Evolution of Indian literature since India’s Independence - SINDHI
(Part I)

Literature in Sindhi language unlike the literary cultures of contemporary other Indian languages moves on quite different trajectories and planes. The obvious reason of this is that while the rest of India celebrates the Independence Day on the 15^th August every year, in the collective psyche of Sindhi community in India, this day is remembered as a day of partition. This day is historical watershed in the collective memory of Sindhi speaking people. Every reference point is pre-partition and post partition. In such a situation the main thrust of the present presentation would be on the changed ‘context’ of Sindhi society, its changing contours running parallel in Sindhi Literature. In a way departing from the set structured format of enquiry into various aspects of a ‘Sindhi Literature.’

Here I have no intention of relating the horrors that partition brought and the arousal of the basic instinct for the physical survival and grim struggle that followed. In this dark hour of despair the political leadership of the community advised the community to merge their distinct identity among the people where ever they found themselves. At the same time the then relief and rehabilitation Minister Mr. K.C Neogy observed, “That the important point to remember is that Sindhis are threatened with extinction as separate people with their peculiar and distinctive customs and qualities. Thinly spread over India with no place to call their own they cannot hope to retain their language and culture.”  Fortunately history was to prove him wrong.

 The partition of the country was abrupt to say the least. As the community slowly recovered from stunned stupor every where they found themselves in a different milieu, their past identities of family, community ties, neighbors and even geography-  all identities had been lost. Historically the axis of Sindhi society was not the caste system. It is not a caste based society, as is the case with other Indian societies, but Sindhi society had a strong sense of geographical identity i.e. Shikarpur, Larkana, Hyderabad etc. This geographical sense of identity was totally lost. New bearings were yet to be found.

Over 75 years now have acquired new geographical identities as Sindhis of Mumbai- Ulhasnagar- Ahmadabad, Jaipur and  as NRS ( Nonresident Sindhis who live across the globe from Hongkong, Dubai in European and American counties)   

In fact the society that had migrated to India was only a ribbon of a complete society. This ribbon consisted of mostly middle class shopkeepers, businessmen with keen entrepreneurial skills, professionals and some landowners with their typical value structure. Such a narrow band has its obvious limitations but it holds forth a potential also. At the same time peasants, workers, artisans and masses remained on the other side. During the centuries of Muslim rule they had converted to Islam. Thus the ribbon that migrated to India had their distinct class characteristics. Apart from businessmen it had educationists, students, journalists, writers in its fold. The composition of this narrow band of society without peasants, workers, artisans places obvious limitations on the wider scope of literature. The language is not spoken in markets, offices, it had no state patronage was even for purpose of education was considered as ‘Foreign Language’ in state like UP.  What future could it hold? There were apprehensions about its future within speakers of the Language in the community itself.

The LIFE FORCE proved to be stronger. As the threads of life began to be collected and rhythm resumed, education occupied the place only next to mere survival. Thus schools were started in the verandahs of existing schools and often classes were conducted in morning hours as normal schools conducted would be empty at that time. Soon text Books had to be provided, printing presses set up, journalists re-started their papers, and writers started writing. In Bombay and Ulhasnagar a group of writers, old as well as new would meet weekly and discuss their recent creations, thus inspire and be inspired in turn. Thus “Sindhi Sahit Mandal” came into existence. Old writer Prof. M.U.Malkani (1896-1980) played a role of a patriarch with considerable zeal. In this period of utter despondency the young writers who in Sind had come under the Marxist influence and had been a part of ‘Progressive writers Movement’ came to the fore and brought a ray of hope through the impending revolution which was sure to wipe away their miseries. (Though the REVOLUTION turned truant is another matter.)  Their writings struck a receptive chord in the readers who were yearning for a ‘better future’.