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RATLAM (MP) : (Oct 2000) and every
alternative year thereafter
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INDORE (MP) : (Dec 30, 2000) and (Oct 2005)
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Published in (1) "Chingoon" Sindhi dated 12-03-2001
(2) "Sujag Sindhi" Devnagiri dtd. 23-04-2001
(Mohan G, Rohira)
Recently, I got
the golden opportunity of meeting the Sindhis of Indore particularly with the
members of BSS (Bhartiya Sindhu Sabha) for one day (i.e. on 30-12-2000). The
meeting with them took place at Kranti Kripalani Nagar for over 2 hours wherein
various matters were discussed for strengthening the organization and for
preserving our Sanskriti, our rich culture and our spiritual values. The report
in a nut shell is as under:
The total
population of this big and important city is 24 lakhs including 1 lakh Sindhis
who mainly reside in big pockets like Larkana, Kranti Kripalini, Kamla Nehru
and Vasanshah Nagars as well as Katju, Jairampur, Triveni and Bhagat Kanwar Ram
Colonies. Nearly 60% of them speak in Sindhi, 5% speak in English (particularly
those who stay in posh localities and are in service) and the rest speak in
Hindi. They have only one Punjab Girls (Sindhi) High School with Sindhi
(Devnagiri) as one of the subjects but there is no Sindhi Primary School. The
city has 15 sindhi Dharamshalas and nearly 25 Sindhi temples including 2 Jhulelal
Temples, 1 Radha Swami Satsang Bhavan, 1 Prem Prakash Ashram of Swami
Teoonaramji and a big ashram of Sant Asharam Bapu.
They celebrate
important festivals like Chetichand, Bhagat Kanwaram Varsi, Guru Nanak Jayanti.
etc. with big processions and langars. On the occasion of Chetichand, a big
procession is taken out with decorated colours and electric gadgets (with 80%
contribution of BSS Workers) throughout the important Sindhi belts wherein over
5000 people including the local population take PREETI BHOJAN. Moreover the
city has 4 statues of important sindhi personalities such as those of Bhagat
Kanwaram, Hemu Kalani, Dholumal Gera and Dr. Kamalkumar Sachdev. 2 magazines
are published by prominent Sindhis i.e. "Samrat Dahar Sen" in Sindhi (Devnagiri) by Shri
Rajendra Sachdev & “Indore Mulakat” in Hindi (but with important Sindhi
activities) by Shri Nandlal Sachdev. They have 22 sindhi panchayats but no
central or general panchayat.
The BSS is active in the city. They have 100 active members who give
more importance to good character and behaviour. They celebrate Sindhi Smruti
day (14th August) every year. They also organize Swasthya shibirs (medical
camps), distribute good literature, propagate for eradication of social evils
like the dowry system and show and glamour, along with the co-operation of
other sindhi organzations. Shri Vishindas A. Moriani is president & Shri
Shankar Lalwani is Maha Mantri of BSS. The latter is also Parshad (BJP) and
chairman PWD, Indore Corporation.
Thus on the whole,
the Sindhis in this beautiful city are more or less well settled socially and
financially and command good respect in the city. They also strive to preserve
the rich culture and language. However the arrangements for learning Sindhi is
very poor, which is disturbing.
