Sindh

Template:Pakistan infobox Sindh (Sindhī: سنڌ, Urdū: سندھ) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhis. Different cultural and ethnic groups also reside in Sindh including Urdu speaking people who migrated from India at the time of independence and partition as well as the people migrated from other provinces after independence. Neighbouring regions are Balochistan to the west and north, Punjab in the north, Rajasthan and Gujarat (India) to the east, and the Arabian Sea to the south. The main languages are Sindhi and Urdu. In Sanskrit, the province was dubbed Sindhu meaning "ocean". The Assyrians (as early as the seventh century BCE) knew the region as Sinda, the Persians Abisind, the Greeks Sinthus, the Romans Sindus, the Chinese Sintow, while the Arabs dubbed it Sind. It is mentioned to be a part of Abhirrdesh (Abhira Kingdom) in Srimad Bhagavatam [1]. Sindh was the first place where Islam spread in South Asia. As a result, it is often referred to as "Bab-al-Islam" (Gate of Islam).

Geography

Sindh is located on the western corner of South Asia, bordering the Iranian plateau in the west. Geographically it is the third largest province of Pakistan, stretching about 579 km from north to south and 442 km (extreme) or 281 km (average) from east to west, with an area of 54,407 square miles or 140,915 km² of Pakistani territory. Sindh is bounded by the Thar Desert to the east, the Kirthar Mountains to the west, and the Arabian Sea in the south. In the centre is a fertile plain around the Indus river. The devastating floods of the river Indus are now controlled by irrigation techniques.

Sindh's geographical boundaries should be encompassed on the basis of their culture, their language, old traditions, customs, religious beliefs and social conditions. From that point of view the old Bahawalpur State’s major part which remained under the rule of dynasty of Dawood Potas can be counted as Sindh's cultural area. Sibbi, Katchi and Lasbella districts that form part of the present Baluchistan and Kutch and Juna Garh can be included in Sindh's cultural boundaries. But the division of the country into Pakistan and Bharat Katchh and Joona Garh were given over to Bharat. Sibbi Katchi, and Lasbella areas have been handedover to Baluchistan. At present Sindh is divided in the following districts Karachi: Four districts (Four districts) Thatta, Badin, Hyderabad, Tharparkar, Sanghar, Nawabshah, Khairpur, Sukkur, Shikarpur Upper Serhad Sindh (Jacobabad) Larkana and Dadu. The area and population of the present Sindh, on the basis of 1971 Census are:

KARACHI Total Area 1362 Sq. Miles Total Population 3589154.

THATTA Area 6933 Sq. Miles. Population 674590.

HYDERABAD Area 4969 Sq. Miles (including Badin) Population 227873

THARPARKAR Area 13435 Sq. Miles Population 1000972

SANGHAR Area 4142 Sq. Miles Population 681168

DADU Area 7342 Sq. Miles Population 807753

JACOB ABAD Area 2982 Sq. Miles Population 694792

SUKKUR Area 5531 Sq. Miles (including Shikarpur) Population l 368595

LARKANA Area 2866 Sq. Miles Population 922907

KHAIRPUR Area 6018 Sq. Miles Population 717373

NAWABSHAH Area 2896 Sq. Miles Population 1341 706

The total population of Sindh, in accordance with 1971 Census is 14007722. Which according to the census of 1981 has risen to two crores and three lakhs. There has been no sub-soil survey in Sindh, excepting the research work done by Mr. Mohammed Hussain Panhwar, who has mentioned the underground water levels. But in Sindh the area under salinity has not been surveyed. So the area of sweet and saline underground water cannot be ascertained. But only this, but classification of land on the basis of percentage, potash, sodium carbonate, nitrogen, salinity and water logging has not been under taking in its correct perspective except on a very small scale on government agricultural farms. In 1954 Sindh Agricultural Commission had recommended the survey of above mentioned things. But immediately Sindh was brought under the slavery of One-Unit where these recommendations were not carried out. According to the recent information the area of Sindh has been distributed in the following categories:

a) Cultivable area 34531 Sq. Miles. b) Area under mountains and hills 5000 Sq. Miles. c) Area under forests 1800 Sq. Miles d) The area under deserts and Dunes 13100 Sq. Miles. e) The area under delta near Sea 1500 Sq. Miles.

The total area of Sindh stands at 57131 Sq. Miles.

i) The cultivable area as counted above will be divided into two crores and twenty one acres as the mileage shown above.

ii) From Jhirik to Khirthar Mountains the hilly track consists of mountain and hills. Makli, Pir Patho can be included into that. These hills continue from Karachi to Lasbella. There is a solitary hillock called Aban shah's hill in Shah Bandar Taluka. On the East of the river Indus, there is Ganjo Takar hills and in Tharparkar district there is Karunjhar Mountain. In the north from Kotdiji, right up to Rohri hills, there is a line of small hills. Though the survey of hilly area is not properly carried out but approximately it will come to 5000 Sq. Miles.

iii) From Ubauro Taluka, Indus River enters Sindh, right up to Keti Bandar where it falls in Sea. Its length should be 300 Miles, but on account of the curves its length becomes 500 miles. In the summer there is more water in the river but in the winter it is reduced greatly. The bed of river approximately is 2 miles in width. According to this calculation the mileage under river Indus will become 600 miles. In Sindh there are 520 lakes and small ponds. Amongst the lakes there are Manchar, Kinjhar and Makhi Lake. The area under them will become 600 Sq. Miles thus the total area under water is 1200 Sq. Miles.

iv) On both sides of river Indus, and near Makhi lake and several other places there are forests and Jungles. The total area under the forests will come to 1800 Sq. Miles. At present in forests there are Babuls, Lai and Kandi trees. Talli, Seesum and other valuable trees according to recommendations of agricultural commission can be grown in Sindh. But on account of formation of one-unit and apathy of Pakistan government nothing has done in this direction. v) The land under desert and sandy areas: In Thatta district, Shah Bandar, Jatti Lalukas, Hyderabad and Bad in Taluka and certain portions of Tharparkar district are under the desert areas. On the border of Sindh from Tharparkar District, the sand dunes start, which go through some talukas of Tharparkar, Sanghar, Nawabshah, Khairpur and Sukkur districts? The total area of such land is 13100 Sq. Miles.

vi) Delta is that piece of land, which is on the lower level of Sea, which is punctuated by small pond of Water Island. No survey of that area has even been undertaken. Every year two crores and forty lakhs tons of silt pass through the Indus river into the sea. Therefore, in this great area, the sea was near Ganja Takar and the Makli hills. Ghora Bari, Keti Bandar, Whah bandarjati and other Talukas and greater portion of those were under the Sea, now has become cultivable land or desert. In 1954 there was the recommendation before Sindh, Agricultural Commission, that delta area near Sea can be developed into fertile land and that portion can be utilized for the cultivation of Date and Palms and Coconut trees. But nothing was done on the pretext of lack of funds. From the income of Sindh though the central government gets taxes of billions of rupees, which mostly is spent on the Punjab military. After the establishment of Pakistan, the Muhajir and Punjabi vested interests have not given autonomy and the resources of Sindh are utilized for the benefit of Punjab. That is why no development scheme could be carried out for the good of Sindh. We want to construct dam on the side of Sea where we can systematically utilize the silt by Indus and increase the area under cultivation. But how can we fulfill these schemes. We are now in Pakistan’s slavery of Muhajir and Punjabi imperialism.

Sindh on the whole is resource-rich country and could be more prosperous but for the central government's robbery of farmer's revenues in the form of many taxes. These taxes though collected from the people and province of Sindh are used for the Punjab vested interests. Added to this, the central government because of its prejudices against Sindhis and partiality in favor of Punjabi Muhajir combine has been patronizing and protecting its industrial base in Sindh at the cost of Sindhis. In addition, hordes of people are brought to Sindh, who are draining the resources of Sindh by sending them their colonial rules

Karachi became capital of Sindh in 1936, in place of the traditional capitals of Hyderabad and Thatta. Other important cities include Sanghar, Sukkur, Shahdadkot, Kamber Khan, Sehwan, Mirpukhas, Larkano,Nawabshah, Shikarpur, Khairpur, Nawabshah, Kashmor, Dadu, Umerkot, Thar, Jacobabad, Ghotki, Ranipur, Gambat, Sobhodero, Hingorja, Noshairo Feroz, Moro, Qazi Ahmed and Sehtharja.

Climate

File:Karachi port and harbour aerial.jpg

Aerial view of Karachi

A subtropical region, Sindh is hot in the summer and cold in winter. Temperatures frequently rise above 46 °C (115 °F) between May and August, and the minimum average temperature of 2 °C (36 °F) occurs during December and January. The annual rainfall averages about seven inches, falling mainly during July and August. The Southwest Monsoon wind begins to blow in mid-February and continues until the end of September, whereas the cool northerly wind blows during the winter months from October to January.

Sindh lies between the two monsoons - the southwest monsoon from the Indian Ocean and the northeast or retreating monsoon, deflected towards it by Himalayan mountains — and escapes the influence of both. The average rainfall in Sindh is only 15 to 18 cm per year, but the loss during the two seasons is compensated by the Indus, in the form of inundation, caused twice a year by the spring and summer melting of Himalayan snow and by rainfall in the monsoon season. These natural patterns have changed somewhat with the construction of dams and barrages on the Indus.

Climatically, Sindh is divided in three sections - Siro (upper section centered on Jacobabad), Wicholo (middle section centered on Hyderabad), and Lar (lower section centered on Karachi). In upper Sindh[2], the thermal equator passes through Sindh. The highest temperature ever recorded was 53 °C (127 °F in 1919. The air is generally very dry. In winter frost is common.

In central Sindh, average monsoon wind speed is 18 km/hour in June. The temperature is lower than upper Sindh but higher than lower Sindh. Dry hot days and cool nights are summer characteristics. Maximum temperature reaches 43-44° C (110-112° F). Lower Sindh has a damper and humid maritime climate affected by the south-western winds in summer and north-eastern winds in winter and with lower rainfall than central Sindh. The maximum temperature reaches about 35-38° C (95-100° F). In the Kirthar range at 1,800 m7 and higher on the Gorakhnath and other peaks in Dadu District, temperatures near freezing have been recorded and brief snow fall is received in winters. And Badin Is District Of syed's

Demographics and society

Main article: Sindhi people

Sindh Demographic Indicators
Indicator	Statistic
Urban population	48.75%
Rural population	51.25%
Population growth rate	2.80%
Gender ratio (male per 100 female)	112.24
Economically active population	22.75%

The 1998 Census of Pakistan indicated a population 42.4 million, the current population can be estimated to be in the range of 50 to 54 million using a compound growth in the range of 2% to 2.8% since then. With just under half being urban dwellers, mainly found in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpurkhas, Ubauro and Larkana. Sindhi is the sole official language of Sindh since the 19th century. The British required all officers posted to Sindh to become fluent in Sindhi upon posting to Sindh. In 1972, the first elected Sindh assembly since the dissolution of the province restored this status but successive governments have failed to implement the law and many officials in the Sindh government cannot speak, read or write the language. Large sections of the population speak Sindhi and Urdu languages with other languages spoken including Siraiki, Kutchi (both dialects of Sindhi), Balochi, Brahui, Punjabi, Pashto, Rajasthani, Persian/Dari, Khowar and Gujarati. The urban areas of Sindh are dominated by Muhajir Urdu as well as by migrant workers from peripheral provinces; and the rural areas consisting of predominantly Sindhi people. Due to this ethnic composition, Sindh has become a highly polarized province. It is estimated that Urdu speaking Muhajirs make up 15% and native Sindhis make up only 60% of the total population of Sindh, and Balochis, Pashtuns and Panjabis a significant part of the rest. The chief tribes of Sindh are Jats and Rajputs, while Balochis and Urdu-speaking Muhajirs are more recent immigrants. Both Balochi Sindhi and natives speak Sindhi language as their mother tongue. By language, Sindhi speakers make up 50% and Urdu speakers make up 13%, while 20% of the total population of Sindh speaks Pashto, Panjabi, Balochi, Seraiki, Thari, Persian, Kutchi, Gujarati, and Bengali. The Punjabis and Pashtuns form the third and fourth biggest community in Sindh after the Sindhis and the Muhajirs.

Historical populations
Census	Population	Urban
1951	6,047,748	29.23%
1961	8,367,065	37.85%
1972	14,155,909	40.44%
1981	19,028,666	43.31%
1998	30,439,893	48.75%
2007	~37,000,000

Sindh's population is predominantly Muslim, but Sindh is also home to nearly all of Pakistan's Hindus (93%), numbering roughly 2.3 million. However, most Sindhi Hindus migrated to India at the time of the Partition. Smaller groups of Christians, Parsis or Zoroastrians, Ahmadis, and a tiny Jewish community (of around 500) can also be found in the province.

The Sindhis as a whole are composed of original descendants of an ancient population known as Sammaat, various sub-groups related to the Siraiki or Baloch origin are found in interior Sindh. Sindhis of Balochi origin make up about 30% of the total population of Sindh, while immigrant Urdu speaking Muhajirs make up 15% of the total population of the province. Also found in the province is a small group claiming descent from early Muslim settlers including Arabs, Turks, Jews, Afghans and Persians. Most of the urban population of Sindh living in Karachi, Hyderabad etc. are descendants of people who migrated to Pakistan in 1947. and are called Muhajirs or Urdu-speaking people.

History

Main article: History of Sindh

File:Pashupati.gif

Indus Valley seal with a seated figure

In ancient times, the territory of the modern Sindh province was sometimes known as Sovira (or Souveera) and also as Sindhudesh, Sindhu being the original name for Indus River and the suffix 'desh' roughly corresponding to country or territory.

The first known village settlements date as far back as 7000 BCE. Permanent settlements at Mehrgarh to the west expanded into Sindh. The original inhabitants of ancient Sindh, and other regions of Pakistan, were the aborigine tribes speaking languages related to Munda languages.

The Aryans invaded from the Iranian plateau and settled in the Indus valley around 4000 BCE. This Aryan culture blossomed over the centuries and gave rise to the Indus Valley Civilization around 3000 BCE.

The Indus Valley Civilization rivaled the contemporary civilizations of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia in both size and scope numbering nearly half a million inhabitants at its height with well-planned grid cities and sewer systems. It is known that the Indus Valley Civilization traded with ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt via established shipping lanes. In ancient Egypt, the word for cotton was Sindh denoting that the bulk of that civilizations cotton was predominantly imported from the Indus Valley Civilization.

A branch of these tribes, called the Indo-Aryans are believed to have founded the Vedic Civilization that existed between Sarasvati River and Ganges River around 1500 BCE and also influenced Indus Valley Civilization. This civilization helped shape subsequent cultures in South Asia. The Aryan invaders instituted the caste system to enslave the native population and the aborigine tribes.

Sindh was conquered by the Persian Achaemenid Empire in the 6th century BCE, and became part of the Persian satrapy (province) of Hindush centered in the Punjab to the north. Persian speech had a tendency to replace 'S' with an 'H' resulting in 'Sindu' being pronounced and written as 'Hindu'. They introduced the Kharoshti script and links to the west in the region.

Subsequently conquered by Greeks led by Alexander the Great, the region came under loose Greek control for a few decades. After Alexander's death, there was a brief period of Seleucid rule. Sindh was then conquered by the Mauryans led by Chandragupta in 305 BCE.

Later, during the reign of the Buddhist king Ashoka the region would solidly become a Buddhist domain. Following a century of Mauryan rule which ended by 232 BCE, the region came under the Greco-Bactrians based in what is today Afghanistan. These rulers also converted to Buddhism and spread it in the region.

The Scythians shattered the Greco-Bactrians fledgling empire. Subsequently, the Tocharian Kushan Empire annexed Sindh by the 1st century CE. Though the Kushans were Zoroastrian, they were tolerant of the local Buddhist tradition and sponsored many building projects for local beliefs.

The Huns and remnants of the Kushans, Scythians, and the Sassanid Persians all exercised some degree of control in Sindh until the coming of the Muslim Arabs in 711 CE.

File:Rohri Town Sukkur.jpeg

A historic image of Rohri - Sukkur

During the reign of Rashidun Caliph Umar, an expedition was sent to conquer Makran, this was first time when Muslim armies entered Sindh. Islamic army defeated the Hindu king of Sindh Raja Rasil on the western bank of river Indus, the armies of Raja accordingly retreated to interior Sindh. Caliph Umar, on getting the information about the miserable conditions of Sindh stopped his armies from crossing river Indus and ordered them to consolidate there position in Makran and Baluchistan. Caliph Umar's successor Uthman also send his agent to investigate the matters of Sindh, on getting the same information of unfavourable geographical conditions and miserable life style of people, he forbade his armies from entering Sindh. During Rashidun Caliphate only the south western part of sindh around the western bank of river Indus, and some northern parts near the frontiers of Baluchistan remianed under the rule of Islamic empire. It was finally Conquered by Syrian Arabs led by Muhammad bin Qasim, Sindh became the easternmost province of the Umayyad Caliphate. Referred to as Al-Sindh on Arab maps with lands further east known as Hind ironically depicting the current border between the two nations of Pakistan and India. The defeat of the Brahmin ruler Raja Dahir was made easier due to the tension between the Buddhist majority and the ruling Brahmins' fragile base of control.

The Arabs redefined the region and adopted the term budd to refer to the numerous Buddhist idols they encountered, a word that remains in use today. The city of Mansura was established as a regional misr or capital. Arab rule lasted for nearly three centuries, and a fusion of cultures produced much of what is today modern Sindhi society. Arab geographers, historians and travelers also sometimes used the name "Sindh" for the entire area from the Arabian Sea to the Hindu Kush. The meaning of the word Sindhu being water (or ocean) appears to refer to the Indus river.

In addition, there is a mythological belief among Muslims that four rivers had sprung from Heaven: Neel (Nile), Furat (Euphrates), Jehoon (Jaxartes) and Sehoon (Sindh or in modern times the Indus).

Arab rule ended with the ascension of the Soomro dynasty, who were local Sindhi Muslims, and who controlled the province directly and as vassals from 1058 to 1249. Turkic invaders conquered the area by 977 CE and the region loosely became part of the Ghaznavid Empire and then the Delhi Sultanate which lasted until 1524.

The Mughals seized the region and their rule lasted for another two centuries, while another local Sindhi Muslim group, the Samma, challenged Mughal rule from their base at Thatta. The Muslim Sufi played a pivotal role in converting the millions of native people to Islam.

Though part of larger empires, Sindh continued to enjoy certain autonomy as a loyal Muslim domain and came under the rule of the Arghun Dynasty and the Tarkhan Dynasty from 1519 to 1625.

Sindh became a vassal-state of the Afghan Durrani Empire by 1747. It was then ruled by Kalhora rulers and later the Balochi Talpurs from 1783.

British forces under General Charles Napier arrived in Sindh in the 19th century and conquered it in 1843. It is said that he sent back to the Governor General a one-word message, "Peccavi" – Latin for "I have sinned". In actual fact, this pun first appeared as a cartoon in Punch magazine. The first Aga Khan helped the British in the conquest of Sindh and was granted a pension as a result..

After 1853, Sindh was divided into provinces, each being assigned a Zamindar or 'Wadara' to collect taxes for the British (a system already used under the Mughals). In a highly controversial move, Sindh was later made part of British India's Bombay Presidency much to the surprise of the local population who found the decision illogical, shortly afterwards, the decision was reversed and became a separate province in 1935. The British ruled the area for a century and Sindh was home to many prominent Muslim leaders including Muhammad Ali Jinnah who agitated for greater Muslim autonomy.

In 1947 when the British left. Pakistan was created from the partitioning of British India. All of Sindh was alloted to Pakistan. In 1947, 25 per cent of the population of Sindh was Hindu Sindhi. Most of the Hindu Sindhis were city dwellers and were largely occupied with trade and commerce. They were responsible for export of products made in Sindh and contributed significantly to the economy of Sindh. When Partition of British India occurred Hindus Sindhi expected to remain in Sindh. Generally, there was good relation between Hindu Sindhis and Muslims Sindhis. When large waves of Mohajirs started to pour into Sindh, violence erupted on the streets. The Hindu Sindhis were forced to flee Sindh leaving everything behind. Popati Hirandani who was a Sindhi Hindu tells in her autobiography that the Police were merely onlookers when violence erupted and they did not protect the Hindus community [3]. Many Hindu Sindhis wanted to return to their native Sindh, when the violence settled down, but this was not possible. Property belonging to the Hindus was appropriated by the Mohajirs. Hindu Sindhis are scattered throughout the world and feel like a stateless people. They still, however, regard Sindh as their homeland. It should be noted, that many Sindhi Hindus still reside in the province of Sindh and relations have considerably improved.

In later years, Sindh has been the destination of a continuous stream of illegal immigration from India, other South Asian countries, and Afghanistan, including Pashtun and Punjabi immigrants to Karachi. Many native Sindhis resent this influx. Nonetheless, traditional Sindhi families remain prominent in Pakistani politics, especially the Bhutto dynasty.

In recent years Sindhi dissatisfaction has grown over issues such as illegal immigration, control of natural resources of gas, petrol and coal, the construction of large dams, perceived discrimination in military/government jobs, provincial autonomy, admission to educational institutes, and overall revenue shares.

Pakistan Resolution in the Sindh Assembly

The Sindh assembly was the first Indian legislature to pass the resolution in favour of Pakistan. G. M. Syed , an influential Sindhi activist, revolutionary and Sufi and one of the important leaders to the forefront of the provincial autonomy movement joined the Muslim League in 1938 and presented the Pakistan resolution in the Sindh Assembly(G. M. Syed can rightly be considered as the founder of Sindhi nationalism)

Government

Main article: Government of Sindh

The Provincial Assembly of Sindh is unicameral and consists of 168 seats of which 5% are reserved for non-Muslims and 17% for women.

Districts

The mausoleum of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Mazar-e-Quaid.

Flag-e-House, colonial styled building built during the British Raj.

There are 23 districts in Sindh, Pakistan.

Karachi Larkano Jacobabad Shikarpur Qamber Shahdakot Sukkur Ghutki Kashmor Khairpur Noushehro Feroz Dadu Nawabshah

Jamshoro Sanghar Matyari Hyderabad Tando Muhammad Khan Tando Allah Yaar Badin Thatta Mirpurkhas Umerkot Tharparker

Major cities

Main article: List of cities in Sindh

Karachi Hyderabad Sukkur Mirpurkhas Larkana Thatta Khairpur Shikarpur Badin Umerkot Daharki Ghotki Ubauro

Economy

A view of Karachi downtown, the capital of Sindh province

Endowed with coastal access, Sindh is the backbone of Pakistan's economy. It generates almost 30% of the total national tax revenue [4] (26.8% in the last two years). The federal government, however, spends just 23% of the financial divisible pool there. The Sindh government considers the formula of financial resource distribution (theNFC award) to be unjust and solely population-denominated. But the fact remains that most business is done through Karachi - a major sea port and major revenue collection and banking centre. Because Karachi is a business hub, actual Sindh tax revenue is much higher than its official tax revenue.

Sindh is a major centre of economic activity in Pakistan and has a highly diversified economy ranging from heavy industry and finance centered in and around Karachi to a substantial agricultural base along the Indus. Pakistan's rapidly growing information technology sector (IT) is also centered in Karachi and manufacturing includes machine products, cement, plastics, and various other goods.

Agriculture is very important in Sindh with cotton, rice, wheat, sugar cane, bananas, and mangoes as the most important crops. Sindh is the richest province in natural resources of gas, petrol, and coal.

Vegetation

The province is mostly arid with scant vegetation except for the irrigated Indus Valley. The dwarf palm, Acacia Rupestris (kher), and Tecomella undulata (lohirro) trees are typical of the western hill region. In the Indus valley, the Acacia nilotica (babul) (babbur) is the most dominant and occurs in thick forests along the Indus banks. The Azadirachta indica (neem) (nim), Zizyphys vulgaris (bir) (ber), Tamarix orientalis (jujuba lai) and Capparis aphylla (kirir) are among the more common trees.

Mango, date palms, and the more recently introduced banana, guava, orange, and chiku are the typical fruit-bearing trees. The coastal strip and the creeks abound in semi-aquatic and aquatic plants, and the inshore Indus deltaic islands have forests of Avicennia tomentosa (timmer) and Ceriops candolleana (chaunir) trees. Water lilies grow in abundance in the numerous lake and ponds, particularly in the lower Sindh region.

Flora and fauna

Among the wild animals, the Sindh ibex (sareh), wild sheep (urial or gadh) and black bear are found in the western rocky range, where the leopard is now rare. The pirrang (large tiger cat or fishing cat) of the eastern desert region is also disappearing. Deer occur in the lower rocky plains and in the eastern region, as do the striped hyena (charakh),jackal, fox, porcupine, common gray mongoose, and hedgehog. The Sindhi phekari, ped lynx or Caracal cat, is found in some areas.

Phartho (hog deer) and wild bear occur particularly in the central inundation belt. There are a variety of bats, lizards, and reptiles, including the cobra, lundi (viper), and the mysterious Sindh krait of the Thar region, which is supposed to suck the victim's breath in his sleep. Crocodiles are rare and inhabit only the backwaters of the Indus and the eastern Nara channel. Besides a large variety of marine fish, the plumbeous dolphin, the beaked dolphin, rorqual or blue whale, and a variety of skates frequent the seas along the Sind coast. The pallo (sable fish), though a marine fish, ascends the Indus annually from February to April to spawn.

Education

The Narayan Jagannath High School at Karachi was the first government school established in Sindh. It was opened in October 1855. The province has a high literacy rate compared to other parts of Pakistan, mainly due to the importance of Karachi. The major academic institutions of Sindh include the Aga Khan University, Bahria University, University of Karachi, Sindh University, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Institute of Business Administration (Karachi), Dow University of Health Sciences, National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (Jamshoro), Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (M.U.E.T), Quaid e Awam University of Engineering and Technology Nawabshah(Q.U.E.S.T), Isra University Hyderabad, Hamdard University Karachi, Baqai Medical University Karachi, Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur (SALU), Chandka Medical College, Peoples' Medical College Nawabshah, Sindh Madarastul Islam Karachi, D. J. Sindh Government Science College, and the Indus Valley Institute of Art and Architecture, Shaheed Z. A. Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology Karachi, Sindh Agricultural University Tandojam, and the Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology.

This is a chart of the education market of Sindh estimated by the government in 1998. Also see [5]

Qualification	Urban	Rural	Total	Enrollment Ratio (%)
—	14,839,862	15,600,031	30,439,893	—
Below Primary	1,984,089	3,332,166	5,316,255	100.00
Primary	3,503,691	5,687,771	9,191,462	82.53
Middle	3,073,335	2,369,644	5,442,979	52.33
Matriculation	2,847,769	2,227,684	5,075,453	34.45
Intermediate	1,473,598	1,018,682	2,492,280	17.78
BA, BSc… degrees	106,847	53,040	159,887	9.59
MA, MSc… degrees	1,320,747	552,241	1,872,988	9.07
Diploma, Certificate…	440,743	280,800	721,543	2.91
Other qualifications	89,043	78,003	167,046	0.54

There are six Cadet Colleges also. Admission to state run educational institutions in Pakistan is based on the provincial level. The other three provinces have a merit-based intraprovincial admission policy. Sindh is an exception to this general rule, where admissions are allowed on district domiciles of the candidates and their parents. This arrangement discriminates against meritorious students of Sindhi ethnic background, denying them admission to educational institutes and courses of their choice. Currently there is a lot of resentment of this admission policy. Sindhis are demanding intraprovincial merit-based admissions to state run educational institutes, similar to the one existing in other provinces. This will provide equal opportunities to all students of Sindh. Furthermore, the armed forces have also entered the education sector. They are funded by government and operate like private costly education providers.

Arts and Crafts

The skill of the Sindhi craftsman continues to exhibit the 5000-year-old artistic tradition. The long span of time, punctuated by fresh and incessant waves of invaders and settlers, provided various exotic modes of arts which, with the passage of time, got naturalized on the soil. The perfected surface decorations of objects of everyday use - clay, metal, wood, stone or fabrics, with the floral and geometrical designs - can be traced back to the Muslim influence.

Though chiefly an agricultural and pastoral province, Sindh has a reputation for 'Ajrak', pottery, leatherwork, carpets, textiles, and silk cloth which, in design and finish, are matchless. The chief articles produced are blankets, coarse cotton cloth (soosi) camel fittings, metalwork, lacquered work, enamel, gold and silver embroidery. Hala is famous for pottery and tiles; Boobak for carpets; Nasirpur, Gambat and Thatta for cotton lungees and Khes. The earthenware of Johi, metal vessels of Shikarpur, relli, embroidery, and leather articles of Tharparkar, and lacquered work of Kandhkot are some of the other popular crafts.

The pre-historic finds from different archaeological sites such as Mohenjo-daro, engravings in various graveyards, and the architectural designs of Makli and other tombs provide ample evidence of the people in their literary and musical traditions.

Modern painting and calligraphy have also developed in recent times and some young trained men have taken up commercial art collections.

Cultural heritage

Mohenjo-daro was the center of the Indus Valley Civilization 3000 BCE-1700 BCE

Sindh has a rich heritage of traditional handicraft that has evolved over the centuries. Perhaps the most professed exposition of Sindhi culture is in the handicrafts of Hala, a town some 30 kilometres from Hyderabad. Hala’s artisans are manufacturing high quality and impressively priced wooden handicrafts, textiles, paintings, handmade paper products, blue pottery, etc. Lacquered wood works known as Jandi, painting on wood, tiles, and pottery known as Kashi, hand woven textiles including Khadi, Susi, and Ajrak are synonymous with Sindhi culture preserved in Hala’s handicraft.

The artisans of Hala rarely get the justified price of their labour. The middlemen have been exploiting the artisans for decades selling the handicrafts at exorbitant profit margins at tourist hot spots of Karachi Lahore and Islamabad and even abroad. There is a dire need of patronizing the handicraft cluster of Hala, provide the artisans a platform to sell their products in cities and export markets so as to enable them earn handsome amount of their produced goods.

The Small and Medium Enterprises Authority (SMEDA) is planning to set up an organization of artisans to empower the community. SMEDA is also publishing a directory of the artisans so that exporters can directly contact them. Hala is the home of a remarkable variety of traditional crafts and traditional handicrafts that carry with them centuries of skill that has woven magic into the motifs and designs used.

The diverse Sindhi cultures, lifestyles, traditions as well as geographical conditions have influenced Sindhi art, and for over a century handicrafts have been a source of pride and a livelihood for the people of Hala. Kashi woodwork and other products made by the artisan community of Hala have established a position in the domestic and international markets. Jandi woodwork of Hala gives a glimpse of the richness of Pakistani culture and tradition has been followed through generations.

Sindh is known the world over for its various handicrafts and arts. The work of Sindhi artisans was sold in ancient markets of Armenia, Baghdad, Basra, Istanbul, Cairo and Samarkand. Referring to the lacquer work on wood locally known as Jandi, T. Posten an English traveller who visited Sindh in early 19th century said, the articles of Hala could be compared with exquisite specimens of China.

Jandi is famous all over the world due to its delicacy, durability and the natural beauty of the wood. Jandi is rendered on lamps, candle stands, flower vases, jewelry boxes, cigarette boxes, ash trays, pots, swings, cots, dressing tables, chairs & tables, bedroom sets, sofa sets, and telephone stands. The Jandi work also has its drawbacks. The persons associated with the business said that lacquer furniture and items have a long life but acid, alcohol, and oil will damage the colour. Moreover, direct sunshine and water can destroy the life of the products. Hala has also preserved the extraordinary traditional ceramic techniques.

The village potters known as kumhaar across the Indian sub continent are still producing exquisite earthenware in Hala. In Pakistan the finest examples of Kashi work are in the Sindh province. Kashi work consisted of two kinds: (a) Enamel-faced tiles and bricks of strongly fired red earthenware, or terracotta; (b) Enamel faced tiles and tesserae of lightly fired lime-mortar, or sandstone. Some authorities describe tile-mosaic work as the true Kashi.

Hala’s apparel tradition is one of the world’s oldest with handlooms and power looms dating back to the Indus valley civilization. The hand-spun and hand-woven cloth called "Khadi" was being exported to various countries since time immemorial.

Since Khadi deals in natural fibres viz. cotton, silk and wool only, spun and woven in natural environment, it can boast of being 100 percent natural, unlike handloom and mills which receive cotton yarn, blended with some regenerated cellulose fibres. Khadi cloth has found its place in haute couture and on the ramps of most eminent fashion devas.

Over a period of time cotton was mixed with silk to create Mashru, a double layered material with a thick cotton base and a silken warp woven in satin weave, a purely Indian innovation. It was woven specially for the ladies. In the Susi weave the cotton weft lay against the skin; hence it was permissible to wear it. In the Ain-i-Akbari, it is mentioned that Susi, a reputed silken fabric from Shush, a town in Persia, was originally brought to the Deccan via Alexandria during the 11th century. Susi lost its silken character somewhere along the line and reappeared as a cotton fabric in Lahore in the 1620’s. Susi later became synonymous with Sindh, the primary production centres being Hala and Hyderabad.

Technological improvements were gradually introduced such as the spinning wheel [charkha] and treadle [pai-chah] in the weavers’ loom, to increase refinement in designing, dyeing and printing by block. Painting process amounted for a much higher volume of output. The refined, lightweight, colourful, washable fabrics from Hala became a luxury for people used to only woollens and linens of the age.

Ajrak has been in Sindh since the birth of its civilization. Blue colour is dominantly used in Ajrak. Also, Sindh was traditionally a large producer of indigo and cotton cloth and both used to be exported to the Middle East. Ajrak is a mark of respect when it is given to an honoured quest, friend or woman. In Sindh, it is most commonly given as a gift at Eid, at weddings, or on other special occasions - like homecoming.

Along with Ajrak the Rilli or patchwork sheet, is another Sindhi icon and part of the heritage and culture. Every Sindhi home will have set of Rillis - one for each member of the family and few spare for guests. Rilli is made with different small pieces of different geometrical shapes of cloths sewn together to create intricate designs.

Rilhi is also given as a gift to friends and visitors. It is used as a bedspread as well as a blanket. A beautifully sewn Rilli can also become part of a bride or grooms gifts. Rural women in Sindh are skilful in producing Sindhi caps.

Sindhi caps are manufactured commercially on a small scale at New Saeedabad and Hala New. These are in demand with visitors from Karachi and other places and these manufacturing units have very limited production due to lack of marketing facilities.

Major Attractions

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Ranikot Fort

Gorakh Hill Top (By Rakaposhi Hiking Club Nawabshah )

Sindh has numerous tourist sites with the most prominent being the ruins of Mohenjo-daro near the city of Larkana. Islamic architecture is quite prominent in the province with the Jama Masjid in Thatta built by the Mughal emperor Shahjahan and numerous mausoleums dot the province including the very old Shahbaz Qalander mausoleum dedicated to the Iranian-born Sufi and the beautiful mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah known as the Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi.

Shrine of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai @ Bhit Shah. Shrine of Shahbaz Qalander @ Sehwan. Ruins of Mohenjo-daro & Museum near Larkana. Ranikot Fort near Sann. Aror (ruins of historical city) near Sukkur. Mazar-e-Quaid Karachi. Kahu-Jo-Darro near Mirpurkhas. Sadhu Bele Temple near Sukkur. Minaret of Masum Shah @ Sukkur. Mohatta Palace Museum @ Karachi.

Gorakh Hill near Dadu. Jama Masjid Thatta @ Thatta. Makli Graveyard, Asia's Biggest @ Makli, Thatta. Rani Bagh @ Hyderabad. Sukkur Barrage @ Sukkur. Kotri Barrage near Hyderabad. Talpurs' Faiz Mahal Palace, Khayrpur (princely state). Talpur Forts @ Kot Diji Forts at Hyderabad. and Umarkot

Places of Historical Interest:

Khanwal Pass By Rakaposhi

Gorakh Hill

The Gorakh Hill is Highest Hill Point In Sidh among the Kerthar Mountains Range. Gorkah Hill Is located in North-west of District Dadu along with Balochistan Border. Gorakh Hill is under Develop Project. You reach Gorkah Hill Top from Dadu City with 4x4 Vehicles, which are available from Dadu and Johi. Gorakh Hill Top is 93Km From Dadu City, at the milestone of 17Km you reach the small city of Johi which is the Taluka of District Dadu, and Starting Point Of kacho Area and the milestone of 41Km you reach the last small town Before Gorakh Hill Wahi pandi which is the settled in the lap of Kerthar Mountain Range. After Wahi Pandi the Road is Towered Slowly at the milestone of 53Km you are Enter in Yaroo Pass (Yaroo Sain Jo Luck) after Crossing Yaroo Pass 2500ft Above See Laval and the journey continue in Mountains and at the milestone of 76Km you reach the Base camp of another Highest Pass of Kerthar Mountain Range it is Khanwal Pass the base camp is on elevation of 3000ft and the Top of Khanwal pass on the Elevation of 5000ft Above See Level. The Distance Between Khanwal Pass Base Camp To Khanwal Pass Top Is 4Km. The 4Km Journey is too zigzag. After reach the Top of Khanwal Pass Drive continue to Gorakh Hill Top which is the 13Km. At the Top Of Gorakh Hill you can stay in Rest House or Camping at top Because the Gorakh Hill Is Under Development sindh Govt. have some project Like Hotel, Restaurants, and a chair lift at Top.

Ranikot

It is the largest fort of its kind in the region and maybe in the world, It is situated in the of the Kirthar Range about 30 km southwest of Sann, Jamshoro district of Sindh, approximately 90 km north of Hyderabad, in Pakistan. It has an approximate diameter of 9 km. Its walls are on the average 6 meters high and are made of gypsum and lime cut sandstone and its total circumference is about 29 km of which 8 km walls are man-made. While originally constructed for bow and arrow warfare it was later expanded to withstand firearms.

Bhambore

About 64 km east of Karachi, on the National Highway, is an interesting archaeological site, Bhambore, originally the sea-port of Debal where the young Arab warrior Mohammad Bin Qasim landed his armies in 711 AD. Three different periods in Sindh history coincide here: the Scytho-Parthians, the Hindu-Buddhist and the early Islamic. There is a museum and a rest house at the site.

Chaukundi Tombs

These tombs are attributed to Jokhio and Baloch tribes and were build between 15th and 18th centuries. It is situated 20km east of Karachi.

Thatta

Once a famous center of learning, arts and commerce and provisional capital for about four centuries in the past, Thatta is situated 98 km east of Karachi. Today, it is notable for the Jamia Masjid built by the Moghal Emperor Shah Jehan, and the Makli Tombs (15th - 17th centuries), a vast necropolis spread over 15.5 km², depicting exquisite specimens of architecture, stone carvings and glazed tile decorations.

Keenjhar Lake

Some 24 km north of Thatta, is the large man-made Keenjhar Lake, which is 30 km long and 10 km wide. The lake has facilities for angling and boating. PTDC motels offer food and accommodation.

Makli Tombs

One of the largest necropolises in the world, with a diameter of approximately 8 kilometers, it is supposed to be the burial place of some 125,000 Sufi saints. It is located on the outskirts of Thatta, the capital of lower Sind until the seventeenth century, in what is the southeastern province of present-day Pakistan.

Kirthar National Park

Located about 48 km from Karachi in the midst of the barren rocks of the Kirthar Range in Dadu district, near Thano Boola Khan is Kirthar National Park. Designed and planned with the help of the research and planning group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, the park is approved and recognized by international wildlife bodies. It is the last bastion of a wide variety of the region's wildlife that includes Sindh ibex, urial, deer, leopard, gray partridges and Houbara bustard. The Sindh Wildlife Management Board plans tours and provides transport from Karachi.

Hyderabad

Situated at about 164 km northeast of Karachi, Hyderabad was the capital of Sindh during the reign of the Talpur Mirs in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, it is known for Sindh University, Jamshoro; the provincial museum; the Institute of Sindhology and the Sindhi Adabi Board and also for colourful handicrafts such as glass bangles, glazed tiles, lacquered wood furniture, handloom cloth called 'soosi', block-printed 'Ajrak', leather shoes, etc. Historic monuments include old Mud Fort, Sheikh Makai Fort, Kalhoro Monuments, Talpur Monuments and Miani Forest.

RASOOL BUX PALEEJO Rasool Bux Palijo is a unique social scientist and a remarkable Politician of South Asia whose work must be gauged by the extent to Which his predictions are verified by history. In every nation some Names stand out as the pioneers of uprisings, revolutions and Movements and Rasool Bux Palijo is the most outstanding and Exceptional thinker and leader of the twentieth century Sindh and Pakistan. Like all great intellectuals, scholars and leaders Palijo has Been at times misunderstood, misinterpreted and misjudged not only By his die hard adversaries, but by his admirers as well. Palijo, one of The great original thinker of Sindh, is known as the Quid-e-Inqilab (Leader of Revolution) because of the radical nationalist pursuits with Which he has been challenging the rigid mindset of the dictators of his times and because only a powerfully original mind can emancipate itself as completely as Palijo's did from the tyranny of accepted but Already obsolescent ideas of south Asian Politics. Rasool Bux Palijo is a prolific writer, scholar, man of letters, Supreme Court lawyer and a seasoned politician. He is president of Awami Tahreek. He is an outstanding scholar and does enjoy great expertise and deep insight in world history and peoples movements, Politics and history of political thought, pure literature and criticism. He was born on 21-09-1930 at Jungshahi, district Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan. He got his primary education at local madarsa and got his secondary education at famous Sindh Madarsatul Islam, Karachi. He did his law graduation from Sindh Law College, Karachi. He not only led many democratic and peoples movements in Sindh and Pakistan, but also made enormous contributions in progressive movements at National and Asia-pacific level. He was secretary general of Awami National Party and convener of Movement for Restoration of Democracy (MRD). He remained central executive committee member of Asia Pacific Peace Forum (based in Manila). He has written more than twenty books on politics, pure literature (short stories), literary criticism, history and political thought. He is a widely traveled scholar and had visited several times almost all regions across the world. As a visiting faculty, he has been delivering lectures at Jawahar Lal Nehru New Delhi (JNU), Delhi University, University of Chicago, University of Cambridge, University of Sussex, University of Essex, Kinston University, University of Milwaukee, Institute of Oriental Studies- Moscow, Houston University and number of other global academic Institutions through out the world. 4 His contribution to Pakistani politics and Sindhi literature, both Quantitatively and qualitatively, stands out as a beacon of excellence And brilliance. His output is simply awe-inspiring. He has to his credit More than 30 published works of prose, poetry and translation. His Writings are unique as they express the harmony between what he has Seen outside with his naked eyes and what he has observed within by His inner eyes. He is the most revered Hari (farmer) leader and an Extraordinary orator whose quotations and speeches are memorized ad recited in community meetings because they reflect the trials and Triumphs of the common people in everyday life. He uses the mystic poetry of Shah Latif, Hafiz and romantic folk tales and simple beauty all around his land to convey a liberating message of revolution. He is warm and soft and very down to earth. He had a broad Forehead and dark attractive eyes, which often shown like brilliant candles. His innocent face is glorious effulgent and in his old age Particularly reflects remarkable resplendence. Tall, handsome and distinguished-looking, Rasul Bux Palijo comes across as a soft-spoken person but speaks with conviction when he talks of downtrodden people, lower classes and his work, a good listener too. It is always a delight to sit with him and listen to his selections from Shelly, Keats, Virgil, Shakespeare, Kabir, Lorca, Mayakoviski, Rumi, Hafiz, Kalidasa, Ghalib, Iqbal, Faiz, Bulley Shah, Farid and other major poets of the World. The tribulations and sorrows of Sindh, thoughts of Sindhi society and its distinguishing features are his constant subjects. Nothing you would find borrowed from anywhere every sentence is his Very own, the complex net of thoughts, the freshness of wind-catchers And the feelings, like Rajasthani dresses composite, perfect and Mixture of colorful needlework. When he looks at what we have, he sees deserts, the sea and its life, rocky terrain, cities like Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Larkana and Sukkur, and then there is our history Which stretches even before the time of Alexander, the mighty conqueror who tasted defeat here. There are no wisps of nostalgia that Cloud the picture. It is more of a candid shot. Though a great Nationalist he has no contempt against anybody. Filled with love for Beautiful valley of Mehran and the folks of Indus water he is not a Hard-core and he loves humanity and common people from core of his Heart. Currently he heads Awami Tahreek and also enjoys positions of President Sindh Water Committee and member Anti-Greater Thal Canal Committee. Through out his life, Mr. Palijo had been exhibiting his strong commitment to all democratic and progressive movements of deprived classes and nationalities through his actions and creative 5 Thoughts. He is an out standing thinker and pro-people leader of down Trodden masses of today's Sindh, Pakistan and South Asia. A voracious reader, he says that he loves nothing better than Reading. Palijo is conscious of the fact that the great ideology and Literature of every language contributed to the collective and Civilization development of the people therefore he is one of the most Well-versed and well-read persons especially in the field of literature of The east and the west. He has read almost all the great philosophers And poets of all the major languages of the world. Some he had read in original like the Persian, Urdu and English literature while he read the best of Sanskrit, Hindi, Bengali, Greek, Latin, Russian, German French and Spanish literature in translation. Shah Latif is his role model and he always copiously quote thought - provoking pieces from the best of the great philosophers, poets and intellectuals of the world in his articles and speeches. Having experienced the delights, the emotional uplifting and cathartic effects of great literature, especially the poetry, he has consciously tried to achieve the same greatness and superb sublimity and no doubt he has achieved the greatness which he aspired. He has become a role model for political activists and writers of Sindh and Pakistan. His influence on the nationalists and leftists of his own, as well as later generations is over-whelming and far-reaching. Every one in Sindh in the field of politics and literature affectionately refers to Him as 'Daho.' (top intellectual). History fascinates him. He says that History is all that is there in this world! Call it time if you will. It is a Flowing sea in which our earth and all our galaxies are floating. The Individual registers his name, but only for a moment. For media and Intellectuals he is an enigma surrounded by controversies and Shrouded in mysteries, more of a character than anyone from Traditional works of fiction. Unconventional and nonconformist, his Writings and speeches are imbued with a passion. He is fully Preoccupied with being a genuine thinker. This versatile genius was born in a lower middle class rural Family of Thatta, Sindh, which had been, because of its peculiar Geographical position, the greatest port of Sub-Continent. He always Remained content with whatever dresses he got and whatever Kharchi (Pocket money) he received from his father. His discontent lay Elsewhere; from his very childhood, he was in quest of some real Merchandise, or 'sacho wakhar'. He grew up surrounded by the heroic Struggles of his family members, from his father, who was forced to Support his entire family on a low monthly salary of Rs 20 and to his Mother who was an outsider in the family and had to take care of her five sons and three daughters. As was the practice in those days, 6 Palijo was married off at an early age. After completing his initial Education in Jungshahi and Thatta, he went to Sindh Madarsa Karachi Even though his parents wanted him to stay in Thatta and look after the family. Then he did his LLB from Jinnah College and started the journey of successful law career. It was his outspokenness against the feudals and bureaucrats that made him popularity both in the masses of Thatta and outside of it. Even though this attitude brought him Under attack from various Wadera's and Officers, he never flinched. He Had also served in different newspapers and educational institutions for short durations before he became a distinguished criminal lawyer with a mastery in cross examination. It was when he was about 25 years old that he came into contact with radicals. He was already well versed in literature, now he benifitted greatly from great phiolosophicql works of Kant, Hegel, Marx and Lenin. Besides revolutionary writings of the west, which forms the core of his struggle, he seems to have learnt many things from Chinese and South Asian leaders and writers like Mao, Gandhi and Jinnah. It was at this time that he also became an instant renowned writer in spite of not having a background in literature. When vicious campaigns of slur and hatred were unleashed against Shaikh Ayaz, Palijo's first book Andha Oondah Weg appeared in 1965. Although a number of writers had written reviews and literary analytical works, this was the first book that changed the balance between fundamentalists and radicals of Pakistan. In an era when Molvis and rightists held their sway in the world of literatuer, it was Palijo and Grami, who showed the wealth, vitality and poetic eloquence of Sindhi language, mystic tolerent culture and folk wisdom. It established him as ground-breaking critic. It was followed by Subuh Theendo, Jakee Bangal San Thiyo, Dhararan Ja Dhak, Wattoon Weeh Thiyoon, Ghalihiyoon Ganwaran Joon, Pasee Garha Gul, Awhan Jey Pujaran, Wihan Moon Ne Warau and others. Yet another important feature of his career as a writer is Kot Lakhpat Jo Qaidi, his dairy of eight years imprisonment. His success as a writer can be attributed to his commitment to neglected masses, his choice of subjects and his spontaneous style. He himself attributes this success to his attachment to the simple, plain truth. It is not only the excellence of his diction and form in prose but also it’s content. The greatest achievement of Palijo is his total mastery of the Sindh language, he gave new meaning and content to otherwise quite plain words. The One Unit, sinister and political fiends in the history of Pakistan left a deep and everlasting impact on his soul and political career. After partition, he accepted Pakistan as a fait accompli and as his homeland. But within Pakistan he was a great believer of f the rights of all nationalities on an equal footing. It was in this background 7 that he took up the cause of anti-one-unit movement in Sindh. He was arrested several times for arousing 'separatist' tendencies among the Haris and students of Sindh. He was also incriminated for infusing a communist movement in rural Sindh. The incarceration did not deter him from following the path he had chosen for himself as a political activist and writer and as an intellectual. He lashed out at the dictatorship of the time and lambasted the efforts made to silence him. The martial law used its extreme power over the impoverished lower classes and the persecution of Sindhi masses was the order of the day. He came to know the sociological rigidity of the tribal and feudal society in Sindh which resulted in cruelty and violence. He saw cruelty and violence at close quarters and it made him aware of the emotional instability of the people involved in criminal cases. He wrote some fascinating short stories like Pasi Garha Gul, Jitey Bah Barey, and Bakhtawar based on true facts and various tribal and feudal customs like karo kari and Bado. He established a personal rapport with his clients who would then open their hearts to him. He understood their emotional turbulence, their romances, their tribal loyalties overshadowing their compassion and above all the angularities of human relationship. Today, when the winds of free market are blowing away the idealism of the new generations it is bit difficult to reconstruct the picture of times and the ideas which led to the democratic and nationlist uprising of the country and also threw up the ideals which were to be the inspiration for the youth of the subcontinent. By the age of 38, he developed a great commitment to leftist democratic movement and actively participated and experienced the formation and working of NAP, Bazm-e-Sofia-e-Sindh and Sindh Mutehda Muhaz and came to the conclusion that working with Bhutto or G M sayed was nearly impossible. In coming years his disagreement with Z A Bhutto on Bengal and Balochistan issue and with G M Sayed on his support of feudals and martial law forced him to establish Awami Tahreek (Peoples Movement). For organizing this first newly born indigenous proletariat party of Sindh he traveled a lot along with few comrades sacrificed everything that he had, his family, friends and professional career. Thereafter, the world saw the emergence of a totally different Sindh imbued with defiance, the role of Awami Tahreek in 1983 movement and Anti Kalabagh struggle not only surprised the Pakistani establishment but whole western media His commitment was rooted in his deep conviction in the principles of democracy and socialism and was partisan to the interests of workers, peasants and the untouchables. His actions came to be based on deeper ideological understanding as he made a major advance in redefining the revolutionary actions. He brought a substantive change in the ideological and political atmosphere of Sindh and almost compelled the political parties to undertake the real issues of rural masses. He would encourage writers to write on economy, progressive 8 literature and above all politics of lower classes and for this purpose he already launched Tahreek a remarkable monthly magazine. Thinking ahead of his times he went on to see the dangers of communal politics. Being thoroughly secular he understood the dangers of fundamentalism and communalism and termed it as dangerous as the colonial rule itself. It should not be surprising that in a way feudal and urban based communal politics was not only promoted by the establishment but also by so called radical and nationalist parties. He has always been vehemently and emotionally debated and Discussed. You may like him, or you may not, but to ignore him is Inconceivable. To understand Palijo is to first understand his thought process and consciousness. A highly receptive sensibility, penetrative Perception and persuasive eagerness to understand the ethos of the political, social, cultural and economic conflicts in proximity has Elevated him from the ordinary individual to the realms of reverence. He has become the voice of suffering humanity and has arisen above Petty politics. For undemocratic, fundamentalist and sick minds Palijo is a leftist separatist traitor but for owntrodden and neglected people he is a hero. The feudal stranglehold he says stifles the progress of the country. He talks about the wadera's exploitation and the hari's Perspiration, his message conveys the spiritual unity of all living beings, values he expresses are so universal that everybody can find Something in his message, he speaks of the basic equality, dignity of Labor, peace for humanity, performance of good and virtuous actions, religious tolerance, hard work, union with the eternal truth through humility and humanity. Palijo's journey from the Kohistan of Jungshahi to Gadi Khato, Hyderabad and from prisons of Hyderabad, Sukkur, Khairpur, Landhi and Kot Lakhpat to Berlin, London and New York has come full circle. In addition to being a role model for political activists, writers and lawyers fighting against a repressive society, he has proved that he is a hard nut to crack despite being saddled with the near-impossible task of improving the current abysmal standard of political culture, education and commitment. He can be described as a modern day combination of Latif's three characters Dodo, who fought to the death to defend his country and people, Diyach who gave his head in charity in the name of art and music art and Marvi, the legendary Sindhi heroine who refused to let go identity of her own and of her people. This restless spirit is a man of the moment, the eternal present who does not dwell on past glories. He is willing to explore hidden facets of her own personality and take on new challenges. He is confident about the new generation of youth and does not agree with the critics who proclaim 'the death of the progressive movement. "The struggle of the 9 oppressed nations and people can never end, even if it does not get immediate results. Its form may change but the struggle never ends, it just cannot. It is society which is being swept by the winds of change. He talks about Sindh with the same timbre that his writings carry. Change will come. Revolutions come in a hundred to two hundred years, if they are not for us then they are for our future generations. Sindh is a country with roots in the Indus Valley Civilization. He believes the ancient wisdom, humanity and tolerance of its culture would ultimately reflect in a committed struggle and long-lasting achievement of the people. Is he a mere spokesman of the 'outdated' ideology of Marxism? As socialist states have withered away it is presumed that there is no relevance of ideas and ideals of those who 'wasted' their dreams on the socialist model of society? Surely in today's scenario where lopsided globalisation of the Capital is ruling the roost, one concedes the temporary eclipse of the lofty ideals of socialism and the inability to comprehend the logic of the march of the society towards an egalitarian one. But surely it is as temporary as the earlier dark periods have been. So far as exploitation continues to be the underlying mode of relationship, the socialist ideals will bounce back, sphinx like, to be the savior of the underdogs. Also as if by design, the retrograde politics apparently based on the religion, is surging to the fore. The democratic ethos are on the firing line all around. The poor, marginalized and the exploited have no other hope for the future except the one based on real democracy, on Liberty Equality and Fraternity. And these are precisely the ideas which are under threat from the rising tide of capitalist Religion based politics. We salute Palijo and his friends for the visions and dreams, which they gave us and hope that the present dark phase of capitalist and fundamentalist politics and lopsided globalization will be overcome in due course by the force and logic of social movements. BY DR HAMEER SAMO

Mir Shahdad jo Qubo

Tomb of Mir Shahdad Talpur (who is regarded as one of the finest military commanders of Sindh) one of the historical heritages of Sindh is at Shahpur Chakar Distt: Sanghar. This is a graveyard of the family members of Mir Shahdad Talpur. Shahdadpur a big city of Province Sindh is named behind Mir Shahdad Talpur, whereas Shahpur Chakar is named behind his son Mir Chakar Talpur.yes

Hala

Hala is famous for its glazed pottery and enameled wood work. Situated on the National Highway about 56 km from Hyderabad, it is frequently visited by hundreds of devotees of Hazrat Makhdoom Noah (10th century Hijra), a contemporary of Mughal Emperor Akbar and a religious divine, who converted a large number of people of Islam and also translated the Quran into Persian which is one of its earliest Persian translations in South Asia.

Bhitshah

Situated at about 56 km from Hyderabad on the National Highway, Bhitshah is the resting place of Sindh's renowned saint and mystic poet Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai (1689 - 1752). He is remembered for the compendium of his poetry called 'Risalo', a treasure house of wisdom as well as romantic folklore and fine pottery. He also founded a musical tradition of his own which is still popular. Devotees sing with fervor and frenzy his love-intoxicated Kafis to the strains of ek-tara (single string instrument) mainly on the occasion of his "Urs" held every year between 13th and 15th of Safar, the second Islamic lunar month.

Sehwan

Situated on the right bank of River Indus at a distance of 135 km from Hyderabad, Sehwan is an old town of pre-Islamic period. Here are the remains of Kafir-Qila, a fort reported to have been constructed by Alexander the Great. Sehwan is famous for the resting place of the great mystic poet, saint and scholar Shaikh Usman Marvandvi (1117 - 1274), popularly known as Shahbaz Qalandar whose mausoleum is visited by thousands of the devotees throughout the year. During the Urs celebrations (18th Shahban - the eighth Islamic lunar month), devotees dance rhythmically and with total abandon to the beat of drums (Naqqara Dhamal), finally ending in a spiritual trance.

Manchar Lake

About 16 km from Sehwan, Manchar, the largest fresh water lake in Asia, is as old as the Indus River. Spread over 254 km², it is a perfect spot for relaxing and the best location for duck-shooting during winter.

Daraza Sharif

Daraza Sharif, a small village, some 52 km from Khairpur, is known for the tomb of Sachal Sarmast who was a great master of Islamic learning, lived a pious life and composed poetry in Sindhi, Seraiki, Persian and Urdu. Sachal Sarmast's Urs is celebrated on 14th of Ramzan (9th month of Islamic lunar calendar).

Kot Deji

Kot Deji is regarded as one of the world's most important archaeological sites, dating back to 3000 BC, older than Moen-jo-daro and Harappa. Excavations made in 1955 unearthed an astoundingly well-organized city with a citadel that testifies to its being the finest fortified town in South Asian subcontinent.

Moen-jo-Daro

About 563 km from Karachi off the Indus Highway lie the world-famous ruins of Moen-jo-Daro (the Mound of the Dead), now being preserved with UNESCO's help. The museum at Moen-jo-Daro is unique and a visit takes you back centuries back when the location was a civilized city and a busy river Port. Air and train services from Karachi and an air-conditioned rest house have been built there.

Other Places

Among other historical sites are Amri, Umerkot (the birthplace of Emperor Akbar) and the legendary Arab city of Mansura near Shahdadpur in Sanghar district. Other interesting places include Matiari, town of old beautiful mosques and one of the centers of 'Ajrak'. On its outskirts lie the ruins of a Buddhist stupa. Nasarpur is famous for 'Khes', exquisite embroidery, decorative pottery, and wood work. It is also a holy place for the Hindu community.

Famous people

There are many famous people from Sindh. The following table gives some of them. Note: Regarding those personalities who were born before 1947 and lived until after independence, the criteria used for judging which list to put them under is when did this person first make a name for themselves eg. Mohammad Ali Jinnah before 1947.

Historical Personalities Raja Dahar Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Sachal Sarmast Sami Mir Sher Muhammad Talpur Hoshu Sheedi Khan Bahadur Sheikh Sadiq Ali Ansari Grohiri, Mangrio

Pre-Independence (pre-1947) Muhammad Ali Jinnah Fatima Jinnah G.M.Syed Pir Pagaro Aga Khan III Seth Edulji Dinshaw Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto Allama I. I. Kazi Elsa Kazi Khan Bahadur Ghulam Nabi Kazi Khan Bahadur Muhmmad Ayub Khuhro Sir Abdullah Haroon Shamsul Ulema Dr U M Daudpota Pir Illahi Bakhsh Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah Allah Bux Soomro Abdul Sattar Pirzada Nana Ghulam Ally Jamshed Nusserwanjee Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw Khan Bahadur Allah Bux Gabole Habib Ibrahim Rahimtoola Sayed Miran Muhammad Shah

Post-Independence (post-1947) G.M.Syed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Yusuf Haroon Altaf Hussain Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi Sardar Mumtaz Bhutto Muhammad Khan Junejo Benazir Bhutto Shaikh Ayaz Pervez Musharraf Shaukat Aziz N M Uquaili Abdul Hafeez Pirzada A G N Kazi Muzaffar Hussain A K Brohi Justice Tufail Ali Abdul Rehman Justice Abdul Kadir Sheikh Justice Sajjad Ali Shah Justice Mamoon Kazi Aftab Shaaban Mirani Ahmed Hussain A Kazi Justice Fakhruddin G Ebrahim Justice Abdul Hafeez Memon Air Marshal M Azim Daudpota Mohammedmian Soomro Dr Mutawakkil Kazi Shamshad Akhtar Altaf Hussain

Entertainment Allan Faqir Abida Parveen Mohammed Ali Mustafa Qureshi Moin Akhtar Anwar Maqsood

Sports Javed Miandad Wasim Bari Saeed Anwar

See also

• Sateen Jo Aastan

External links

• World Sindhi Congress
• Sindh Website
• Sindhi Literature Magazine of Sindh - Sindhiana
• Sindhi mp3 songs
• Sindhi Songs & Sindhi Music
• Sindhi Vouge
• Daily Awami Awaz (1st Sindhi Computerize News Paper)
• Sindhi Music
• Sindhi Site
• Urdu-Sindhi Site
• Shahpur Chakar
• Sindhi Literature
• The Sindhi Nation's Story
• Jeay Sindh - Long Live Sindh
• The Royal Talpurs of Sindh
• Rakaposhi Hiking Club
• [6]
• Sachal FM-105
• Current Map of the Districts of Sindh