Mumbai: On February 21, observed as ‘International Mother Language Day’, Pakistani Sindhis in Dubai have a public function to celebrate the language. They have invited Asha Chand, a Sindhi from Mumbai living in Dubai to be the keynote speaker at the event.
Chand, who manages Sindhi Sangat, a cultural group that promotes the use of the Sindhi language in India, especially among descendants of Hindu Sindhis who migrated to India during the 1947 partition, agreed to attend the event. “After all, the event will celebrate the language,” said Chand.
However, Chand faced a dilemma when Sindhis from Pakistan wanted to join online forums that promote the language and help Sindhi youth find employment and business opportunities abroad. Chand, who promotes the ‘Sindhi Language International Foundation’, which offers incentives to young members who create reels and other events to promote the language, gets calls from Pakistanis who want to join the group.
“I refuse because the forum promotes Sindhi among Indians. The language is doing well in Pakistan. Sindhis in Pakistan learn the language in schools and speak the tongue on the streets. My forum is meant for Indian Sindhis who are losing the language,” said Chand.
Other Indian Sindhis are worried about encountering Pakistanis online because of worries about data theft. One member of an online group commented, “In today’s time of mobiles getting hacked by scamsters across the border, it is not advisable to have Pakistanis in the group.”
Sindhis from both sides of the India-Pakistan border are increasingly celebrating their language and culture, especially in places like Dubai. Rakshita Manglani, an event producer and founder of Global Sindhi Community, which has a WhatsApp group, said there is passion among members about promoting Sindhi language and culture. “But people are sceptical about joining hands if anybody in the group seems to be from Pakistan because of cyber security concerns. Some leave the group,” said Manglani who organises events promoting the language. “I recently received a call from the vice president of an airline. He is a member of the group and he said that he is fine if non-Sindhi Indians join the group. However, he did not want Pakistanis in the group.”
“It is a sensitive topic. People leave the group when they see a comment from a Pakistani in the group,” added Manglani.
Not everyone is wary of Pakistanis on the forums. A college principal who requested anonymity advised members to avoid political conversations to maintain decorum in online forums. “We must welcome everyone who promotes the Sindhi language and culture,” the principal said. “This narrow mentality is in every workplace, not just WhatsApp groups. We must look for broad-minded people; they will contribute something to society.”
Anand Lalchandani, associate editor of ‘Hindvasi’, an online weekly newspaper with Pakistani contributors, said that most of the great Sindhi writers and poets are from Sindh. “We are here for the love of the language. We invite Pakistanis to write for us. However, I do not take anything with a religious or political colour. We do not mention Pakistan in our articles; we say Sindh,” said Lalchandani.
Sindhi speakers across the border said they are cautious about posting political views on the forums. Sayed Waseemullah Shah, who is part of a group called ‘Sindhi Adabi Sangat’ based in Sukkur, Sindh, and international groups, said, “I love to spread cultural interests; many Hindus are based in Sindh and are holding their culture. The social media groups are based on mutual interests. I have not been involved in debates yet, but views from every country differ due to politics.”
