This was Sindh!

Hyderabad, Sindh 1945

Submitted by Mohan Dadlani

Pahaka Ain Chavryun 

By Arun & Sabina Babani

We often heard at Home...

A language is judged by the richness of the proverbs and sayings evolved over a period of time. In fact, proverbs are the fabric of a culture, the truths which are culled from thousands of years of experience and wisdom and put forth in a short, simple way. Proverbs are the telegraphic messages that are handed down through generations by word of mouth, and are full of practical hints towards righteous living in everyday situations. Sindhi language, like any other language, has a rich heritage of innumerable sayings, riddles, idioms and proverbs derived from ancient wisdom, and influenced by almost all major philosophies of the world namely, Sikhism, Sufism, Hinduism, particularly Vedantas, with a great emphasis on the value of truth in life.

A Sindhi grows up hearing and believing SACH TA BHEETHO NACH (be truthful and experience joy). Unlike other cultures where truth is considered ‘a bitter pill’, or ‘kadwa sach’, a true Sindhi

believes in the melody of truth and lives life righteously and harmoniously. This indicates the Sufi influence, bringing out the mystic in him, adding a touch of joy in everything that he does. Culturally, a Sindhi is the product of the land of Sufis. Sufi poets like Shah, Sachal, and many others represent the highest human values in mankind. Sindhi-Sufism is, in fact, a fine blend of Vedantic and Islamic cultures and the Sufi philosophy has gone a long way towards moulding the life and thought of a Sindhi as a whole, so much so that a Sindhi today is a non-conformist, free from caste, dogmas and an emancipated individual who believes in rightful living and family values.

GHAR GURUJO DAR is a reflection of such a Sindhi mindset, a Sindhi personality, and family-orientation. Sindhi culture lays tremendous emphasis on family and relationships. It is within the home that a Sindhi experiences the presence of God. Family ties, harmonious relationships with young and old alike, and duties towards elders are regarded as a person’s DHARMA. It is indeed rare to find an isolated Sindhi for he strongly believes that KUTTO BHI KUTUMB MEIN SUHEN (even a dog looks decent within his family).  Much attention is paid towards the upbringing of children, inculcating moral values and ethics from a impressionable age as children are considered as moldable as the saying goes BAAR MUCHHAJO WAAR. This depicts a scientific and psychological understanding of a child’s mind.

Tact in relationships is an essential trait that a Sindhi cultivates in him, as an effective tool in handling delicate relationships; perhaps it may even be more dominant in Sindhi females than males. For instance, DHAK HAR DHEEYAKE TA SIKHE NOOHA (correct the daughter to teach the daughter-in-law).requires a tremendous amount of restraint., and a Sindhi exercises this in crucial circumstances, as well as in social circuits, for, according to a him DAAL AIN GAAL, JEDEE WADHAI TEDI WADHE (dal and issues can be stretched/increased as much as you desire), bringing out the basic Sufi nature of a Sindhi to live harmoniously and righteously with those who are in close proximity. No wonder it is said JEKE CHULTE SE DIL TE (those who are close are loved and cherished more), because it is the day to day sharing and living that life is all about for a Sindhi. He is social and full of life, lives and lets live because he is taught to rejoice in others’ success. THAR TA THARYAIN is what a Sindhi has imbibed from GURU NANAK SAHEB.

Talking about business, it is a well known fact that Sindhis have been traders and businessmen all along, and an average Sindhi inherits business tradition and the experience at an early age. It

is but natural therefore that a Sindhi learns the importance of wealth and its uses as in ATHAI NANON TA DIS LALKARON. Having wealth is essential for enjoying the good things of life. A

true Sindhi works hard for a decent living, and shuns the Beg, Borrow or Steal dictum of life. He swears by PINNAR KHAN PEENHAR BHALO.(Better toil than beg).This spirit of hard work,

honesty and entrepreneurship, engrained in the Sindhis from their forefathers, their intelligence and their constant faith in TITHE,(sharing a part of their wealth with the needy), has stood them in good stead. Such noble values are deeply imbibed in generally all Sindhis who live by VANDE VIR AHE SUKH

PAYE.(share and enjoy).That’s the True Sindhi - dynamic, hardworking, sincere, enjoys good living, and never resorts to begging, but continues to believe in the Divine intervention saying

KARE MATHAAN KAINJE HATHAAN. So, on the one hand he believes that PAISE BINNA PRASAD HAROO NA DAY HATTHA MEIN, signifying the importance of wealth to survive in

the world; and he being religious at heart also realizes the value of a human life NA DAY NA DUKHOAN he says,(if you cannot give, do not hurt).

The Sindhi culture and language is a rich treasure that can be traced back to thousands of years of Sufi, Hindu and even Buddhist influences. The Sindhi language can boast of being one of

the oldest and original, and it is only this language that can act as a unifying and identifying point for the entire Sindhi race. Proverbs form an important and symbolic part of the culture, as they

are a clear reflection of the lifestyle and social setup of a community. They are the essence of a culture, the very fabric on which a community breathes and survives, and they need to be passed

down to the new generation to prevent our language from becoming extinct. It is only the Sindhi language and culture that is our identity and every effort needs to be made in the direction of

saving it and keep together Sindhis the world over with its richness and warmth. It is a stupendous task but certainly not impossible!

By Saroj Shani, Pune, India

November 25th was observed by many around the world as "Meatless Day"!

IT IS DAY TO REMEMBER AS IT IS  DADA SADHU VASWANI’S BIRTHDAY.

DEAR DADA WAS BORN IN 1879 IN HYDERABAD SINDH. HE WAS AN EDUCATOR WHO WANTED TO EMPOWER AND EDUCATE WOMEN. HE ISTHE FOUNDER OF MIRA SCHOOL & MIRA COLLEGE  FOR GIRLS IN PUNE.IN YEAR 1986.

IT WAS PLEDGED ALL OVER-THE WORLD TO GO MEATLESS.AS VEGETARIAN DIET IS CONSIDERED NOT ONLY HEALTHY & GOOD FOR HEALTH  BUT IT ALSO. CONTROLS ASTHMA BUT VARIOUS DISEASES TOO. DADA REQUESTED PEOPLE TO REFRAIN FROM EATING NON VEG FOOD.AND IT WAS DECIDED TO GO MEATLESS ON HIS BIRTHDAY.AFTER HIS DEMISE.

DADA JASHAN TOO EMPHASIZED ON THE SAME ISSUE. HE ALSO TOLD EVERYONE THAT ANIMALS TOO LOVE THEIR LITTLE ONES SO THERE SHOULD BE A CHARTER FOR RIGHTS FOR ANIMALS AS WELL  AS  A CHARTER FOR MAN’S DUTIES TOWARDS THE ANIMALS.

HE  BELIEVED IN  STOPPING ALL KILLINGS (SAK) MOVEMENT. OVER THE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN 10 MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS THE WORLD WHO HAVE TAKEN THIS PLEDGE TO OBSERVE THIS DAY AS MEATLESS DAY.

I PRAY THAT WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE MORE & MORE PEOPLE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN TO OBSERVE AND GO MEATLESS ON THIS DAY.

*SINDHI'S BEST FRIEND*

Khaushal: Our Dog is very clever.

At seven o'clock every morning he brings us the newspaper.

Khemchand: But I know lots of dogs that do that. This is nothing special.

Khaushal: I know.....but we don't subscribe to any newspapers!!!

Noori Jam Tamachi

By Raj Dawani

In the fourteenth century, Feroze Tughlaq used to rule in Sindh at Thatta. He was from the Samma dynasty. In the vicinity of Thatta there is a very big lake Kinjhar which was inhabited by fisher folk.

They were a sort of unsettled community who would move from one place to other as the time demanded. They did not have proper houses to live in. They used to live frugally in their straw huts to seek out their living through hard labour by catching fish from the lake. Most of the time, they would live in their boats.They would spread nets to catch fish which would be sold by their women folk on the roads. 

Normally fisher women were not beautiful, they were lean, dark and uncouth, but there was an exception of Noori. She was not only very beautiful but full of good manners. She was called Noori because her beauty reminded every one of the beautiful full moon into its bloom light.

Jaam Tamachi was fond of hunting and traveling. Once while on a luxury trip to Kinjhar from his boat he happened to see Noori. He fell in love with her at first sight. He keeping aside his royal prestige and pomp asked the hand of Noori in marriage through his minister. The fisher folk were only happy to agree.

On the occasion of his marriage he gifted the Kinjhar Lake to them as a ‘Jaagir’ and exempted them from paying all the taxes. He brought Noori from fisher folk’s shanty to his royal palace. He used to spend most of his time with Noori, would often come to Kinjhar, and would move around in a royal boat with Noori. Thus Noori was bestowed with all the imaginable luxuries.

In spite of all this Noori remained the same humble self. She was humility personified. She would always tell Jaam Tamachi that she remembers her humble origins and she is grateful to him for bringing her from fisher folks humble dwellings to royal palace. "God shall bless me with your love for ever. I am full of faults, Beloved! I am your slave, Dear! I am to serve you."

Jaam Tamachi already had six queens from his Samma clan. They could not bear the King’s closeness to Noori. They were jealous of her. They hatched a plan to discredit Noori.

They told the King that Noori’s brother used to visit the palace every night and she was giving him royal jewels. One evening while Noori’s brother was returning from palace the King saw a box in his hands and inspected the same. He found in that fish bones and scraps of bread. He silently went away.

Next day he asked Noori as to what was it all about. She told him that she is not used to royal food and she was afraid that once she developed the taste of the royal food she may not be able to enjoy her traditional food. Therefore every day her mother would send her a piece of fish with bread made from coarse grain. "My brother brings it with all the love".

Jaam Tamachi was very much impressed by this. The other queens continued to harass Noori and would frequently complain about her misbehavior to the King. One day Jaam Tamachi decided to test all his queens. He told them that by evening all should be ready and he would take one of them with him for sightseeing. All the queens spent the entire day in applying makeup and decorating themselves with costly clothes and ornaments. In the evening when King came into the palace there was virtual competition among the queens to entice him. King could see through their artificial make up and their behavior and went ahead. When he came in the apartments of Noori he found her waiting for him anxiously. She had worn her original dress given by her parents and without any ornaments. Her natural beauty in itself was sufficient and did not require any artificial makeup, ornaments or costly clothes.

She approached him with all her humble charm. King took her hand and led her to Royal carriage. All other queens continued to fume and rage with jealousy. When he returned in the evening he declared her reigning queen.This way her humility and simplicity won her this great honour.

This elevation did not go to her head; instead she became more humble and courteous. Jaam Tamachi also would return her love and affection. One who has inner beauty even master seeks him out. Master will accept them who are true to themselves and are humble, who are free from false pretensions.

In the words of Shah Abdul Latif: "You royal Samma, I am lowly with many faults, Looking to queen’s pomp, may you not change your path! She is always humble and continues to plead with Jaam Tamachi thus: "I am of low caste, you have raised my status, how otherwise it behoves me to be in Palace?" (Shah Latif) "Those who carry the stinking baskets of fish,To mingle with whom one would feel ashamed,O Jaam Samma! You have raised their stature."(Shah Latif) "Those who proudly come with raised head, you have spurned them all of Soomra’s or Samma’s clan."(Shah Latif)

Here it is amply shown that if you want to win your master it is by humility and complete surrender to his will. Without unquestioned obedience it is not possible to meet your true beloved.  If you love with all devotion the sought himself will find out the seeker, as Jaam Tamachi himself found out. Those with ego cannot come near the master. Ego becomes a great dividing wall between seekers and sought. With humility and devotion only you can reach the desired destination.The master does not discriminate between low or high caste of weak or mighty.

"Gift does not depend on caste,Those who work are granted it." (Shah Latif).

"Those with divine spark in their hearts will only be able to meet the master." (Shah Latif)

Noori was a fisher woman yet she could get her beloved whereas those with ego and pride always failed to realize the truth. Note: - Our beloved Saint of Sindh, Sadhu T. L Vaswani adopted ‘Noori’ as his Pen name, Noori being embodiment of humility and signifying divine light.

How many times will you kill me?

By Raj Daswani

Sometimes you shoot me

And sometimes hang me

You cut me with a sword

And sometimes you blast me

Tell me how, and how many times will you kill me?

You killed me as Christ

You killed me as Ali

Tell me how, and how many times will you kill me?

You killed me as Lincoln

You killed me as Gandhi

Tell me how, and how many times will you kill me?

You killed me as Luther

You killed me as Indira

Tell me how, and how many times will you kill me?

You killed me as Subhash

You killed me as Bhagat Singh

Tell me how, and how many times will you kill me?

You killed me as Kanwar

You killed me as Hemu

Tell me how, and how many times will you kill me?

You killed me in Hiroshima

You killed me in Pearl Harbour

Tell me how, and how many times will you kill me?

You killed me in Kashmir

You killed me in Afghanistan

Tell me how, and how many times will you kill me?

You killed me in a Temple

You killed me in a Mosque

Tell me how, and how many times will you kill me?

You killed me as a Punjabi

You killed me as a Bengali

Tell me how, and how many times will you kill me?

You killed me in the name of Religion

You killed me in the name of Country

Tell me how, and how many times will you kill me?

I came to you as sign of peace, a white dove

And you killed me when I came to you as a singing nightingale

I live in the hope of a change in you

I live in the hope till a ray of light glows in you

Editorial Correction:

Last Month our reader and supporter, Harshita Thadhani had written a beautiful Poem on her brother Kishore Jagtiani not Kishore Jagtaini. 

WHEN A LIZARD CAN, WHY CAN'T WE?

By ANON

This is a true story that happened in Japan. In order to renovate the house, someone in Japan broke open the wall. Japanese houses normally have a hollow space between the wooden walls.
When tearing down the walls, he found that there was a lizard stuck there because a nail from outside hammered into one of its feet.

He saw this and felt pity, and at the same time curious, as when he checked the nail, it was nailed 10 years ago when the house was first built.

What happened? The lizard had survived in such position for 10 years ! In a dark wall partition for 10 years without moving, it is impossible and mind-boggling.

Then he wondered how this lizard survived for 10 years!!! Without moving a single step - since its foot was nailed ! So he stopped his work and observed the lizard, what it had been doing, and what and how it had been eating.

Later, not knowing from where it came, appeared another lizard, with food in its mouth.
Ah! He was stunned and touched deeply. For the lizard that was stuck by nail, another lizard had been feeding it for the past 10 years...Imagine ! it had been doing that untiringly for 10 long years, without giving up hope on its partner.

Think. Would you do that for your partner ?
Think. Would you do it for your Mom who brought you into this world after a big struggle of nine long months ? Or for your Dad? Friends, brothers and sisters ?

Imagine what a small creature can do that we can not. 

Never abandon your loved ones. Never say you are busy when they really need you.

You may have the entire world at your feet.....But you might be the only world to them....
A Moment of negligence might break the very heart which loves you thru all odds....

Bheedhi (Lady Fingers) & Potato Seyal

Ingredients:

1 bunch Coriander Leaves

1/2 bunch Mint

2/3 Green Chillies

1 Small Onions

1 Tomato

6/7 cloves Garlic

Small piece Ginger

Salt

1/2 tsp Red Chilli Powder

1 tsp Turmeric Powder

1 tsp Coriander Powder

1 lb Lady's Fingers

2 Potatoes

Oil 

Method

Make a paste by grinding together in a blender coriander leaves, mint leaves, ginger, garlic, tomato, onion and green chillies. You may need to add some water to get it to mix.

Cut the Bheendhi (Lady Fingers) into long pieces.

Cut Potatoes into same size long pieces.

In a shallow sauce pan take a little oil, and stir fry both Bheendhi and Potato.

Add the ground paste and sauté till the oil separates from the paste.

Sprinkle a little water and simmer till both are cooked.

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.

Editorial Content

Raj Daswani

Vini Melwani 

Geeta Raj

Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in Sindhi Samachar by our contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the editorial team of Sindhi Samachar. Any content provided by our contributors, bloggers or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.