The Sindhudesh Movement[1] is a
separatist movement, based in
Sindh,
Pakistan, seeking to create a
homeland for
Sindhis by establishing an ethnic state called Sindhudesh (
Sindhi: سنڌو ديش,
lit.'Country of Sindhis'),[2][3][4] which would be either autonomous within Pakistan[5] or independent from it.[6][7]
The movement was founded by
G. M. Syed, after
Bangladesh's independence. He gave a new direction to Sindhi nationalism, founded the Jeay Sindh Tehreek in 1972 and presented the idea of Sindhudesh.[8][9] Sindhi nationalists sometimes claims the
Kutch region of India, the
Lasbela District of Balochistan, and sometimes southern Punjab (particularly the
Saraiki speaking regions.)[10]
Sindhi separatists reject the
parliamentary path of struggle for attaining freedom and rights.[11] No Sindhi nationalist party has been ever voted into power in Sindh at any level of government.[12][13] In recent years, several Sindhi nationalists have deserted the ideology and joined mainstream politics due to disillusionment within ranks, lack of public support, and crackdowns by law enforcement agencies.[14] Some nationalist parties and associations are banned for alleged "terrorist, anti-state and sabotage" activities by the Pakistani government.[15]
In 1972 G. M. Syed proposed the formation of an independent nation for the Sindhis under the name Sindhudesh. He was the first nationalist politician in Pakistan to call for the independence of Sindh in a Pakistan.[9] The movement for Sindhi language and identity led by Syed drew inspiration from the
Bengalilanguage movement.[17] In post independence Pakistan, the strategy followed by the Pakistani state led Syed to come to a conclusion that the Sindhis would not be given due importance in the country.[9]
With his political base largely weakened after election, Syed later advanced his position towards openly demanding
separation from Pakistan and the build-up of an independent Sindhudesh in his books Heenyar Pakistan khey tuttan khappey (Now Pakistan Should Disintegrate) and Sindhu Desh — A Nation in Chains.[18]
Reemergence of Sindhi Nationalism
After the assassination of former Prime Minister of Pakistan,
Benazir Bhutto, ethnic unrest arose. Sindhi nationalists judged the country was being used to the advantage of people from non-Sindhi ethnic groups, alleged Punjabi dominance in the defence sector.[19] and believe this to be the cause of recent troubles in Sindh (see
Sindhi nationalism).[20]
Sindhis in India,[21] most of whom had to be relocated out of Sindh after Partition, leaving behind their property as evacuee trusts under reciprocal government supervision.[citation needed] After the Partition of India, the majority of the minority
Hindus and
Sikhs in Pakistan migrated to India, while the
Muslim migrants from India settled down in Pakistan. Approximately 10 million Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India, while nearly an equal number of Muslims migrated to newly created Pakistan from India. Hindu Sindhis were expected to stay in
Sindh following the partition, as there were good relations between Hindu and Muslim Sindhis. At the time of partition there were 1,400,000 Hindu Sindhis, though most were concentrated in cities such as
Hyderabad,
Karachi,
Shikarpur, and
Sukkur.[22][23][24]
The concept of Sindhudesh is often also supported by Indian Sindhis[citation needed] most of whom want to return to their native homeland Sindh while retaining their lives in India.[22][25] Suggestions for a Sindhi political party India as an ethnic empowerment movement[26] for the largest minority group in
Gujarat and
Maharashtra included proposals of separatism and a higher degree of autonomy within the
Sindhi community in India.[citation needed] Proposed by prominent individuals Participating in the
Chetichand celebration within the Sindhi community in
Ahmedabad such as at the time Chief Minister (
14th Prime minister of India),
Shri Narendra Modi.[27]Narendra Modi, in his speech gave an example of the Jewish acquisition of Jerusalem and suggested "If those who dream have strength, everything is possible" [27] The Gandhian carnival at Delhi's doorsteps won pan-Indian support for Sindhudesh.[28]
The concept of Sindhudesh is also supported by some
Sindhi diaspora[citation needed] including
Sindhis in India,[29][30] most of whom had to be relocated out of Sindh after Partition,[31] leaving behind their property as evacuee trusts under reciprocal government supervision. Pre-partition, Sindh was a relative peaceful province, with communal violence only erupting sporadically and during partition.[citation needed] This peace stopped after partition, with post-partition migrants to Sindh angry at the "non-co-operation" in the killing of Hindus; and communal hatred multiplied post partition.[32][33] according to a
Sindhi nationalist organisation "The only backdrop for Sindhudesh movement has been the absence of national capitalist because of the migration of Sindhi Hindus from Sindh to India after partition. That’s why Sindhudesh Movement has been lacking economic, political and diplomatic means to start mass uprising against the decades of slavery, humiliation and oppression. Therefore, the independence of Sindh and establishment of secular republic of Sindhudesh is the need of the history and key to regional peace."[34][35][24]
Population break up by states (Census of India 2011)
The
Sindhu Desh Liberation Army or SDLA is an active militant group based in the Sindh province of Pakistan. A series of minor blasts[36] took place on railway lines — the attacks carried out between November 2010, and February 2011 were claimed by the SDLA, who left pamphlets on the scene that mentioned “atrocities” being carried out against Sindh and promising to continue their “struggle” till Sindh was granted “freedom”.[37] The attacks were condemned by fellow Sindhi nationalists such as Dr
Qadir Magsi of the
Jeay Sindh Tarraqi Passand Party, who warned of negative consequences from violence.[36][38]
Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz was a “merger/integration” of all the nationalist factions of Jeay Sindh or Sindhudesh movement which was functioning separately before the demise of veteran Sindhi nationalist ideologue
GM Syed.[40]
JSMM is one of the major[41][42]separatist political party in Sindh, Pakistan, that believes in the separation of Sindhudesh from Pakistan. Founded in the year 2000, by the veteran Sindhi nationalists belonging to the Sindhudesh movement who left
JSQM.[43] The founder and the current Chairman of party
Shafi Muhammad Burfat is living in exile in
Germany under
political asylum.[44]
Jeay Sindh Students’ Federation is the student wing of various separatist organizations struggling for the freedom of Sindhudesh following the ideology of
G. M. Syed, founded in 1969. JSSF was a nationalist outfit which emerged from
Anti-Unitary System Struggle in the late 1960s and later joined G. M. Syed in his ideology of a separate homeland for
Sindhis in 1972. Since then, it has been working as the students’ front of the Jeay Sindh or Sindhudesh movement.[45]
Sindh National Movement Party
A new left wing party for a politically, culturally, economically and geographically independent Sindh was formed in December 2011. It wants to see Sindh as it was in 1843 before the British conquered it and opposes the development of
Zulfikarabad, referring to it as a new Israel.[46]
Causes of failure of Sindhudesh Movement
Emergence of Pakistan People's Party
One of the mainstream federal party of Pakistan, the
Pakistan People's Party (PPP), found its political roots in Sindh. Most of its leadership also comes from Sindh. The PPP has always believed in politics of federation and parliamentary democracy.[47] The long rule of PPP, dominated by Sindhis, at the provincial level has diminished Sindhi nationalism. Moreover, the rise of PPP to the federal government also furthered the interests of Sindhis in the federation of Pakistan.[48]
The above factors has weakened the Sindhudesh movement due to which Sindh has seen relative calm for years now. According to South Asian Terrorism Portal (SATP), a Delhi-based think tank, Sindh has remained peaceful even at the high times of terrorism in Pakistan recording 2 to 3 casualties of Pakistani forces per annual.[48][49]
Industrialization of Sindh
One of the reason for the failure of separatist movements of Sindh is the fact that Sindh serves as the most industrialized province of Pakistan as
Karachi and
Hyderabad serving as the key industrial hubs of the country.[50] Sindh contributes around 70% of the total revenue of Pakistan whereas Karachi being the financial hub and port city generates majority of the share to the national revenue.[51]
Diverse demographics of Sindh
The diverse demographics of Sindh also plays major role as Urban Sindh is heavily dominated by the
Urdu-speaking community which does not support separatist cause of Sindh at all.[52] Further, Sindhis of Urban areas also reject any such notion of separation as most of Urban Sindhi population serving as the
public professionals,
doctors, and
civil servants who have heavy stakes within Pakistani state. To put simple, The Urbanization of Sindh coupled with diversity of Sindh has made it harder for Sindhi nationalist to attract support for their separatist cause.[53]
Success of NFC award
The
National Finance Commission Award, 2010 granted 24% of the revenue share to the Sindh, much larger than its actual population of 15%, which subsequently helped in alleviating the grievances of the local population and solidified Pakistani nationalism among them.[54]
Provincial autonomy under 18th Amendment
18th Amendment adopted by the
National Assembly in 2009 devolved much of the power to the provinces and granted enough financial, legislative and administrative autonomy to the provinces. 18th Amendment strengthened the federation and took a major toll on Sindhi Nationalism. Ministries such as health, education, law, home, and finance are now fully under control of provinces.[55][56]
^Syed, G. M.
Sindhudesh : A Study in its Separate Identity Through the Ages. G.M. Syed Academy. p. These days a pragmatic situation has become dynamically alive in Pakistan. It is the exhilarating political idea of creating a new independent state of Sindh. So the sons of the soil, in full cooperation should increase the momentum for the demand and efforts to create Sindhu Desh with the new Sindhis who have settled down in this land permanently.
Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2018.