Sindhi Samachar would like to honor Dr. Ram Buxani, whose exceptional contributions had a profound impact on our community. His unwavering dedication and exemplary character inspired us all leaving an indelible mark on our hearts and lives.

This piece was submitted by Ram Buxani and first published in our August 2021 issue.

During Pakistan Formation

Sindhi Hindu Leaders’ Abdication from Moral Duties

By Dr. Ram Buxani

Within a decade and few years after end of first World War, the world was caught between fires of hatred and fascism. The rise of Hitler in Germany bode ill will for one and all. At that time Indians hoped, that they would achieve complete independence from British Raj, but their hopes were belied, at least for a near future. Indians were divided vertically on religious lines, as now Muslims didn’t just want independence but insisted on creation of a separate homeland for them from the rest of India.

A new political party, Muslim League founded in 1906, put forward a new hypothesis called Two Nation Theory, which claimed that Muslims of India were a different nation and needed a separate country. The idea itself put a spanner into wheels of Indian Independence. When Second World War broke out in 1939 and it looked like Germany was going to overwhelm England and its allies, Muslims sensing the vulnerability of England passed a resolution, on March 23, 1940, which is popularly known as Pakistan Resolution that laid the foundation of a new country.

The British government in 1942 A.D., faced with the advances of German and Japanese forces, promised Indian politicians, dominion status for India after end of Second World War. It also requested Congress that later should support England in her war campaign. Gandhi flatly refused any such offer, though Nehru was ready to support it but kept quite, sensing Gandhi’s tough stand. Gandhi issued a call of ‘Quit India’ to Britishers and ‘Do or Die’ to Indians, whereas Muslim League supported England’s stand wholeheartedly. The Britishers, at that time thought that after Independence, they should have sympathetic government in India, so as to contain Russia or China and for that it needed access to hot waters of Arabian Sea from Central Asia. The history has amply proved that they were right in their perception as Congress government of India had sided with Russia and Pakistan has always lent every help to western powers in their hours of need.

Demand for Pakistan by Muslim League had polarised Indians on religious lines. After Sindh’s separation from Bombay Presidency and holding of first ever elections in Sindh in 1936, there was unstable government of Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah. Allah Bux Soomro, with the support of seven members of Congress, Vazirani and his group of ten independents and eight members of Sindh United Party formed the government on March 23, 1938.

Muslim League sensing division in Muslim votes called for Provincial Muslim League Conference on October 8, 1938. Muslim leaders passed a resolution No. 5, in the said conference, which is said to be precursor of famous Pakistan Resolution described above.

G.M. Syed, being a highly sentimental person had taken the 1938 Sindh Provincial Muslim League Resolution and subsequent Pakistan Resolution of 1940, passed at Lahore seriously and brought them to their logical conclusion. He introduced an official resolution in Sindh Assembly on March 3, 1943, in favour of creation of Pakistan.

This resolution read roughly like this: “This House wants to convey to the King Emperor through Viceroy of India, the wishes and sentiments of the Muslims of Sindh. That the Muslims of India are a separate nation due to their religion, philosophy of life, customs, traditions and economic beliefs. Taken into consideration the identity of Muslims, they are entitled to their separate autonomous national government. That in order to nurture their philosophy and independent life, it won’t be possible for Muslims to live under any strong central government.”

When Jinah found out that the situation at the time was not conducive for him to become the Prime Minister of India and Nehru too refusing to budge from his position that majority should prevail, Jinah called for Direct Action Day on August 16, 1946, in Culcutta. Premier of the then Bengal, Hussain Shaheed Suharwardi engineered mass scale killing and rape of Hindus by Muslims, specifically brought from outside into Calcutta. The macabre episode is popularly etched into the Indian history as ‘Great Calcutta Killings’.

The then Governor of Sindh, Mudie called for fresh elections in December 1946, which saw large scale rigging in the favour of Muslim League. The 1939 Manzil Gah riots in Sukkur, 1943 Sindh Assembly Resolution and other such incidents had already vitiated the communal atmosphere in Sindh and led to insecurity in indigenous Sindhi Hindus. To top it all local Sindhi Hindu leadership either from Congress or Hindu Maha Sabha didn’t instil confidence into the minds of local Hindu populace. It looked as if they were prepared to migrate to rest of India in the wake of proposed Partition of India, leaving behind rest of Hindu Sindhis to fend for themselves.

When 1943 Sindh Assembly Resolution was passed, the local Sindhi Hindu leadership could have opposed it tooth and nail and demanded that if such be the case the areas having majority of Hindu population in Sindh be added to India and Sindh be divided a la Punjab and Bengal. But that was not going to happen as local Sindhi Hindu leadership had already established themselves into areas proposed to be retained by India and they cared less for the rest of Sindhi Hindus.

Did the then Sindhi Hindu leadership have any right to decide for other Sindhi Hindus that they should abandon their homes, properties and migrate towards unknown places of India after Partition, empty handed?

There is a book, titled ‘History of The Non-Cooperation Movement in Sind’, published by the Gazetteers Department, Govt. of Maharashtra, Bombay, which chronicles the years from 1919 to 1924, the contributions of Sindhi leaders in Non-Cooperation Movement. It deals with the glorious period of non-cooperation movement in Sindh, which was launched after the formation of All India Home Rule League in 1916, mainly by Annie Besant and Lokmanya Tilak, as also the progress of the movement, the gradual decline of the influence of the responsivists and the growth of Mahatma Gandhi, the efforts made by Sindhi leaders, like A.T. Gidwani, C.P. Gidwani, Abdul Majid, G.J. Shivdasani, Ghulam Muhammad Bhurgri, J.P. Gulrajani, J.P. Mansukhani alias Swami Govindanand, Mukhi Jethanand, Jairamdas Doulatram, Jeswani T.K. and many non-Sindhis like Mahatma Gandhi, Jamnalal Bajaj etc.

As described earlier that there were many Sindhi Hindu leaders at time, like Dr. Choithram Gidwani, Jairamdas Doulatram or Acharya Kripalani. Dr. Choithram Gidwani had successfully organized a Hartal at Hyderabad, Sindh, in 1919 in protest against Rowlatt Act. He had been to jail on several occasions. Alongside his political activities, he was active in social service, like running a charitable dispensary, supplying medicines to the poor free of charge, collecting donations for pathshalas and narishalas, organizing relief work during floods and helping needy during communal riots. It was popularly said that he had sacrificed everything and turned into a ‘Faqir’ for the cause of the country.

Jairamdas Doulatram was a well-known legal luminary of Karachi. Gandhi used to compare him with pure gold and say that he swore by Jairamdas. Sarojani Naidu described him as a ‘Lamp in the Desert’ because of his services in the Sindh. Gandhi once recalled and described Jairamdas as, that cool-headed Sindhi who had come to former’s rescue at Amritsar session of Congress.

When Gandhi was launching the Salt March in 1930, he wrote to Jairamdas who was then member of Bombay Legislative Council that he had taken charge of the Committee for boycott of foreign cloth and he must have a whole time Secretary, if it is to work and he could only think of nobody so suitable like Jairamdas. The later resigned his seat, took up the new charge and made a tremendous success of the boycott of foreign cloth.

Jairamdas was a leading activist in ‘Salt March’ and ‘Quit India’ movements. He was shot and wounded in the thigh when police opened fire on street protesters outside the Magistrate’s court in Karachi in 1930. After Partition, Jairamdas was appointed as first Indian Governor of Bihar, which post he held until 1948. Later on, he was appointed as Union Minister of Food Supplies. He had also played a key role in drafting and shaping the Constitution of India.

Jivatram Bhagwandas Kripalani (Acharya Kripalani) was also very close to Mahatma Gandhi. He was President of Indian National Congress when India was partitioned in 1947. He had also served as the General Secretary of Congress for almost a decade. He had also contributed in the organization of ‘Salt Satyagraha’ and ‘Quit India’ movements. He was vociferous for division of Bengal and Punjab at the time of Partition and wanted Hindu majority areas of both provinces to be included in India.

All the above-mentioned Sindhi Hindu leaders had a great say in the affairs of Congress which spearheaded the movement of Indian independence. Sucheta Kripalani, wife of Acharya Kripalani was also an influential figure in Congress as she had become first woman Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh later on.

These Sindhi Hindu leaders who could have helped ordinary Sindhi Hindus at the time of Partition, by demanding a piece of land where Sindhi Hindus were in majority in Sindh or to cater to the safety and security of ordinary Sindhis, had already left Sindh and were ensconced in their safe heavens in India as governors and ministers in India and rest of Sindhi Hindu population had to go through hell when they were butchered in Nawabshah by goons of the then Deputy Commissioner, Masood Hussain or killed at Karachi in January, 1948, by artificially engineered communal riots by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan.

It is sheer grit and gumption of Sindhi Hindus to not only survive that nightmarish experience of Partition, their subsequent migration towards truncated India and standing on their own feet and rise just like legendary phoenix. Today, Sindhi Hindus are a force to reckon with in India and everywhere, wherever there could find a place to settle. 

Mr. Chandru Tiloomal Butani

(November 14,1938 – July 5,2024)

Submitted by Anita Thani

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our beloved Chandru Tiloomal Butani, of Bellevue, WA (and formerly of East Hanover, NJ).

Mr. Butani was born in Karachi, British India on November 14, 1938. After completing junior schooling in northeastern India, he attended Nowrosjee Wadia College in Pune and then Lukhdhirji Engineering College in Morbi, Gujrat, graduating in 1960. He subsequently relocated to Bangalore, where he took a position with Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT Limited). In 1968, he married Sushila Tejwani and they relocated to the United States, where he was accepted into the research-based Masters program in engineering at the Polytechnic Institute of

Brooklyn (now the NYU Tandon School of Engineering).

Following completion of his graduate degree, Mr. Butani and his wife moved to New Jersey, and he took a position with Western Electric, part of the Bell System. He had a long, illustrious career with the company, through its transition into AT&T and subsequently Lucent Technologies, rising to the position of Senior Staff Engineer before retiring in the 2000s. While with the company, he led a team and performed groundbreaking research in the field of acoustic engineering; his technologically innovative work and related inventions even resulted in 2 patents granted by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

Despite his professional accomplishments, above all Mr. Butani was an earnest and simple family man at heart, who treasured time spent with family and friends more than anything. While raising his family in East Hanover, NJ, he was an active member of his community, forging many professional and personal relationships. In 1985, he and a group of friends formed the Sindhi Association of New Jersey (S.A.N.J.), a recreational, social and cultural organization for the local Indian Sindhi community.

A founding Board Member of S.A.N.J., he served for many years as the society’s Cultural Director, working with talented artists and developing many performance programs. He also loved grilling outside on summer evenings, hosting pool parties for family and friends, and working on endless home improvement projects. The ultimate “DIY guy,” there wasn’t a project he couldn’t handle –including taking apart and rebuilding a car engine!

In 2020, he and Sushila relocated from New Jersey to Bellevue, WA in the Seattle metro area, to be close to their children and grandchildren. His quick wit and sarcastic humor livened up many family occasions.

He lived for his wife, children and grandchildren, as well as his siblings and extended family. He is predeceased by his parents, Tiloomal and Lali

Butani, as well as his elder brother Indru Butani. He is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Sushila; his devoted son Raj and his wife Mona; his loving daughters Sonia and Monica; his cherished grandsons Rohan and Khrish; and his supportive sister Pushpa Lalla, as well as many dear cousins, nieces, nephews and their families.

Global Forgiveness Day

Dada J.P. Vaswani's 106th Birthday 

By Naresh Singhani

Sadhu Vaswani Mission

August 2, 2024 —Dada J.P. Vaswani 106th birthday was celebrated with enthusiasm across the world as Global Forgiveness Day with 2 PM observed as the Moment of Calm. The day aimed to spread Dada's profound message of forgiveness in different ways to as many hearts as possible.

 This year’s campaign theme was, “Happiness Blooms in Forgiving Hearts”. The campaign utilized a variety of platforms to reach a global audience, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Radio. Collaborations with global partners, programs by Sadhu Vaswani Centres worldwide and institutions further expanded the campaign’s reach.

 The campaign launched with a forgiveness video that conveyed the message that forgiveness is essential for self-care and healing. An upbeat musical video, “Just Let It Go,” was also released to help participants shed negativity. In connection with the musical theme, a “Let It Go” dance challenge was introduced, encouraging participants to use dance as a means to release their burdens and embrace freedom. Many individuals joined in to experience the liberating effects of letting go.

All were encouraged to share Forgiveness Bands both in person and online. The “Share the Love: Share the Band” initiative featured the forgiveness E-band in digital platforms as a fun reminder to prioritize mental well-being. The bands symbolized a silent promise of support, helping to build a global community of love and healing. In total, 2,50,000 physical bands were distributed worldwide.

Various magazines published articles on Dada Vaswani's teachings on forgiveness. Continuous video screenings of forgiveness messages were featured at Pune Railway Station.

Educational institutions, Berkeley University of California, D.Y Patil Akurdi, St.Mira’s college,  HR college and National college joined the forgiveness movement.

Many schools across India actively participated with contests, workshops, and seminars. Couple of schools also conducted a mega Global Forgiveness Day event. Schools conducted various forgiveness activities such as Emotion graffiti wall, pebble paintings, Forgiveness delicacies, bookmark making and many more. Additionally, Several Zilla Parishad schools in Pune observed Moment of Calm.

Several global partners including, Unify, The Love Foundation, The Path of Forgiveness, Global Love Day, Positive Healthy Inspiration, Choose Love Movement, Project Forgive and more joined the Global Forgiveness Day.

Spiritual organizations such as Brahmakumaris, Gayatri Pariwar, Om Mandali, Australia, Swami Chidananda World Peace Foundation, Sindhu Amardham Ashram, Parmarth Niketan and Jeev Sewa Sansthan, agreed to support Moment of Calm.

Forgiveness Jars were set up at the Mission and its centres, allowing individuals to express and release their burdens by writing their feelings and placing them into the jars. The activity provided participants with a profound sense of relief. One participant shared, “I feel so much lighter after writing down my worries, it feels like Dada will look into it.”

Global Forgiveness Day 2024 not only honoured Dada J.P. Vaswani's legacy but also emphasised the healing power of forgiveness through a diverse array of engaging activities and heartfelt initiatives. Dada Vaswani believed, “Hearts at peace will create world peace 

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Sindhi Association of New Jersey

By Anil Wadhwani

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The Hindu-Sindhi Samaj

Save the Date!
By Anita Gyanchandani

Jai Jhulelal Friends,

The Hindu-Sindhi Samaj is delighted to announce the celebration of our Annual Thadri event on Saturday, 14 September 2024, in Milton Keynes.

This year’s event promises to be a memorable occasion with an array of enriching activities.

Event Highlights:

Pooja Ceremony: A sacred ritual to honor Thadri.
Lunch Buffet: Enjoy a sumptuous meal, with no need for potluck contributions.
Games: Engaging activities for all age groups.
Sindhi-Garba: Experience traditional dances, complete with complimentary tutorials for beginners.

We encourage you to reserve the date and join us for this festive gathering.       

Ticket prices: £12 adult (15 and above),
£10 (5-14years),
under 5 free .

Looking forward to your enthusiastic participation.

MOTHER, MOTHER,

OH DEAR MOTHER

 By Raj Daswani

In the end have realised this.

In exile, or forced to leave you?

Imagine the agony suffered by us,

Our flesh & blood, our kith & kin,

Suffering in the name of religion.

In exile, or forced to leave you?

The sad faces of our countrymen,

Haunting us, while asleep or awake,

Suffering in the name of freedom.

In exile, or forced to leave you?

Betrayed by ones whom we adored,

Stranded like orphan by whom we followed,

Suffering in the name of sacrifice.

In exile, or forced to leave you?

Did not opt for beg, borrow or steal.

Did not fight for our rights, though rightful,

Suffering in the name of unity.

In exile, or forced to leave you?

A strange land, I thought as my own.

Languishing, longing, seeking some shelter,

Suffering in the name of patriotism.

A Sindhi bought a well from a Marwari.

The next day while on his way to the market,

he met the Marwari gentleman who says to him,

"I have sold the well to you but not the water,

if you use the water you will have to pay for it"

The Sindhi replies,

"I in fact was just coming to see you to ask you to empty the water and if you do not then I will have to charge you to store it!"

Launched with love for everything Sindhi, our newsletter, Sindhi Samachar, aims to be circulated amongst our Sindhi family and friends intended to forge unity and interaction within our community. We hope our brothers and sisters globally participate and contribute towards it with your views, Sindhi news, Sindhi jokes, or Sindhi recipes, which we will be happy to publish under your name.

Editor-In-Chief

Vini Melwani

Editorial Content

Raj Daswani

Geeta Raj

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