Press Release

World Sindhi Congress Organises a Reception for Comrade Sobho in UK

Prominent Bengalis and Sindhis attended this Gathering

World Sindhi Congress organised a reception in the honour of veteran Sindhi leader Mr. Sobho Gianchandani in London on 30th of July 1998. Large number of Sindhis and Bangladeshis attended this gathering. The gathering was presided by Dr. Banu Bushan Choudary, President Bangladesh Communist Party, UK.

Dr. Haleem Bhatti, Secretary General, World Sindhi Congress welcomed the guests. He said that we are blessed by the presence of a great political leader, who spent all his life in struggling for justice and peace. Comrade Sobho is an intellectual, reformist, who advocated the basic human rights. His sacrifices and struggle has inspired Sindhis as well as other nationalities in South Asia, especially the Bangalis, during the liberation movement in sixties. Comrade Sobho was also a close associate of Sain G. M. Syed, the father of Sindhi Nationalism’’.

Mr. Lakhoo Mal, an active member of World Sindhi Congress said, "The situation in Pakistan and Sindh is very alarming. Social injustice and corruption has become a part of Pakistani Culture; no body has courage to fight against the corrupt systems of Pakistan. Sobho represents those few who are struggling against this system. His continuous struggle for downtrodden people of Sindh, Pakistan and South Asia is very inspiring."

Dr. Banu Bushan Choudry, President Bangladesh Communist Party, UK said, "This is an auspicious evening for us. Sobho is a great man - like a candle of knowledge, which burnt itself and gives light to others. He was not allowed to travel outside of Pakistan since last fifty years and was denied to even have a travel passport - a fundamental right of every citizen. Sobho has spent eleven years of his life in official prison and detention, but in reality he remains in a "bigger Jail" i.e. Pakistan. Pakistan is a "bigger Jail" for Sindhis, Baluchis, Pakhtuns and Seraikis, where the ruling elite and army have denied the basic rights of these oppressed nationalities. Dr. Choudry reminded that Sobho was educated in Bengal in the institution established by the great philosopher and poet, Rabindor Nath Tagore. During his stay at that institution, he had opportunity to meet Tagore and various other Bengali communist and revolutionary leaders.

Mr. Munwar Hussain, of Bengali Communist Party, UK also thanked Mr. Sobho Gianchandani for sharing his experiences with all the Bengalis and Sindhis in this reception organised by World Sindhi Congress.

Comrade Amar Lal, a human rights and democracy activist said, " Sobho is a man who inspires many leaders in Sindh and Pakistan. He is a living history of South Asia." He further said, " I am with Comrade Sobho since last 30 years and have learned a great deal of knowledge from him. Recently, we were invited in two big Sindhi events in USA, Sindhi Samellan, and Sindhi Association of North America Conventions. During our participation, we had several meetings with Diaspora Sindhi Hindus as well as Sindhi Muslims. It was overwhelming to see the cultural bonding among them and their love towards land of Sindh. I think the time has come, when we Sindhis all over the world, irrespective of religion, should unite on a single platform and struggle for the equal rights.

The chief guest, Mr. Sobho Gianchandani, decided to have interactive session with the participants. He was asked various questions regarding his political career and current situation in Sindh and South Asia. Describing his political background, he said, "I started my political career at the age of nine through Indian National Congress, in 1932, when I first joined the campaign of ‘Wear Khadi - Not British Cloth". Later, I joined the Indian Communist Party. In 1942, I was involved in various campaigns for the freedom movement. I remained in jail for one-and-a-half year during British regime. After the division of India, I decided to stay in Pakistan, because I wanted to fight for the rights of Sindhi brothers." Commenting on the state of Sindhi Nationhood, he said, "I consider Sindh as Motherland for me and as well as for other Sindhi Hindus. Sindhi Hindus have no grievances against Sindhi Muslims. Problems of Sindhi Hindus in Pakistan are the same as Sindhi Muslims because the same force, e.g. Pakistani establishment, is oppressing both of us. Punjab wants to build Kalabagh Dam, which will not only affect Sindhi Muslim, but Sindhi Hindus as well. Kalabagh Dam will destroy the fertile lands of Sindh and NWFP. Thousand of acres of fertile lands in Sindh have been illegally allotted to the refugees from India and the retired army officers from Punjab."

Talking about the issues faced by Sindhis, Mr. Sobho said, "Sindh is one of the most ancient surviving civilisation in the world, but it is being destroyed and colonised by the Punjabi-dominant army. Punjab Army and Pakistani establishment want Sindhis to be declared as a minority in their own province by manipulating the recent population census figures. Sindh is a resourceful land and an eternal entity; it will remain on the map of world till the last day.

Referring to the Sindhi Nationalism Movement and its leader, Saeen G. M. Syed, he said, " I was a close associate of G. M. Syed in his struggle for Sindhi rights and their freedom. I have never left G. M. Syed; we had several meetings in which I told Syed that you are the "life of Sindhi Struggle". G. M. Syed continued the struggle of Sindh when he was alive and now it is the duty of the youngsters to complete the mission of his life, i.e. the struggle for autonomous and sovereign Sindh.

Finally World Sindhi Congress thanked the Bangladesh Communist Party, UK for hosting the reception.
Rubina Shaikh
Information Secretary
World Sindhi Congress
Source: http://www.sindhudesh.com/wsc/OldNews/wsc-32.htm

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