Sindh and Sindhi

The province of Sindh and the people inhabiting the region had been designated after the


river known in ancient times as the Sindhu River, now known as the Indus River. In Sanskrit,

síndhu (??????) means "river, stream", and refers to the Indus river in particular. The

Greeks who conquered Sindh in 325 BC under the command of Alexander the Great rendered it as

Indós, hence the modern Indus. When the British conquered South Asia in the 17th century,

they expanded the term and applied the name to the entire region of South Asia and called it

India.

Prehistoric period

Excavated ruins of Mohenjo-daro, Pakistan.

The Indus Valley civilization is the farthest visible outpost of archaeology in the abyss of

prehistoric times. The prehistoric site of Kot Diji in Sindh has furnished information of

high significance for the reconstruction of a connected story which pushes back the history

of South Asia by at least another 200 years, from about 2500 BC. Evidence of a new element

of pre-Harappan culture has been traced here. When the primitive village communities in

Balochistan were still struggling against a difficult highland environment, a highly

cultured people were trying to assert themselves at Kot Diji one of the most developed urban

civilization of the ancient world that flourished between the 25th century BC and 1500 BC in

the Indus valley sites of Moenjodaro and Harappa. The people were endowed with a high

standard of art and craftsmanship and well-developed system of quasi-pictographic writing

which despite ceaseless efforts still remains un-deciphered. The remarkable ruins of the

beautifully planned Moenjodaro and Harappa towns, the brick buildings of the common people,

roads, public baths and the covered drainage system envisage the life of a community living

in a highly organized manner.

This civilisation is now identified as a possible pre-Aryan civilisation and most probably

an indigenous civilization which met its downfall around the year 1700 BC. The collapse of

the Indus Valley Civilization is still a hotly debated topic, and was probably caused by a

massive earthquake, which dried up the Ghaggar River.
Geography and climate
Main articles: Geography of Sindh and Climate of Sindh

Sindh is located on the western corner of South Asia, bordering the Iranian plateau in the

west. Geographically it is the third largest province of Pakistan, stretching about 579 km

from north to south and 442 km (extreme) or 281 km (average) from east to west, with an area

of 140,915 square kilometres (54,408 sq mi) of Pakistani territory. Sindh is bounded by the

Thar Desert to the east, the Kirthar Mountains to the west, and the Arabian Sea in the

south. In the centre is a fertile plain around the Indus river.

 
Sindh lies in a tropical to subtropical region; it is hot in the summer and mild to warm in

winter. Temperatures frequently rise above 46 °C (115 °F) between May and August, and the

minimum average temperature of 2 °C (36 °F) occurs during December and January in the

northern and higher elevated regions. The annual rainfall averages about seven inches,

falling mainly during July and August. The southwest monsoon wind begins to blow in

mid-February and continues until the end of September, whereas the cool northerly wind blows

during the winter months from October to January.

Sindh lies between the two monsoons—the southwest monsoon from the Indian Ocean and the

northeast or retreating monsoon, deflected towards it by the Himalayan mountains—and escapes

the influence of both. The average rainfall in Sindh is only 6–7 in (15–18 cm) per year. The

region's scarcity of rainfall is compensated by the inundation of the Indus twice a year,

caused by the spring and summer melting of Himalayan snow and by rainfall in the monsoon

season. These natural patterns have recently changed somewhat with the construction of dams

and barrages on the Indus River.

Sindh is divided into three climatic regions: Siro (the upper region, centred on Jacobabad),

Wicholo (the middle region, centred on Hyderabad), and Lar (the lower region, centred on

Karachi). The thermal equator passes through upper Sindh, where the air is generally very

dry. Central Sindh's temperatures are generally lower than those of upper Sindh but higher

than those of lower Sindh. Dry hot days and cool nights are typical during the summer.

Central Sindh's maximum temperature typically reaches 43–44 °C (109–111 °F). Lower Sindh has

a damper and humid maritime climate affected by the southwestern winds in summer and

northeastern winds in winter, with lower rainfall than Central Sindh. Lower Sindh's maximum

temperature reaches about 35–38 °C (95–100 °F). In the Kirthar range at 1,800 m (5,900 ft)

and higher at Gorakh Hill and other peaks in Dadu District, temperatures near freezing have

 been recorded and brief snowfall is received in the winters. 

History
Main article: History of Sindh
Ancient history

Extent and major sites of the Indus Valley Civilization in pre-modern Pakistan and India

3000 BC.

Sindh's first known village settlements date as far back as 7000 BCE. Permanent settlements

at Mehrgarh to the west expanded into Sindh. This culture blossomed over several millennia

and gave rise to the Indus Valley Civilization around 3000 BCE. The Indus Valley

Civilization rivaled the contemporary civilizations of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia in both

size and scope numbering nearly half a million inhabitants at its height with well-planned

grid cities and sewer systems.

Sindh was conquered by the Persian Achaemenid Empire in the sixth century BC. In the late

300s BC, Sindh was conquered by a mixed army led by Macedonian Greeks under Alexander the

Great. The region remained under control of Greek satraps only for a few decades. After

Alexander's death, there was a brief period of Seleucid rule, before Sindh was traded to the

Mauryan Empire led by Chandragupta in 305 BC. During the rule of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka,

the Buddhist religion spread to Sindh.

Mauryan rule ended in 185 BC with the overthrow of the last king by the Sunga Dynasty. In

the disorders that followed, Greek rule returned when Demetrius I of Bactria led a

Greco-Bactrian invasion of India and annexed most of northwestern lands, including Sindh.

Demetrius was later defeated and killed by a usurper, but his descendants continued to rule

Sindh and other lands as the Indo-Greek Kingdom. Under the reign of Menander I many

Indo-Greeks followed his example and converted to Buddhism.

In the late 100s BC, Scythian tribes shattered the Greco-Bactrian empire and invaded the

Indo-Greek lands. Unable to take the Punjab region, they seized Sistan and invaded South

Asia by coming through Sindh, where they became known as Indo-Scythians (later Western

Satraps). Subsequently, the Tocharian Kushan Empire annexed Sindh by the first century AD.

Though the Kushans were Zoroastrian, they were tolerant of the local Buddhist tradition and

sponsored many building projects for local beliefs. Ahirs were also found in large numbers

 in Sindh. Abiria country of Abhira tribe was located in South of Sindh.The Kushan

Empire were defeated in the mid 200s AD by the Sassanid Empire of Persia, who installed

vassals known as the Kushanshahs. These rulers were defeated by the Kidarites in the late

300s. By the late 400s, attacks by Hephthalite tribes known as the Indo-Hephthalites or

Hunas (Huns) broke through the Gupta Empire's North-Western borders and overran much of

Northern and Western India. During these upheavals, Sindh became independent under the Rai

Dynasty around 478 AD. The Rais were overthrown by Chachar of Alor around 632. The Brahman

dynasty ruled a vast territory that stretched from Multan in the north to the Rann of Kutch

, Alor was their capitol.



speaking socio-ethnic group of people originating from Sindh, a province of Pakistan. Today

Sindhis that live in Pakistan belong to various religious denominations including Islam,

Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Christianity. After the Partition of India into two

dominion countries in 1947 i.e. India and Pakistan, a large number of Muslim immigrants

(Muhajirs) shifted to Pakistan and settled in Sindh region like other regions of Pakistan.

At the same time Sindhi Hindus migrated to India in large numbers and have settled in many

parts of the world.

Prehistoric period

Excavated ruins of Mohenjo-daro, Pakistan

The original inhabitants of ancient Sindh were believed to be aboriginal tribes speaking

languages of the Indus Valley civilization around 3000 BC.

Location of the Indus Valley civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization went into decline around the year 1700 BC for reasons that are

not entirely known, though its downfall was probably precipitated by a massive earthquake

that dried up the Ghaggar River. This decline coincided with the arrival of Aryan tribes

from Central Asia. The Indo-Aryans are believed to have founded the Vedic civilization that

existed between the Sarasvati River and Ganges river around 1500 BC. This civilization

helped shape subsequent cultures in South Asia.

In his book Kitab-ul-Hind, the Persian scholar Abū Rayhān Bīrūnī (Al-Beruni) declared that

 even before the advent of Islam into Sindh (711 A.D.), the Sindhi language was prevalent in  

Sindh.

Historical period

Because of its location at the western edge of South Asia, Sindh was one of the earliest

regions to be influenced by Islam. It was part of the Islamic empires of the Abbasids and

Umayyids. Sufi missionaries played a pivotal role in converting millions of native Sindhis

to Islam. At the same time, Muslim technocrats, bureaucrats, soldiers, traders, scientists,

architects, teachers, theologians and Sufis flocked from the rest of the Muslim world to the

Islamic Sultanate in Sindh. Settled by Turks, Pashtuns, and Mughals. Habbari, Soomra, Samma,

Arghun dynasties ruled Sindh. The Baloch tribes migrated and settled in Sindh. These Baloch

assimilated with Sindhis and now they constitute a significant population of Sindh. Sindh

continued to evolve as a frontier state; by the time of British colonial occupation it was

ruled by Baloch kings.

Independence

In 1947, Pakistan gained independence from British India. Sindh was a Muslim-majority

province and its elected provincial assembly voted to join Pakistan before any other

province. Many Hindus who lived in Sindh were killed and robbed and forced to leave Sindh by

Muslims due to post independence violent communal riots. The community which left Sindh has

preserved its custom and culture after migration to India. There are millions of Sindhis

living in India and all over the world now. In Pakistan, there population has continued to

decline. Today Hindu Sindhis form only 1.846% of Pakistan's total population. Properties and

land of original Sindhu Hindus were given to Muslim migrants from India by a board

constituted for the purpose at time of partition. Those remaining were stripped of their

property, land and wealth. Their wives, sisters and daughters were forcibly married off to

Muslims whereas males were forced to become bonded labours on their own land and serve

Muslim masters. Popati Hiranandani  writes in her autobography that the local police

were complicit in the anti-Hindu violence. These Hindus were settled in refugee camps in

India, and went on to assimilate into the local population, mainly in Western India. Many

cities in India, including Rajasthan, Ulhasnagar, Gandhidham, Ahmedabad, Bhopal and

Pimpri-Chinchwad, served as refugee camps for Sindhis who fled from Pakistan and now house a

 large number of Hindu Sindhis. 






Sindhi people have dominated both provincial and federal politics. The Sindhi politicians

have held the offices of President, Prime Minister, Speaker of the National Assembly,

Chairman of the Senate, and other senior ministerial positions in Pakistan. In India,

majority of Hindu Sindhis have through their hard work and business ethic and stress on

education, girl child equality, have done well financially and are considered one of the

most progressive people of India. However, regrettably, the Sindhi culture itself is decline

in India. Reasons for this are manifold. Firstly, Hindu Sindhis, being migrants, do not have

their own "state" or region like all other communities of India. They are spread far and

wide, and found in small pockets surrounded by other communities. As such, due to lack of

community strength, the culture has declined. Sindhi language is not officially taught in

any mainstream school in India, the festivals though celebrated, are mostly organised by

group of volunteers, Sindhi cinema is non-existant, young Sindhi kids often have no peers or

friends within community in their neighbourhood so they do not develop any appreciation or

knowledge of their rich culture. Secondly, being open-minded and progressive, Sindhis are

very open to cross culture marriages, which further dilutes the culture. It can be said that

Sindhi culture today is on decline in India, and even though Sindhi people will remain, very

little will be left of culture.

Islamic influence

With Sindh’s stable prosperity and its strategic geographical possession, it is not

surprising that it was subject to successive conquests by foreign empires. In 712 A.D.,

Sindh was incorporated into the Arab empire and became the ‘Arabian gateway’ into India

(later to become known as Bab-ul-Islam, the gate of Islam). After the conquest by the Arabs,

 the people of Sindh were influenced by Islam.

Sindhi culture is also highly Persianized as Sindh was exposed to cultural, religious and

linguistic influence from Islamic Persia. Most significantly, numerous Persian loanwords

made their way into the Sindhi language along with the Nastaʿlīq script, in which modern

Sindhi is written today.

Muslim Sindhis tend to follow the Sunni Hanafi fiqh with a substantial minority of Shia

Ithna 'ashariyah. The Sufism has made a deep impact on Sindhi Muslims and Sufi shrines dot

the landscape of Sindh. However, Sindh is also home to the Hindus as well as other religious

groups such as Parsis (Zoroastrians) from Persia.

Sufism

Sindhi culture has been strongly influenced by Sufism. Jhulelal, the Sufi pioneer of Sindh,

is revered by both Hindus and Muslims. A common greeting among Sindhis "Jhulelal

 Bera-Hee-Paar".

Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (1689–1752) was a Sufi scholar and saint, and is considered one of

the greatest poets of the Sindhi language. Bhittai settled in the town of Bhit Shah in

Matiari, Pakistan where his shrine is located. Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai's most famous

written work is the Shah Jo Risalo, which is a masterpiece of Sindhi literature as well. The

major themes of his poetry include Unity of God, love for Prophet, religious tolerance and

humanistic values. Islamic philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr describes Bhittai's works as

 "direct emanations of Rūmī's spirituality in the Indian world."

Notable Sindhis

 Famous Sindhis include Pir Hisamudin Rashidi, G. M. Syed, Shaikh Ayaz, Amar Jaleel,

Mirza Qalich Baig, Umar Bin Muhammad Daudpota, Ghulam Ali Allana and Imdad Ali Imam Ali

Kazi.

Politics

Pakistan's political scene has been dominated by Sindhi politicians, including Muhammad Ali

Jinnah, Ubaidullah Sindhi, G. M. Syed, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, Muhammad Khan

Junejo, Elahi Bux Soomro, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, Asif Zardari, Fahmida Mirza and Muhammad

Mian Soomro (who has served as President, Prime Minister and Senate chairman). In the

province of Sindh, Sindhis have been dominant in the government and its various departments.

In India, notable Sindhi politicians include Lal Krishna Advani (former deputy prime

minister of India) and Ram Jethmalani.

Historical Sindhi leaders include Raja Dahir, Darya Khan Rind, Soreh Badshah, Hoshu Sheedi

and Hemu Kalani.