Sindhi literature

Not to be confused withHindi literature.

Sindhi literature(Sindhi:سنڌي ادب) is the collection oforaland written literature in theSindhi languageinprose(romantic tales and epic stories) andpoetry(ghazalsandnazm). The Sindhi language of the province ofSindhinPakistanis considered one of the oldest languages ofancient India,and influenced the language ofIndus Valleyinhabitants. Sindhi literature has developed over a thousand years.

According to historiansNabi Bux Baloch,Rasool Bux Palijo,andG. M. Syed,Sindhi influencedHindiin the pre-Islamic era. After the advent ofIslamin the eighth century,ArabicandPersianinfluenced the region's inhabitants and were official languages.Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai,Shah Abdul Karim Bulri,Shaikh AyazandUstad Bukhariare notable Sindhi poets.

History

Early period (712–1030)

LocalHindurajas had ruled Sindh. In 712, theArabsconquered the region. They did not speak Sindhi, but Sindhi writers and poets played a role in development of the Sindhi and Arabic languages. TheQuranwas translated into Sindhi, and Sindhi books were translated into Arabic. Sindhiqasida(odes) were written, and Sindhi books were used in religious schools. The Persian-language Sindh historyChach Namawas written at this time.

Soomra period (1030–1350)

Sassi runs to Punhu in theSassui Punnhunfolktale.

Sohni swims to meet her beloved Mehar.

As the Arabs lost control of Sindh, Sindhi-speaking inhabitants became rulers. This period is known as the classical period of Sindhi literature, although Persian remained the administrative language and Arabic remained a religious language. TheSoomra dynastyruled Sindh for over three centuries. The Sindhi language expanded and new literary ideas were expressed in Gech (گيچ) and Gahi (ڳاھ).

This was a period of prosperity and Sindhi linguistic development; Sindhi was a source for Islamic preaching.Sindhi poetryand satire evolved.Baktar Jiramdaswrote:

[The] Sindhi language was made as a source for Islamic preaching. Apart from this, natural Sindhi poetry also started to set evolutionary goals. In the Arabic books, there is also this unprovenness. From what I know, at that time there was a satirical language and there was literature in it. In the 19th century AD, a traveling scholar "Acharya Adyutan" came to Sindh from the court of Saurashtra to study Sindh and Sindhi language. He died in 778 AD and wrote the bookKawab Malha Kahaon the basis of his study. But he writes about Sindhi poetry: "We are those Sindhi poets who had a taste for melodious songs. They sang their song in a very melodious manner with the delicacy of Minaj and Dar."

Samma period (1350–1520)

Main article:Samma dynasty

The Samma had been allied with the Soomra, but Hameer (the last Soomra ruler) was defeated by the Samma ruler Jam Unar. Jam Unar became the ruler ofThatta.Although this period is considered fruitful for Sindhi literature, Persian remained the administrative language and Arabic the religious language. Sindh's borders reachedMultan,Bhawalwapur, Pasni, Khatiyawar,Makran,Sibi,Kuch andKalat,and Thatta became a center of knowledge.

Mughal, Argon and Turkhan period (1521–1718)

Shah Beg Arghun's father, Amir Zulnun Arghun, ruledQandaron behalf ofMirza Shah Hussain Baiqra.In 1507, after Amir Zulnun Arghun's murder, Shah Beg Arghun took control of Shal-e-Sabi, Kabul and Kandar-Chidi inBalochistan.Due to the weakness ofJam Feroz,Jam Salahuddinrebelled; this led to civil war. Shah Beg Arghun conquered Sindh in 1521.

Shah Beg Arghun died on 22Sha'ban928AH(1522 AD), and Hakim Theo conquered the Saju region (as far as Multan) in 1526 AD. Humayun defeated Sher Shah Suri, and died in 1541.Akbarwas born the following year inUmerkot.

Mah Rahat went to Iran and died on 10 July 1543. In 1554, Shah Hassan Arghun died. Sindh was divided between two families; northern Sindh came under the control of Sultan Mahmud Bakri, who was governor of Bakr during the reign of Shah Hasan Arghun.

When Amir Mirza Isa Tarkhan took control of Henahin Sanad, theTarkhan dynastybegan.Ghazi Begwas appointed thenawabof Nani, and Sindh became part of theMughal Empire.During Mughal rule,subahdarswere appointed in Yernani, Bakr and Siwat. UnderMuhammad Shah,Mughal power weakened. TheKalhora dynastybecame stronger in Sindh, and established their own government.

Due to the unrest, the scholars of Sindh migrated to Arabia and Gujarat. There was chaos in Central Asia, which led to the emigration of intellectuals to Sindh. After them, the church of knowledge was established as a seminary. Persian was the Arghuns' mother tongue, and poetry was written in Persian andUrdu.

After the fall of theSamma dynasty,three noble families ruled Sindh for about two centuries. The Sindhi poetShah Abdul Karim Bulri,forefather of poetShah Abdul Latif Bhittai,was born.

Kalhora and Talpur dynasties

Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai(1689–1752) lived during theKalhora dynasty,a significant period in the history of Sindhi literature. The Sindhi language was standardized at this time, and classical Sindhi poetry flourished with Shah Latif's work. Shah Latif invented a variant of thetanbur,a musical instrument played when poetry is sung. His compilation,Shah Jo Risalo,includes "Sassi Punnun"and"Umar Marvi".

Shah Latif traveled to remote regions of Sindh, studying its people and their attachment to its land, culture, music, art and crafts. He described Sindh and its people infolk tales,expressing ideas about the universal brotherhood of mankind,patriotism,the struggle against injustice and tyranny, and the beauty of human existence. Also a musician, Shah Latif composed fifteensvaras(melodies). Each line of his poetry is sung on a specificsvara.Khawaja Muhammad Zaman of Luari,whose poetry appears in Abdul Rahim Garhori'sShara Abyat Sindhi,was another notable Kalhora Sufi poet.

Sachal Sarmast,SamiandKhalifo Nabi Bux Laghariwere celebrated poets of theTalpurperiod (1783–1843).Khalifo Nabi Buxwas an epic poet known for his depictions of patriotism and the art of war.Rohal,Bedil,Bekas,Syed Misri Shah,Hammal Faqir,Sufi Dalpat,Syed Sabit Ali Shah,Khair Shah,Fateh FaqirandManthar Faqir Rajarwere other noteworthy poets of the pre- and early British era.

Kalhora period (1718–1782)

During the Mughal Empire, theKalhoraclan became strong and assisted the Mughal rulers. Yar Muhammad Kalhoro executed the poetShah Abdul Karim Bulri,and became the first ruler of theKalhora dynasty.Shah Abdul Latif Bhittaiflourished at this time, which is considered a golden age of Sindhi literature because the rulers were Sindhi.

Talpur period (1782–1843)

Main article:Talpur dynasty

This period was the foundation of Sindhi prose. After theTalpurdefeated the Kalhora, they ruled Sindh for about 150 years. The British defeated the untrained Talpur army.

British Raj (1843–1947)

The British conquered Sindh in 1843, and Sindhi replaced Persian as the official language and medium of education. A committee of scholars discussed the alphabet, andPerso-Arabicscript was adopted and implemented. In addition to textbooks,poetryandprosebooks began to be published.

After independence

Pakistanwas founded in 1947, and Sindhi literature began to explore economic and social topics.

Modern era

Modern Sindhi literature began with the region's 1843 conquest by the British, when theprinting presswas introduced. Magazines and newspapers popularized Sindhi literature, and books were translated from a number of European languages (particularlyEnglish).Mirza Kalich Begwrote more than four hundred works (including poetry, novels, short stories and essays) about science, history, economics and politics during the last two decades of the nineteenth century and the first two decades of the twentieth.Thousands of books were published at that time, andHakeem Fateh Mohammad Sehwani,Kauromal Khilnani,Dayaram Gidumal,Parmanand Mewaram,Lalchand Amardinomal,Bheruamal Advani,Dr. Gurbuxani,Jethmal Parsram,Miran Mohammad Shah,Shamsuddin Bulbul andMaulana Din Muhammad Wafaiwere pioneers of modern Sindhi literature.

In India, theSahitya Akademi Award for Sindhi literaturehas been given annually since 1959. AfterWorld War I,Sindhi literature was affected by theOctober Revolutionand other socioeconomic changes. Literature became more objective and less romantic, andprogressivismwas an influence.

The struggle for freedom from theBritishgathered momentum, sparking interest in Sindh's history andcultural heritage.Scholars such asAllama I. I. Kazi,his wifeElsa Kazi,Rasool Bux Palijo,G. M. Syed,Umer Bin Mohammad Daudpota,Pir Ali Muhammad Shah Rashidi,Pir Husamuddin Shah Rashidi,Maulana deen Muhammad Wafai,Chetan Mariwala,Jairamdas Daulatram,Hashmat Kevalramani,Bherumal Meharchand Advani,Abdul Majeed Sindhi (Memon), Badaruddin Dhamraho,Muhammad Ibrahim Joyo,Allah Dad Bohyo,Tirath Wasantpublished works on history andculture.

Mir Hasan AliandMir Abdul Hussain Sangi,Khalifo Gul,Fazil Shah,Kasim,Hafiz Hamid,Mohammad Hashim,Mukhlis,Abojho,Surat Singh,Khaki, Mirza Qalich Baig,ZiaandAzizpioneered poetry in Persianmeter."Bewas" (a pseudonym),Hyder Bux JatoiandDukhayalare modern poets.

The novel and short story became the main prose forms, and hundreds of each were translated fromEuropeanlanguages to thelanguages of Pakistan.World War IIsaw the emergence of novelists and short-story writers such asNarain Das Bhambhani,Gobind Malhi,Sushila J. Lalwani, Lokram Dodeja,Sundri Uttamchandani,Popati Hiranandani,Dr. Moti Prakash,Sharma, Kala Sharma, G. L. Dodeja, Padan Sharma,Ghulam Rabbani Agro,Usman Deplai,Jamal Abro,Shaikh Ayaz,Rasheed Bhatti, Hameed Sindhi, Hafeez Akhund,Amar Jaleel,Naseem Kharal,Sirajul Haq Memon,Agha Saleem,Anis Ansari,Tariq Ashraf,Ali Baba,Eshwar Chander, Manak,Asghar Sindhi,Adil Abbasi,Ishtiaq Ansari,Shaukat Shoro,Kehar Shaukat, Mushtaq Shoro,Madad Ali Sindhi,Rasool Memon, Akhlaq Asnari, Reta Shahani,Rehmatullah Manjothi,Aziz Kingrani Badal Jamali,Ishaque Ansari,Jan Khaskheli,Hasan Mansoor,Pervez, Shakoor Nizamani, Tariq Qureshi, Munawwar Siraj, Ismail Mangio, Fayaz Chand Kaleri,Ayaz Ali Rind,Altaf Malkani. Sindhi drama has also flourished, and Aziz Kingrani has written scores of plays.

Young writers have experimented with new forms of prose and poetry.Free verse,sonnetsandballadshave been written, in addition to classical forms such askafi,Vaee,bait,geetsanddohira.

Notable Sindh poets areMakhdoom Muhammad Zaman Talib-ul-Mola,Ustad Bukhari,Shaikh Ayaz,Darya Khan Rind,Ameen Faheem,andImdad Hussaini.Mubarak Ali Lashari is a literary critic and the author ofKuthyas Kawejan.

Noor-ud-din SarkiandAbdul Ghafoor AnsarifoundedSindhi Adabi Sangat,an organization of Sindhi-language writers originally centered inKarachi,in 1952. The organization has chapters elsewhere in Pakistan and overseas.

Children's literature

The children's novelsLakho Phulani(Sindhi:لاکو ڦلاڻيandNaon Chateeha Lakhinoo(Sindhi:نئون ڇٽيهہ لکڻو) were written byShamsuddin Ursani.Gul Phulis a popular children's magazine which was edited by authorAkbar Jiskani.Laat,a magazine published by Mehran Publications, was founded by Altaf Malkani andZulfiqar Ali Bhatti(author of the spy novelKhofnaak Saazish). TheSindhi Adabi Boardhas published books for children.Waskaro,a magazine which began publication in 1990, contains short stories, poems and articles.TheSindhi Language Authorityhas also published books for children.

Genres

The earliest references to Sindhi literature are byArabhistorians; Sindhi was among the earliest Eastern languages into which the Quran was translated in the eighth or ninth century AD. Evidence exists that Sindhi poets recited verses before Muslim caliphs ruled inBaghdad.Secular treatises were written in Sindhi aboutastronomy,medicine,andhistoryduring the eighth and ninth centuries.Pir Nooruddin,anIsmailimissionary who lived in Sindh in 1079, wroteSufipoetry in Sindhi. His verses, known asginans,are an example of early Sindhi poetry. Because Pir Nooruddin was a Sufi, his verses describemysticismand religion.

Pir Shams Sabzwari Multani,Pir Shahabuddin andPir Sadardinalso wrote Sindhi poetry, and some verses by BabaFarid Ganj Shakarwere written in Sindhi.Pir Sadruddinwas another major Sufi Sindhi poet, composing verse in Sindhi'sLariandKatchidialects. He also wrote inPunjabi,Seraiki,Hindi,andGujarati.Sadruddin modified Sindhi script, which was commonly used by thelohanacaste of SindhHinduswho embraced Islam as a result of his teaching; he called themKhuwajasorKhojas.

During theSamma dynasty(1351–1521), Sindh produced notable scholars and poets; the Sammas were some of Sindh's original inhabitants. Mamui Faqirs' (Seven Sages) riddles in verse are associated with this period. Ishaq Ahingar (Blacksmith) was also a notable contemporary poet. Sufi scholar and poetQazi Qadan(died 1551) composeddohasand Sortha poetry, and was a landmark of Sindhi literature.Shah Abdul Karim Bulri,Shah Lutufullah Qadri,Shah Inayat Rizvi,Makhdoom NuhofHala,Lakho Lutufullah,andMahamati Pirannathare among other authors of Sindhi mystic, romantic and epic poetry.

Romantic tales

• Sassui Punnhun:this romantic story dates back to Soomra rule. Sasui is fromBhambore,and Phunoo is fromMakran;they marry. A number of Sindhi poets told this story, particularlyShah Abdul Latif Bhittai.
• Umar Marvi:this, the second well-known romantic story of that period, was widely sung by Sindhi poets. Umar, the Soomra ruler ofUmarkot,falls in love with Marvi.
• Momal Rano:this story is about the Soomra ruler Hameer. Rano, Hameer's son-in-law, falls in love with a Gujrati girl.
• Sohni Mehar:the fourth romantic story of this period
• Lilan Chanesar:also from the Soomra period
• Sorath Rai Diyach:another story from the Soomra period
• Noori Jam Tamachi:this semi-romantic dates to when the Soommra government was in Lar.

Religious poetry

During the Soomra era, Islamic missionaries arrived in Sindh andginans(religious poetry) became popular. The most popular ginans were written by Pir Shihab al-Din and his son,Pir Sadardin,who developed a 40-character Sindhi alphabet.

See also

• Sindhology
• List of Sindhi-language poets
• Noori Jam Tamachi
• Pakistani literature
• Doha (Indian literature)
• Sindh Literature Festival

Further reading

• Sindhi Sahitya Charitre– Kannaḍa language translation by Sumatheendra Nadig ofHistory of Sindhi Literatureby L. H. Ajwani. Sahitya Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi 110001 (1981).
• "Indo-Persian Literature in Sindh" inThe Rise, Growth And Decline of Indo-Persian Literatureby R. M. Chopra, Iran Culture House, New Delhi (2012).
• “Sindhi Adab Jo Mukhtasir Jaizo” by Akbar Lighari, Roshni publication, Karachi (2018).

External links

• The Largest Sindhi Adbi website in Sindhi language
• Sindhi literature magazine of Sindh – Sindhiana
• Shah Jo Risalo – The Selection, translated into English by: Elsa Kazi
• Sindhi Sangat – promoting and preserving the Sindhi heritage, culture and language.