Sindhi Roots & Rituals- Part 1

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Mr. Dayal N Harjani's recent publication "Sindhi Roots & Rituals", a magnum opus, is the outcome of Harjani's painstaking research of years, studying hundreds of books and collecting the information orally from vast number of persons with intimate knowledge. He has succesfully unraveled the historical, economical, and cul past of the most ancient race of Indus Valley Civilization, with incisive analysis and deep insight. No doubt it is bis labour of love and sense of responsibility, which has induced him to undertake this arduous task, never attempted before.

Exploring the subject under his lenses, Harjani has realized that Sindhi Community is passing through a serious Identity Crisis. Sindhi Language, the quintessence of its rich culture is in pitiable condition. It hangs at the perilous precipice from where it is poised to leap into the chasm of oblivion. The Sound of tolling bells is quite loud and clear.

According to Harjani, Sindhis have to act fast on war footing, if they wish to survive, cluding the list of races which may vanish from earth in near future.

Mr. Harjani has suggested few remedial measures as given below.

1.Sindhis should strive to create their homeland, the suitable location for the same is Kutch region adjoining Sindh.

2. They should also establish "Bharti Sindhu Vidyapeeth", a Cultural University to act as a repository of all the knowledge about Sindh and Sindhis, to preserve and promote Sindhi Language & Culture.

3. They should build "Shree Jhulelal Tirthdham" on a gigantic scale, at Narayan Sarovar which is the site where River Sindhu merged in Sindhu Sagar.

Lord Jhulelal, Ishidey of Sindhis shall certainly reappear at the same spot to become their saviour, if all the Sindhis united together to beckon Him, whole heartedly in one voice.

Mr. Dayal N Harjani's recent publication "Sindhi Roots and Rituals", a magnum opus, is the outcome of Harjani's painstaking research of years, studying hundreds of books and collecting the information orally from vast number of persons with intimate knowledge. He has successfully unraveled the historical, economical, and cultural past of the most ancient race of Indus Valley Civilization, with incisive analysis and deep insight. No doubt it is his labour of love and sense of responsibility, which has induced him to undertake this arduous task, never attempted before.

Exploring the subject under his lenses, Harjani has realized that Sindhi Community is passing through a serious Identity Crisis. Sindhi Language, the quintessence of its rich culture is in pitiable condition. It hangs at the perilous precipice from where it is poised to leap into the chasm of oblivion. The Sound of tolling bells is quite loud and clear.

According to Harjani, Sindhis have to act fast on war footing, if they wish to survive, cluding the list of races which may vanish from earth in near future.

It is said that, "Those who ignore their History, history ignore themselves". Obviously no individual, community or for that reason any country likes to be ignored. Recognition of an identity is very vital; it is as strong as hunger itself and for sense of being. History is a mirror that provides that identity at multiple levels. History is often estimated to validate many beliefs, value structures, customs and traditions which individuals, communities and religions to follow today and help people to lead their lives in accordance. In a way past cannot be delinked from the present and it provides a sense of continuity and urge for life in future. Hence an eternal prayer in Rig-Veda "Mrityo maa amritam gamaya" (Lead me from death to immortality) can be suitably recited here.

Looking at it the very concept of history is a kind of fascinating journey. As it happens, the very name Hindustan, Hindu and India like names of individuals are given by others. Persians gave the name 'Hindoostan' to the landmass from which mighty Sindhu river flowed. They could not Pronounce "S" Instead in their tongue it became "H" therefore it was called 'Hinddostan.' In the similar fashion for Greeks they called river Sind that became Indus and landmass "India" Looking at the etymology of the word "Hindu" it implies people living in the land mass geographically are identified as Hindustan or India. It is essentially a geographical concept rather than a national or religious concept.

While dealing at the conceptual level it would be interesting and not quite out of place to very briefly delve deeper in this matter. Concepts in the east, mainly in India, compared to concepts in the western world are rooted at the different levels. According to Indian philosophy the prime concepts of time and space are 'unlimited' whereas in the west the time is limited to 'Dooms day' and God sits in the seventh heaven. In this way all other concepts that broadly follow do not yield exact translation in their depth as implication or their range as definition.

In India we have 'Puranas' in which many mythological and supernatural narratives have been interpolated. The word Hindu does not signify any religion as it is interpreted in the western world. Word "Hindu" came to be identified as religion by those who came from other side, those who had concept of one Prophet, One Holy Book and organized-hierarchical System of clergy as an establishment. Hindu, in its essence has remained a civilization concept rather than a religious concept.

In this way 'Hindu' as a religious identity is alien to its very sprit. It is this religious identity which was invoked by politicians and clerics that used the religion as a division, as a tool for power and lust. In this way, manipulation of multiple identities has remained a convenient tool in the hands of Kings/ Nawabs/ Emperors. In order to boost their self image and satisfy their ego they acquired the services of many court historians and bards. For this reason we find that our collective mindset is conditioned to glorify success and the successful and consign defeat and thrown to dustbin. It may be remembered that many factors intervene on the battlefield to decide victory and defeat. Wars take place because both sides consider themselves to be equally strong. In this situation the historical accounts that have come to us become highly suspicious.

Additionally in case of colonialists they have provided the account that conforms to their view and understanding of their subjects and the mirror for the self identity for the ruled. The very construct of history that as ancient Indian history as Hindu period and the period that followed as Muslim period and after British conquest, 'modern' period are all questionable as compared to the records provided in historical accounts written by the indigenous Indians.

It is on record that it was only a question of power at the tip of pyramid that mattered. Life at the grass roots level was not affected. Many Hindu kings had clans of Muslim soldiers fighting for them and many Muslim rulers had Hindu regiments as a part of their army. Common people led the same life sharing weal and woes together.

A society or a community is known by its culture and consciousness. Mankind exists, and thrives within its culture by living within the parameters of its culture and at the same time learning to interact with other cultures in its evolution towards perfection. Some times a community lives within its well knit but foundering enclaves, but is surrounded by boundaries of other cultures. This is the very plight of the Sindhi Hindus who are dispersed all over the globe. In spite of the Sindhi diaspora and temptations to imbibe some of the local cultures for better or otherwise, most are financially secure and socially well established in their places of residence. Amazingly Sindhis appear to be well connected with other Sindhi families residing between a vast demography from one corner of the world in Punta Arenas - Chile to Kobe in Japan. A remarkable feature of Sindhis!

How do we understand the meaning of the word "culture"? Culture is the collective form of all expressions of life. It is the expression of intellectual stratum. It is characteristic essence of the collective society that manifests in its religiosity and its customs. Sindhi culture as many other cultures, has two basic components, one is the expression of religious rituals and the second is that of our social customs.

We have evolved from Neolithic times and emerged from the obscurities of the Sumerian civilization and the mysteries of 'Mohenjo - daro and Harrapa, civilizations, until the present day in the 21" century. The way we express ourselves our religious rituals and beliefs, bear the reflections of our accumulated conditionings or impressions that have been duly registered in our DNA make-up and transmitted through our lineage over the period of time.

We are a well knit community settled in different corners of the world; even though in times influenced by other currents and forces as well leading us to meander into different religions, cults and merging with other cultures, at the sublime cost of even diluting our very roots. It is said that once a society deviates from its cultural roots then there is a tendency to suffer from an identity crisis and inner conflict thereof.

We are beginning to question many of our belief systems including our superstitions, our rituals, and whether our rituals are backed by scientific endorsements or borrowed inclusions from other cultures.

The prevalent questions that linger in our minds: Why were we deprived of learning our mother tongue? Why have we stopped communicating with our children in our own language?

Why do we challenge many of our systems? Why are we so engrossed in our penchant to acquire fame and fortune at the cost of our cultural affiliations?

Why do we want to be different and literally feel that speaking Sindhi amongst ourselves is kind of primitive, rural or proletariat thing? Why do we change modalities of our religious rituals to our comfort and convenience or lack of knowledge? Why have we lost the intrinsic rich values of our rituals and resigned to a traditional mind set induced by way of habit or repetitious social custom devoid of depth of understanding and the value of its merits?

WHY THEN ALL SUCH THINGS ARE SO?

Even our Brahmin priests who conduct ceremonies regrettably are not synchronous with each other's way of conducting ceremonies and rituals. The result is more confusion.

Due to our innate sense of freedom and choice, we are tempted or lured to join different religious cults or sects that find the legacy of our prevalent rituals and customs superfluous. We have too many Gods in our altars and temples and therefore our polytheistic community desirous to realize the "one God in us the God in our hearts "sometimes find the path to oneness an arduous venture.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages