We are trying to revisit the History and Geography of the Sindhi People worldwide. Their origin, their journey, and their culture. We studied the works of various reputed Scholars who have contributed to literature about Sindhis.
History
Sindhi is one of the oldest civilizations. Sindhis should be proud of their roots (But are not, because many Sindhis do not speak in Sindhi even at home). Sindhi culture has its roots in the Indus Valley civilization. Research has traced the Indus Valley civilization to even earlier than the third millennium BC i.e. 5000 years ago.
The name "Sindhi" is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Sindhu' the original name of the Indus River. The Sindh region is historically significant as it was a part of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, one of the world's oldest urban civilizations.
The city of Mohenjo-daro, located in Sindh, is one of the significant archaeological sites of this civilization. It shows how well-developed the City of Harrapa was. The Construction is done with baked bricks that are used even at present, and there is proof of a full-fledged drainage system in the city.
The Mohenjo Daro shows that Sindhis were progressive people even at that time and they had taken giant leaps in terms of Art and Culture even at that time.
The Sindhis primarily originate from the Sindh region, which is located in present-day Pakistan and northwest India. The history of the Sindhi people is rich and diverse, with influences from various cultures and civilizations.
The Aryans, an Indo-European group, migrated into the Indian subcontinent around 1500 BCE. They interacted with the indigenous Dravidian population and laid the foundation for the Vedic culture. This period contributed to the cultural fabric of the Sindhi people.
Sindh was one of the earliest regions to be conquered by the Arabs and influenced by Islam. Sindh is sometimes referred to as the Bab-ul Islam i.e. 'Gateway of Islam', as it was one of the first regions of the Indian subcontinent to fall under Islamic rule. That is why there are so many Muslim Sindhis in Pakistan.
In the early 8th century CE, Islamic rulers attacked and conquered the region of Sindh. This marked the introduction of Islam to the Sindh region. After that, it was ruled by various Islamic rulers. So there is significant Islamic influence on Sindhi culture, particularly in Language and Food. The Sindh region saw the rise and fall of various empires and dynasties, including the Ghazthe Navids, the Delhi Sultanate, and the Mughal Empire. These periods of rule left their mark on the cultural and social landscape of the Sindhi people.
One of the most significant events in the History of Sindhis is the Partition. During the partition in 1947, Sindh was divided between India and the newly created Pakistan. Many Sindhis who were living in Sindh migrated to India. Partition was a turning point for Sindhis. The Muslim Sindhis chose to stay back in Pakistan. Today, 90% of Sindhis in Pakistan are Muslims.
Geography
Sindhis in India are mostly Hindu. Historically, all the Sindhis were Hindu. They converted to Islam mostly under pressure from various Islamic rulers at different times. There are historical records that prove how various Islamic dynasties persecuted and Converted Sindhis to Islam by force. Some Sindhis also converted to Islam by their own will.
There was also a time when Sai Jhulelal, our Isht Devta, saved the entire population of Sindhis from being forcefully converted to Islam by the cruel Islamic King "Mirkshah". Sai Jhulelal, with his supernatural powers, convinced the King to allow Sindhis to practice their own religion and not force Islam on anyone. Mirkshah agreed and stopped the harassment of the Sindhi Population.
After the partition, the Muslim Sindhis preferred to stay in Pakistan as Pakistan was created as a Muslim Country. Hindu Sindhis migrated or were forced to migrate to India. The Hindu Sindhis who choose to stay back in Pakistan are also being persecuted and made to convert to Islam. The Population of Hindu Sindhis and other Minorities has considerably declined in Pakistan after the Partition. They have either converted to Islam or have escaped because of fear.
These Hindu Sindhis left most of their belongings back in their homeland, they were only able to carry some valuables as large-scale riots were going on on both sides, Hindu Sindhis who migrated to India lost almost everything.
They arrived in India as Refugees. In India, Sindhis settled mainly in some selected places as they wanted to stay together. So they settled in groups at places like Mumbai, Ulhasnagar, Kutch, Ajmer, and Ahmedabad.
Apart from India, displaced Sindhis migrated all over the world. They migrated to Hong Kong, China, the USA, the UK, Europe, and Africa. They migrated to almost all countries across the Globe. There is hardly a country where you will not find Sindhis. Still, the Sindhi diaspora has maintained strong ties to their cultural roots and has contributed to the global presence of Sindhi traditions.
Even though Sindhis are small in number they have reached the highest levels of prosperity wherever they settled. They achieved the almost impossible feat considering their position at that time. They did this with their natural business acumen, strong willpower, and extreme hard work. Some of these refugees started small eateries, they cooked at home and sold the meals in the market/bazaar. Some started sewing clothes made from waste cloth and sold them in the market. They did all kinds of work. Sindhis are never afraid of hard work and they continued to work hard till they became the most successful in their respective fields. Today, you will find that these same Sindhis own the best Hotels, Department Stores, and Construction companies.
Some Sindhis educated their children in reputed Educational Institutions. These Educated Sindhis knew the value of Education and it would be a deciding factor for the future of the community. These Great People established some great Educational Institutions for the community. These Colleges and Schools proved to be the most wonderful gifts for future Sindhi generations. K.C. College, Jai Hind College, H. R. College, Advani College, National College, CHM College, and more. There is a long list of colleges made by Sindhis in Mumbai as well as other parts of India.
Globally, Sindhis have immensely contributed to the economy of the country they have settled in. One can safely say that Sindhis have contributed to the Progress and Development of the World substantially despite being only a small part of the Population.
Maths Now the numbers. Even though Sindhis are small in numbers, Sindhis always 'Add' much greater value to the Society. they make significant contributions in all aspects. Sindhis do not need any kind of support or Subsidy from the Government for their Good Work they do it on their own. They have established many reputed welfare institutions like Hospitals, Schools, and Colleges for the society that are serving not only Sindhis but all the people of all castes and Religions.
Unlike other Minorities, Sindhis don't demand any special facilities or reservations from the Government. In fact, Sindhis give more to the society than they take. They always 'Give' to the government in the form of Taxes. They are one of the most peaceful communities and always live in Harmony. They provide Peace and Stability to the society. With their Big and Small businesses, they create thousands of jobs.
In India, Sindhis have created many Business Giants like the Hiranandani Group, the Hinduja Group, and the Rajheja Group. Sindhis have also contributed to the Film Industry, Ranveer Singh, the superstar is also a Sindhi. Sindhis dominate the Construction Industry, Textile Industry, and many more. Sindhis also contribute to the IT industry in a big way.
Lately, our Young and Dynamic Sindhi Bloggers and YouTubers are making wonderful Videos and Content. Some of them are Sindhionism (Dirven Hazari), Curly Tales (Kamiya Jani), Ashish Chanchlani Vines (Ashish Chanchlani), Sindhi Rasoi Blog (Alka Keswani). They are extremely talented and are already a role model for the younger Sindhi Generation.
Sindhis are an asset to the society wherever they are located. Even in Pakistan, where they are regularly persecuted as a minority, they head many of the successful businesses. They dominate the Rice Business, Textile Business in Pakistan.
However, I think Sindhis don't get the respect they deserve. especially in the Movies. Sindhis are almost always shown as some ridiculous character blabbering nonsense like 'Wari Sai, Wari Sai' in every sentence. Movie makers must understand that today Sindhis are one of the most sophisticated and educated people around, and they deserve much better than this.
All in All, if we define the Sindhi community mathematically, they are always a 'PLUS' for the Society.