia*, Sugumal Bhaneja*, Dewan Motihar*

(L-R) Hari Raheja, Kan Motihar*, Dewan Motihar* and Lajja Bhatia*

This tribute will be incomplete without me sharing a link to Aunty Lajja's rendition of the classic        " Dama Dam Mast Kalander" at Jhule Lal Chaliha Evening at Sindhu Samaj in 2016.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nurvMbvFIc4

Jai Jhuelal 

PS: Smt. Rita Tulsaney, has written a wonderful tribute for her beloved friend (Late) Lajja Bhatia on facebook. The interested reader may want to read the same as well. The link is as follows:-

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3691501960921149&set=a.457133027691408&type=3&theater

* : Deceased

COVID and Sindhi Language Day

To say that these are just difficult times will be an understatement. The last two months have posed what is perhaps the deadliest risk faced by mankind in over a century - a threat that has put our very existence into question. What started as a region specific issue has quickly spiraled into a global issue and today COVID threatens each of one us irrespective of our nationality, religion, creed, color, sex etc. Sadly, there does not seem to be any easy way out of this and it is likely we are in for a long battle against the viral disease. Here in India, we are currently under a 21 day complete lockdown which is likely to be extended by a couple of weeks as well.As on date , 199 deaths have been reported in India which whilst not a high number compared to what is being faced elsewhere in the world, does mean that lives of these 199 families have been scarred permanently by the virus. Not to mention, millions of others who have been affected directly or indirectly by the virus. In between all this, India registered the first death of health care worker yesterday , Dr Shatrughan Panjwani, a General Physician of Sindhi origin in Indore who is likely to have contracted the disease while treating patients. 

During these tough times ,what can one do but to pray to the almighty to bless us and for these tough times to end soon. I am reminded of a few baits (verses) of  Shah Abdul Latif 's which include prayers to almighty to cure the sick. I first heard these on Coke Studio Pakistan a few years ago performed by brilliant Saeen Saif Samejo who I think is one of the finest Sindhi singers around. I provide a link to his Song " Mandh Waai" at the end of the post."Daya Kar Dayaalu" as the popular Sindhi saying goes.  

wo Ala
mandho peeande moon
saajano sahi suneaato
pi piyaalo ishqa jo
sabhki samjhyo soon
saajano sahi suneaato
toon habeebo
toon tabeebo
toon ei darda ji dawa
janiba muhinje jeea men aazara ja anwa
sahiba ḍhe shifa meeyaan mareezane khe
allaaha abdul llateefo chae
bhiṭ jo ghoṭo llateefo chae
toon ei aaheen toon
saajano sahi suneaato
ji lateef
o lateef
challa sindhaṛi wasae llateef
bhalo miyaan allaaha

Oh God!
Drinking the wine of gnosis
I perceived the Beloved
Imbibing the doctrines of Love by drinking from Love’s cup
I fathomed entirety
The Beloved I perceived
You are the Friend
You are the Physician
Only You are the remedy for pain
Dearest! in my being are thousands of afflictions
O Lord, pray heal the sick and afflicted
O God! “Abd ul-Latif” says
Latif, the darling bridegroom of Bhit Shah, says
There is none but You
The Beloved I perceived
O good Latif
O Latif
May the land of Sindh remain prosperous, Latif
Good Master Allah

( English Translation copied from Coke Studio Pakistan, Season 4). 

On a separate note, today is also Sindhi Language Day . It was on 10th April,1967 that Sindhi Language was given constitutional status and was included in Eight Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Regular readers of the blog will be aware about DD Sindhi Channel that was started last year by India's public broadcaster, Doordarshan, after years of struggle by Didi Asha Chand of Sindhi Sangat whose petition was represented by Jethmalani family ( First by (Late) Dada Ram Jethmalani and then by his son, Dada Mahesh Jethmalani). The entire petition was based on the Sindhi language having been given Constitutional status in 1967 and hence the state was duty bound to protect the language and ensure its survival given that the language is on the brink of extinction.  

I end with a link to Saeen Saif's brilliant rendition of "Maandh Wai". I hope you like it as much as I do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srM3sc7XvcQ

May Lal Saeen bless us all and the World Heals soon ! 

Ada "Ram"

Whilst I live in a relatively Sindhi neighborhood of Rajinder Nagar in Delhi , however lingua franca of daily conversation is usually Hindi. One of the few exceptions to this is when I meet Ada Ram. "Ada" in colloquial Sindhi is used to address an elder brother. Saeen Ram runs a small Indian Snack shop  ( Bread Pakoras/ Tikkis)  from a temporary kitchen about 50 metres from my home. He sets his stall at around 4 o clock in the evening and is available till the stock lasts. His is a one man show - he prepares around 20/25 Bread Pakoras and a similar number of Tikkis each day and is popular with the local residents for serving homely made, fresh, crispy Bread Pakodas and " Channe Ki Dal" filled Tikkis with fresh Mint and Saunth Chutney. With ancestral origins in Sukkur Sindh, Ada's family shifted first to Lucknow where he was born and then shifted to Delhi some 35 years ago, having originally come to stay with an elderly relative in Azad Market and subsequently shifted to Rajinder Nagar. The elderly relative died a decade or so ago but Ada still stays here and continues to run the kitchen. Mummy tells me that " Channe ki Dal" filled Tikkis are quintessential Sindhi. Ada's Bread Pakoda and Tikkis are highly in demand at my home whenever we have a family gathering with elderly relatives usually commenting " Ghar jaedi tikkiyun thaaendo aa" ( He prepares  Tikkis similar to what we have at home) . We all appreciate his culinary skills. In keeping with changing times and the young student population in Rajinder Nagar, he now also sells Burger (using his Tikki as the filling; you can see peeled onion and tomato in the tray below ) . It reminds me of how mummy used to pack both Tina and me burgers when we used to go on school picnic during our primary school days (!).  Ada Ram like hundreds of others Sindhi reflect the community's ethos of  hard work and dedication without relying on external support to make ends meet. 

Ada " Ram" at his makeshift Kitchen (March,2020)

On another note, Papad (Papadum/Popadum as they say in the west) is an integral part of meal in a Sindhi household. Whether it is the Roasted papad along with Sai Bhaji and Bhuggal Chawal , or it is the fried ones with Alloo ki Poori, this delectable snack is a staple in every Sindhi household. The other day with our stock of Papad coming to an end, Mummy asked me to buy a kilo from the lady who comes at our local community centre, Sindhu Samaj, on most Saturdays and Sundays. Not only does she sells Papad but also Chakkriyun , Kheechas, Khatan ( Pickle) and Peppermint among other things. I wasn't aware that a number of elderly people prefer eating Peppermint candies for its digestive benefits . It is on that day that I realised that buying Papads is not as easy as it seems. I had to call mummy a couple of times as there are a number of variants each with their pecularities - some are spicier than others, some with differing sizes and bigger than others, and so one. The lady told me that Gwalior (in Madhya Pradesh) and Ulhasnagar (in Maharshtra) are the two major cities where a number of Sindhi families are engaged in this business. Sindhi papads are different from the Rajasthani/Marwari ones as those are smaller and much less crispier than ours. Some of the more known brands include MAHALAXMI and SAI BABA which I assume is a brand named after Shirdi Sai Baba who have a strong following within the community. 

I end with this link to Dada Ghanshyam Vaswani's melodious rendition of Bhagat Sahib's " Naale Alakh Jee Bedo Taar Tuhinjo" (In the name of Eternal One, [please] allow my boat to navigate [Allah]*. The background of Indian Institute of Sindhology adds to the overall feel of the song. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKciDLZFNMI

During this difficut phase of spread of Corona Virus (nCOVID-19), I pray to Lal Saeen for good health and prosperity of all of us. May he continue to bless us all. 

Jai Jhulelal. 

*: English Translation copied from Jyoti Garin's informative article " Sindhi Bhagat songs associated with Kanvar Ram". 

Sindhi Wedding Songs "Laadas"

February was a hectic month due to a wedding in the family. My bua's son ( Puphaat as they say in "Nij" (typical) Sindhi), Gaurav,  recently got married and the entire Teckchandani family got together to join the celebrations. It was nice to meet everyone in the extended family after a long time. One of the more interesting aspects of a Sindhi Wedding are the traditional wedding songs sung as a part of the celebrations. These are known as "Laadas" although their popularity unfortunately is declining by the day. 

Mummy fondly remembers how Nani was adept at singing these songs using the traditional thaal ( Round Plate usually made up of Steel) and Chammach (Spoon) and how in the olden days the entire clan used to get together a few days before the wedding and each night there used to be a singing and dancing session post dinner. Nani's favorite laada was " Dikh Ji Raat Lade Mundiyun Gharayun, Soran Achran Jhariyun, Soran Heeran Mariyun"a song which talks about getting wedding rings laden with gold and diamonds made for the bride .With the current pace of life especially in a Metropolitan city like Delhi, it is an utopian dream to think about week long gatherings. A couple of years ago when my cousin Sohraab was getting married, Milloo Chacha had arranged for a Sindhi musical evening where singer Usha Shahani jee  had sung a number of foot tapping songs and laadas. I distinctly remember her singing " Raano Cho na murke , hale baah lode, sohni milas kuwaar, Raano cho na murke" which when translated in English will mean something like " Why shouldn't the Bridegroom walk with a sense of pride, having found a good looking bride, why shouldn't the bridegroom walk with a sense of pride! . 

Then there is another light hearted song " Ahro jo murs maryo ghuman na tho de, ghuman na tho de ta maryo theng tippa de, ehro jo murs maryo ghuman na tho de" which is about a wife complaining to her friends about her husband's lack of interest in traveling saying that not only does he not allow her to travel but also whines when she is out of the home.

Traditional songs such as these remind us of an era gone by .For me personally it is through instances such as these that I remember my Nani ,someone whom I never had the privilege to meet as she expired much before I was born. I pray to Lal Saeen to rest her soul in peace and also congratulate my brother Gaurav on a Happy and fulfilling married life.


I am ending this post with links to two different Laadas from two different eras. The first one " Hal Maarya Ghot Pe" is from 1969 Sindhi movie "Ladli".  Given my fairly limited Sindhi vocabulary, I am unable to translate this but the in a nutshell, the song details how the bridegroom's parents will celebrate the big wedding day. I cannot stop smiling looking at the dance steps which reminds me of some of our elderly relatives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wlmjX_VaM4

The next one is another Mohit Lalwani video which is a contemporary take on a classic yet a very popular laada " Hik Sone Jo Rupiyo, Allah Ri Allah".  Congratulations to Saeen Mohit for always trying something new.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_gyKakX-Mo

I hope you too both the videos as much as I did.

Jai Jhulelal

Hindu Sindhis and Sikhism

Recently a dear friend's grandfather passed away. Dada Massand was in his early 90's with ancestral origins in Shikarpur, Sindh, who like many other Sindhis of his generation was a follower  of Gurubaba Nanak Dev and Guru Granth Sahib, religiously attending the Sunday Morning Kirtan at Rajinder Nagar Sindhi "Tikano" and practicing Guru Baba's teachings both in letter and spirit."Sarbat Ka Bhala" (Welfare of All) is the philosophy that Dada Sahib lived by. 

As many of you will be aware, the word " Masand" is an adaptation of Farsi word "Masanad" which essentially refers to a seat lower than that of the throne. The Guru was the highest authority followed by Masand who were emplaced to spread the message of Sikhism. It is not clear as to under which Guru did the Masand system start - some believe this to be under Guru Amar Das , some Guru Ram Das whilst others believe this to be under Guru Arjan. In the Sindhi world , Masand families have typically been associated with spreading the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib and also act as the readers (Pathi) in local Sindhi Gurudwaras - "Tikano". In fact, such has been the closeness of Sindhis with Sikhism that it is not uncommon to find Sindhis being associated with either establishment or running of a number of Gurudwaras not just in India but across the globe.The below extract from the book " Singapore's Early Sikh Pioneers" by Rishpal Singh Sindhu beautifully captures this closeness. I quote some relevant extracts :-

".................

The increase in the civilian Sikh population in Singapore was the ‘push factor’ in the establishment of the Central Sikh Temple in 1912 in a single storey brick bungalow at 175 Queen Street. Sindhi merchant Wassiamul Assomul, a leading partner of Wassiamul Assomul & Company with a large shop in High Street generously donated funds for the purchase of this bungalow from one Haji Beedin at a cost of $6,500. In his research, Retired Justice Choor Singh sighted the original title deed and affirmed it was purchased by merchant Dholoomal Nanoomall Assomull, Sergeant-Major Punjab Singh and Corporal Ganda Singh of the Singapore Police Force as joint tenants for use as a Gurdwara.

........... The sangat is well represented on the gurdwara’s management committee with Sindhis and Sahejdhari Sikhs holding important positions. The congregation attracts many Punjabi Hindus and Sindhis who are staunch believers of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib."

To quote another example of this wonderful yet layered relationship between Hindu Sindhis and Sikhism which to many may seem strange (as mentioned in the article below) as it does not fit into the silos based religious identity which we all are so used to these days, is an extract from a 2012 article titled " Half Mandir and Half Gurudwara" : Three Local Hindu Communities in Manila, Jakarta and Cologne by Manfred Hutter published in JSTOR. I quote a relevant paragraph which will hopefully provide an insight into this multi dimensional relationship  :-

........ Nowadays the religious centre of Sindhi Hindus is their temple in the Paco district of Manila, which was inagurated on 24th July, 1980 to replace an earlier temple compound which was established in a rented house in 1963 . The establishment of a Hindu temple ( Mandir or Tikana) had become necessary in the late 50s due to a growing dispute among the community about the suitable form of worship as a community with Punjabis and Sindhis who more strongly favored the Khalsa Sikh Tradition. As early as 1932 a Sikh Gurudwara, the Khalsa Diwan, had been established by Sindhi and Punjabis together. The influx of refugees from Northwestern India after Partition not only led to an increase in number of the community, but also brought a greater religious diversity, especially as Punjabi Sikhs began to outnumber Sindhis in Manila. . Besides this statistical reason, Punjabis and SIndhis also began to focus on ethinicity as a main characteristic for their identities. , thus creating a new boundary between the two communities, referring to Khalsa tradition, Punjabis also fell alienated by veneration of Hindu Gods by Sindhi Hindus. As a result, SIndhi Hindus moved out of the Gurudwara to establish their own place of worship, but still keeping a copy of Guru Granth Sahib (the holy book used by them and the Sikhs in worship) and a picture of Guru Nanak within the temple precincts.  So the "outsider" at first sight might be inclined to characterize this temple as " half mandir" and "half gurudwara", as a "blend"of a Hindu Temple with Sikh place of worship. But for the "insider" it is neither half the one not half the other, but one whole religious compound expressing religious and ethno-religious identity . 

 No surprise that Dada Sahib's Pagri Rasam was conducted at Sindhu Samaj by a fellow Hindu Sindhi reciting Gurbani Kirtan coupled with Gayatri Mantra. I pray to Lal Saeen to give peace to the deceased soul.

I end with this wonderful Bhajan by (Late) Didi Bhagwanti Navani titled "Satguru Nanak Shah Muhinji Bedi Paar Lagaenda". This was sung in 1986 at a program in Khandwa, Madhy Pradesh, India. Didi Bhagwanti has such a melodious voice!  Thanks to Malhi Cultural Academy for sharing this on youtube. I hope you like it too. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alS4nWGUVcI

Jai Jhuleal!

Dada Arjun Waney

Last year, during my annual business trip to London, at a dinner conversation with clients , there was a discussion on favorite Japanese restaurants in London. With my knowledge of Japanese cuisine limited to just Sushi and Tempura, it seemed like a good opportunity to know more about the cuisine. We were joined on the trip by our clients from Nepal, some of whom had lived in UK for an extended period and had fairly international palates. At the end of an animated half an hour discussion, "Zuma" was declared as a winner and it was decided that we will have dinner there the next day. Just as we were being served desserts, the elderly Nepalese client looked at me and knowing my Sindhi lineage enquired whether i knew that Zuma too was owned by a Sindhi. With no background about the restaurant or its owner , I politely said " No" and it was the first time I heard about Dada Arjun Waney. He then remarked that Mr. Waney's business acumen is unmatched in the hospitality industry and that he is the man with midas touch.

Zuma, located in the posh Knightsbridge area in Central London, serves contemporary Japanese cuisine inspired by informal "Izakaya-Style" dining in which dishes are brought to the table continuously throughout the meal. It was founded in 2002 by Chef Rainer Becker along with Dada Arjun Waney and Ms. Divia Lalvani( daughter of another well known Sindhi, Dada Gulu Lalvani). Zuma has been such a success that subsequently the team has opened up a number of branches across the world. I really enjoyed eating out at Zuma with their prompt service standing out. 

Dada Arjun was born in Karachi before the partition in 1947 and subsequently shifting to Mumbai and then USA. He is an accomplished entrepreneur and has been felicitated with " Order of the British Empire" by the queen. Other than Zuma, he also runs La Petite Maison , Coya and a host of other restaurants in London and around the world. Like most Sindhi families, he is actively involved with philanthropic activities and runs Savitri Waney Charitable Trust (named after his mother) which has among other initiatives, has funded over 300,000 cataract operations in Bihar, India.  

Dada Arjun's story of success represents the quintessential Sindhi Spirit - the spirit to succeed against all odds. I pray to Lal Saeen for his long life. 

Hopefully, one day we will also have a Michelin starred Restaurant that serves Sindhi cuisine -  I would love to see Saibhaji-Pulao , Seyal Paneer, Pallo Macchi (fish), Teevan (Mutton) and Tairi being served internationally.

I end by sharing a clipping of Mohit Lalwani's performance at World Sindhi Sammelan ,2017. I like the way Saeen Mohit adds a contemporary touch to the age old kalaams/songs. I hope you too like it.  

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6X2Ru0jTwk

Jai Jhulelal!