sobho gyanchandani “man from moenjodaro”

8/10/2019 Sobho Gyanchandani Man from Moenjodaro.

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dgramchandani

On his death on 8th December 2014 in Pakistan

MAN FROM MOENJODARO

Sobho

Gyanchandani


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SOBHO GIANCHANDANI

Man from Moenjodaro.

A few years ago, he said in an interview: For the Pakistani establishment, I am a

three-headed monster I am a communist, I am Hindu, and I am Sindhi.

Gianchandani was the first non-Muslim recipient of the Kamal-e-Fun Award a top

literary award given to writers in the field of literature

Born on May 3, 1920, to a family of moderate business and farming interests in the smallvillage Bandi near the archaeological site Moenjodaro, Gianchandani had his schooling inthe village and opened a small shop thereafter.

After his fathers death, his elder brother advised him to take up his studies seriously. As astudent, Gianchandani was so keen that he had read the Janamsakhi, the revered Sikh bookspanning over 37 volumes. During his school days; he was already writing short stories. Hereceived higher education at Qambar, Larkana, the NJV High School, Karachi, and later DJCollege, Karachi.

When the flames of the World War II broke out, the young man was deeply shocked anddecided, on the advice of a classmate, that he would find mental refuge in ShantiniketanCollege. There, besides fine arts, Gianchandani studied other subjects and held discussionswith people who later became leaders of the subcontinent. Tagore was at that time 78years old, and used to call his student the man from Moenjodaro.


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But by 1942, the situation in the subcontinent had turned testing, and Gianchandanidecided to return to Sindh. Here, he joined the freedom movement which landed him in jailseveral times. The honorific comrade became his second name and he honoured the

dignity of it, believing in communism regardless of the eventual fate of the USSR.

From 1942 to 1946 he was detained in Hyderabad, Sukkur and Karachi, and implicated in anaval mutiny case. He also served jail sentences from 1948 to 1952. He was among theleaders detained in 1956 after the ban on the Communist Party of Pakistan. He was jailedagain in 1959 and was kept at the Hyderabad and Lahore Fort for many months. When theLahore High Court released him, he was sentenced at his home town for five years. He wasalso arrested under the emergency laws during the 1965 war with India and kept at Sukkurprison where he was joined by Shaikh Ayaz, the doyen of modern Sindhi poetry.

In between the periods of incarceration, he obtained a law degree in 1967, from Larkana,and consequently took up the practice of law.

Gianchandani fought for the rights of peasants, labourers and other oppressed people. He

was a sensitive writer whose creativity was overshadowed by politics, though. BeforePartition, he joined the Progressive Movement and founded a literary circle in his collegewhere Ram Panjwani became president and Abdur Razzaq Raz secretary.

He was, additionally, a playwright and a short story writer. His short stories Kadehen bahareendo, Pardesi preetam, Bachao bund, Inqilabi jo maut, Akhiyan jo tutann and Raheemahold a mirror up to the social psyche. He did not believe in weaving a story through wordmimicry, using instead broad brush strokes to communicate his message.


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Dr Ayaz Qadri called him Himalya khan oocho manhoo and Shaikh Ayaz remembered himas Asaan jo Qalandar. A few years ago, he said in an interview: For the Pakistaniestablishment, I am a three-headed monster I am a communist, I am Hindu, and I am

Sindhi.

ON a humid morning in 1939, a 19-year-old boy travelled from Larkana to ShantiniketanCollege, Rabindranath Tagores school in West Bengal, desirous of learning music. He hadasked the principal for admission, but without a test, and had received a positive telegram.

Three years later, when he left, he had become a Marxist communist desirous of workingfor the poor and waging a struggle for freedom. For the rest of his life, he remained adedicated social worker, writer and lawyer who fought for the poor at his own expense.

It is an uphill task to enfold a century in a few lines, the years of commitment and tirelessstruggle put in by Comrade Gianchandani, who believed in the constant struggle for justice.In a speech made on his 91st birthday in Larkana, he reiterated this: I still see light at theend of the tunnel, I will never give up.

This steadfast crusader was, perhaps, amongst the last few of the students taught by

Tagore. Seventy two years later, he asserted: I am proud of being Tagores student; [at thecollege] I was infused with a new spirit and became focused on supporting the truth.

At Shantiniketan, he encountered several intellectuals and had long discourses witheminent communist leader Pannalal Dasgupta, who reinforced his ideas for launching thefreedom struggle. Gianchandani stayed tenacious till the end, even though he sufferedgreatly for his convictions and spent 13 years in jail.

Gianchandani was the first non-Muslim recipient of the Kamal-e-Fun Award a top

literary award given to writers in the field of literature.Rabindranath Tagore used to callhim a Man from Moenjodaro during his stay at the Shantiniketan College in West Bengalbecause of his village near this historical site.


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He left this world on 8th December 2014 in Larkana- Pakistan

After news of Gianchandanis death was made public, a large number of people belongingto various parts of Sindh arrived in Larkana where his funeral rites will take place.

Prominent personalities of Sindh, including Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and formerpresident Asif Ali Zardari, condoled his death and paid tribute to him.

Before his death, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has prayed forearly recovery of ailing Sindhi social scientist and revolutionary writer Sobho Gianchandani

and asked party leaders to visit him and inquire about his health.

In a press statement, PPP Chairperson said he would personally take care of the requiredmedical treatment of 94-year-old Sobho Gianchandani often described as Man from Moen-Jo-Daro by his admirers.

Bilawal said Gianchandani is a living history of undaunting struggle for the well being of hispeople and land as he refused to migrate to India Bindi, a small village of Larkana, duringpartition despite huge pressure from his relatives. He said PPP leadership has always

respected Gianchandani since three generations for his commitment, loyalty and struggle.

The deceased was taken to Chandka Medical College Hospital on Monday morning, wherehe was rushed for an Electrocardiography (ECG) and was later shifted to his house inLarkana.

Gianchandani is known to have written nine books, four of which were in Urdu and the rest

in Hindi.

The leftist leaders funeral rituals will take place on 9th December 2014 (Tuesday morning), since other family living abroad are expected to attend the funeral.


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Nirmal his Son said that the comrade passed away suddenly while sitting in his chair, afterhe was served his morning tea and asked his wife to take him outside.

He was 95. He has left a son, two daughters and thousands of admirers to mourn his death.

Gianchandani was twice admitted to a Karachi hospital for severe chest infection and wastaking medicines till his death. He had grown so weak that he could not even walk withoutsupport.

Despite having grown so weak, he would take medicines himself. He asked me to take him

out into the sun as I was leaving for work on Monday morning, said Nirmal, Comradesyounger son.

He spent last days of life in his room surrounded by books, his other love of life aftercommunism, and would listen regularly to the BBC to keep himself abreast of world news.

Nirmal said: Comrade has left me alone. He was a great source of encouragement and

strength for me.

Gianchandani was deeply shaken after the death of his beloved elder son Dr Kaniya andremained ill since then. He sold his personal library with a large collection of rare books to

Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto Memorial Library and spent the money thus obtained on thetreatment of his son but he could not survive.

A large number of people from different walks of life gathered at Gianchandanis residenceafter hearing news about his death. The cremation will take place on Tuesday after the finalrites.

In one News paper it was written that Any obituary of Sobho Gianchandani, the SindhiMarxist leader, who died at the age of 95 at a Larkana hospital on Monday, should bewritten in bold, red letters.

In and out of jail

Gianchandani started his political career in 1942 when he got admission in the LLBprogramme at SC Shahani Law College in Karachi. He established the Sindh StudentsOrganisation with his friends and later joined the communist party.

During the Quit India movement when many leaders of sub-continent were arrested, the

police tried to arrest him several times and finally succeeded in apprehending him atMitharam Hostel. The British government sent him to Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur jailsover two years.

Sobho was arrested more than 20 times after Pakistan came into being because of hisaffiliation with the communist party, recalled one of his old fans, Comrade Jam Saqi.


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Whenever the court would release him, the state authorities would put him under housearrest. Bhutto tried to convince him to join the PPP but the comrade refused, whichirritated Bhutto and he later ordered the police to arrest him, said Sindhi writer

Mohammad Ali Pathan.

This practice continued till 1973 when Bhutto withdrew all cases against him and orderedthe government not to arrest him again, said Saqi.

Pro bono

As a lawyer, Gianchandani used to plead the cases of peasants without charging any fee. Hehas also written four books of short stories and novels. He spoke Sindhi, English, Urdu,Bengali, Hindi, Persian and Arabic.

After the law and order situation worsened in his native village, Gianchandani settled inLarkana. He had sold all his village property including the land and the house, claimed

Abdul Haq Pirzado, a local journalist, who added that Gianchandani donated hundreds of

books to the Shahnawaz Library in Larkana, a few years ago.

As the man breathed his last on Monday, his fans recall his famous statement every timesomeone asked him about his health. Aram haraam aa [resting is a sin].


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An Interview

THE MAN FROM MOEN JO- DARO

A living communist THE MAN FROM MOEN JO- DARO Interview with Comrade SobhoGianchandaniBy Salam Dharejo (Correspondent Sindh, Newsline Magazine) Interview has beenappeared in Newsline Magazine, October 2008

Q: How did you start educational career? What was the objective of your life?

At the age of five I started study I was a good student of Sindhi. We used to have one littlebag of clothe slating sided and one or two books. When I was in class first I used to study

book of class second, I used to challenge my class fellows that see how smoothly I can readthe second lesson from that time on wards I think I became so much addicted to books.Books have become more important than my food. They have been my source ofknowledge. During my child hood I was very troublemaker, if had no other work I wouldhave quarrel with my elder brother by kicking him. Because during boarding period weused to sleep on single bad together, I had lot of vitality, my elder brother was sort of social,he often used to spare time with friends, where as I used to stuck with books. I became thegood student of Gurmukhi.My objective was to become a lawyer. But after two years I


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realized that I did not want to be lawyer but I wanted to be a student of Tagore, because Istarted feeling that after perusing science I would be at the best of doctor getting admissionto some Bombay medical colleges. And doctors have hard duty time- I started reading

autobiography of Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Glimpses of world history, the biography ofM.N.Roy the great revolutionary who run away from Bengal to become the leader of world

revolution along with Lenin, so all these books made immense impression on me. Iremember that the first book about socialism that immediately set my brain on fire wasRaja Jhanak jo Sapnoo (the dream of Raja Jhanak) An other book Utopia of Thomas Morewhich bent me to think about the dream where there is no hunger there is no poverty andevery body is treated equally.

Q: How you turned from revolutionary to agriculture reformer?

My brother sort out the problems of my unemployment and asked me to look after the

small rice factory in our village. Actually it was the time when I was under house arrest atmy village from 1959 to 64. When rice become practically almost extinct because of diseasethat attacked the old variety of rice. I had 300 acres of land I read about the agriculture thathow America, Israel and Soviet Union had made deserts bloom, so I contracted the DokriRice Association where gentle man Bhatti he was very intelligent man, he had introducedIrri 8, I first got only handful of seed from the institute and grew in the land. My father wasconservative grower he said Sobho do you want to destroy all you seem to be cultivating

all kinds of seeds we have nothing to do with them and God knows what will be the result.I produced 2400 Kilogram rice from one acre of land while traditionally one acre of landwas producing 400 kilograms of rice at that time. The farmers came around and asked myfather what they should do for the autumn season. He said now go and ask that mad man

(Sobho) he knows more about agriculture than I do. The next crop that came was Maxi Pak(a variety of wheat imported from Mexico) it was challenging task to introduce wheat cropin the land that has been producing rice since thousands of years. But we succeed ingrowing wheat; people came to see the crop of wheat from many parts of surrounding area.They came to see my land because they said he is a man who did not know even where riceor wheat is grown. He has come and settled in the area and he has grown magnificent cropof rice, wheat and mango. So I became not only a revolutionary but also a great reformer. Itwas very difficult to turn from a tractor the plow and from the plow to the tractor, i madethem realized that wealth indulge does not matter you can always turn corner and be asgood grower as I am.

Q: Being a communist do you think, you have contributed to society and in return you have

received proper appreciation and recognisation?

I am one of the oldest living communists probably not only in Sindh but even in the subcontinent, the oldest living communist is Joti Basu he is 93 years old and Sardar Suraj Singhfrom Punjab he came couple of years back to Karachi, he said comrade how do you find


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yourselves in Pakistan, I said fine, I was born here and I chose not to migrate to India, theSindh is my home land I have tried to contribute my little bit to the building of communistparty and the beautiful world that we hope to make. It does not matter we have failed

because even in the Soviet Union, communism has change the shape its not the same as westruggle for. I am not hope less about my friends we have some of the finest intellectuals,

writers, thinkers in Pakistan. Pakistan has given me reactionary reactions to recognize me.I have got the award of the academy of letters for best writing in Sindhi. I never expectedthat Pakistan will forgot my contribution, because have I spent nearly 10 years of my life injail and five or 10 more years again in house confinement and remaining underground.Where I am not a common man along with reorganization of my services revolutionaries, Ihave been bestow with Award of Excellence from the learned sanction of the communitythe academy of letters they gave me 500 hundred thousand rupees. I think my life has notbeen a failure even academically I have done by bit for the revolution that we lived far andthought that revolution would consume us and consume the country.

Q: How did you decide to study at Shantiniketan?

In 1938 -39 I cleared my intermediate and Lekhu Tulsani was my class fellow he said Iwant to go to Shantiniketin but cannot go because my father will not let me to go there howabout you? I said I have decided to go there because I dont want to be a doctor nor I wantto waste time becoming lawyer because these professions need much time and I have not

much time to spent for. A doctor look after the patient I dont want to be another P.C Roy(The personal physician of Gandhi) looking after an old man who is going to be died on one.I want to devote my time with Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan.Thus, I sent atelegram to Tagore entitled I am good in my character, I am very good in study, I want to

come to Shantiniketan not to bee sent back I am not prepare to clear a technical type ofpre-entry test in your institution. One day I received a telegram from Shantiniketin, I havebeen admitted without having interview. I came to know that 23 Sindhi girls were alsoadmitted in Shantiniketan to attend the course on dance and music. Thus, along with 23girls and a boy Gulchand we left for Shantiniketan on 19 may 1939. My next morning whenI got early in the morning, I saw the whole Shantiniketan was ringing with the music ofTegore some were playing star and other busy in singing in Hindustani Bengali musicTegore music, strangely in this gathering I did not listen Sindhi music. I rushed to girlhostel, Sundri the girl from Larkana came almost in a half cloths, she was wearing a halfsleeves she said brother, do you know what happened with Sindhi girls, all our baggage hasgone to Calcutta and it will take a weak to reclaim it. We have nothing to wear thats why

we are confined to the hostel, and then I understood that why Sindhi songs were not beinglistened in the morning. Shantiniketin was in international institution student from China,Latin America, Indonesia, America and all parts of India were there. Fortunately twoIndonesian students a Hindu and a Muslim were my class fellow and hostel room mates,the Muslim was a communist, at that time I was not aware that communist part ofIndonesia was that much strong in Indonesia. Then I came to know by my fellow that howrevolution took place in Indonesia at the time I was just 19 years old.


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Q: As a student at Shantiniketan what were your political activities inside the campus?

In 1940, the first independence day, the day was celebrated in the memory of 1928

independence day resolution passed by the congress, on that day I went and told myprinciple that we want to hold the independence day meeting. He replied, do you knowTagore has put a ban on the meetings. I went to Tagores office- the principle told Tagorethat a student from Sindh to whom you call a man from Moen Jo Daro wants to hold the

Independence Day meeting. Tagore said To hell with them, if they want to be followed byCID, I do not want to see those ugly faces in Shantiniketan- I have just been able to get rid ofthem days after remaining quietly for so many years, even now they would dont leave me,they are of the view that I am an agent of Japanese. But if you want to hold a meeting welland good do it. In the morning process the entire Shantiniketan community teachers, theirfamilies, children and students turned up singing a song organized a program and speecheswere made. Mostly speeches were made in Bengali and Hindi when speeches in Bengali and

Hindi came over, students started shouting, Sobho you should speak in English,international crowd want to listen to you. It was my first speech in Shantiniketan. I said inmy speech that yesterday we went telling the teachers and their families to join thisfreedom rally, some said we are communist and communist are against the freedom ofIndia. I said how could we be a good socialist and communist if we do not fight for freedom.I challenge you all come and join us there is only one platform, fight for freedom.

Q: Would you tell us about the social life you enjoyed at Shantiniketan?

When I joined Shantiniketan there were almost 450 students and out of total 250 were girlstudent belonging to different countries and well off families of India. Shantiniketan has

very advanced environment. At that time I was too young among all the male students, talland handsome. During stay at Shantiniketan I received telegram sent by my brother, yourmarriage has been fixed by 25 April 1941. Come positively at that time. The news of mymarriage may have disappointed many of girl students. I was so close to Leela Apen a girlfrom Kerala, she was my best friend. After getting news of my marriage she said Sobho wehave come to know that you are engaged and going to be married. Have you met her? I saidno! That custom is not there, she was shocked to know that I am going to marry with a girlto whom never seen. Because she was from advanced Keralian family. At that time Keralawas so advanced in education, almost seventy percent women were educated. She was

Joint secretary of English circles and I was the secretary of English circle inShantiniketan.She asked me what is the name of your fiance? I replied her name happensto be your name. Your name is Leela! She burst in laughing! She said you are going to marrya Leela which is not (Apen) her surname was Apen- I said fate has develop it. I was engagedat the age when I was 15 years old and now I am 21 years old, I am going to be marriedwith a girl to whom I have never known. I wish I had a choice! She laughed, she said I hopeyou will be lucky enough; you were lucky in getting so near to Tegore. You received greatadmiration from your Jewish teachers Alexander Aronthan I know you have tremendous


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respect from all your teachers and the girls literally love you! I am not Joking she said. Butnow that you are engaged and you are going to marry, I am happy and my first letter will bewhen you are married and do reply to me. When I married after five days I received a letter

from her Our friend Sobho has married a girl named Leela, of course she is not Apen.

Q: Being a student how you found personality of Rabindranath Tagore?

I have been so lucky to getting close to my teachers like Tagore and Karam ChandHingorani. It was very strange when Tagore called me on the first day. He told to principleof college, Bring that boy who is from Moen Jo Daro (Tegore used to call me man fromMoen Jo Daro), who wrote a very challenging letter that I must be admitted with having anyinterview. I entered in his office, he was writing some thing on paper. He said why were

you so sure that I would admit you at my college? I said, sir, I was sure because I have readyour books and I thought that you have the great appreciation for talent. He said I like

your face, the Sindhis are really good looking, I have received 23 Sindhi girls, they comehere for six months they learnt here different styles of dance they come in only three pairsof clothes that is what I like about it. They were very simple and they wash clothesregularly and wrap it around the body, I like their modesty. He asked me why has Sindhbecome such a peace less place. Why there are so many dacoits? Then he suddenly recalledand asked why you killed our best man? I said whom? I have not killed any person. He saidyou Sindhis killed Majmoodar, a Bengali Architect expert from Shantiniketin the man who

was archeologist at Moen Jo Daro. I said a Brohi dacoit killed Majmoodar; he was killednear Dadu the dacoits thought that he was discovering gold, so they attack on their nightcamp and killed Majmoodar.

Q: Being a revolutionary, what did you contribute in the struggle of freedom movement

during student life?

Do you think that communist party made mistake in supporting British in the SecondWorld War?I have been very out spoken in my views- when I was in communist party. Ibecame a communist at the age of twenty-one years. The moment I went to Karachi after ayear, the fourty two moment started in 1943, there was first student conference at Patna,and communist party came out of underground and sent, Farooqi, Sajad Zaheer and MianIftikhar to convince the students that imperialist war has been turned into peoples war.

The communist party all over the world changed their line from imperialist war to peopleswar and a meeting was arranged in the background of that change over. Most of thecommunist who were confined in Rajistan and some under ground leaders were brought toPatna, I had taken a delegation of 11 Sindhi youngsters from Karachi to Patna. On the wayat Lahore, Inder Kumar Gujral, then the president of Punjab School Federation came towelcome us and said that conference has been delayed for one week so we stayed threedays in Lahore. During journey to Patna I was told by one of my old Punjabi comrade thatSobho you are old friend of mine you are a comrade you should prepare for a change. I said


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what kind of change you are asking for? He said dont feel betrayed; the communists aregoing to change line to support British in their war effort.I reached Patna when conferencewas going on. The youngsters surrounded me and the Sindhi comrades were in anger, they

were surprised! We have been brought up to see the horror a revolutionary time and nowthey are telling us, we have to support the British. I said in the open session, Farooqi was

conducting the session, Farooqi the last secretary of communist Party of India, he was thegentle man from Delhi university, he said do not feel betrayed, the world is changing, SajjadZaheer and Mian Iftikharulddin were also there and we are going to support the RussiaRevolution now we are supporting the British in their back and when time come to overthrough the Britishers again we will join the congress and join the national forces. I saidgentle man listen to me, I will go back to Karachi and discuss the students if the youngsterare ready to accept it than I am with you otherwise, I am going to be with August Struggleof Gandhi to fight against British. When I came back to Karachi a final most all theyoungsters the members of students they were mostly the socialists they were supportingthe communist party. Now found that communist party is joining the shoulder to shoulderwith British in so-called war against the Germany. At that moment I found my self between

the devil and deep see and I could not decide. I came to my village for meditation. I came onconclusion that when thousands of students who go to jail Sobho Gianchandani will nottake out his neck, I will join them. Suddenly war on 8th August 1943 started. With threedays of joining the freedom struggle, three CIA agents came to arrest me; at that time I wasvery strong man. I said them do you know what are you doing with me, run away Ithreatened them, other wise I will call the students and they will make a human shield toprotect me.After month remaining under ground, on January 25, 1944, I appeared atMeetharam Hostel where a boy came and asked me to meet with students I went over therewhere 3000 students were gathered and shouting where is Sobho, he sent us to jail andforgotten about us. I said I have come on due time, I am looking after the movementunderground. One day there was meeting in Shikarpuri guesthouse, later on it because the

Muslim league house in Karachi. There was a meeting of old Alumni of Shantiniketin, therewas a Kathakali dance taking place two people came from out side in the night, Kathkalidance was going on and our teachers at Shantiniketin were about participating in the Joyfull celebration. I was asked by two strange persons that your friends are waiting outside,when I rushed there, it was dark night, about ten people surrounded me and put into thelock up at police station near Jamia Mosque. I was detained in the lock up for 15 days. Onenight I was taken to an interrogator Superintendent of Police. He was special interrogatorin Karachi, he said to me Sobho you have done nothing to deserve arrested we want toknow about so and so. I replied him we are not terrorist, three thousand students who havebeen put into jail were not terrorists, they had no guns in hands. I was put into the jail after15 days in lock up, I was sent to jail where I met with most senior leaders of congress party.

All were waiting for me. I said that first of all let me change the cloths, because during lockup my cloths and body was full of blood suckers, so they provided me pair of cloth and putmy cloths into the hot water for three days as blood suckers could be killed. From Karachijail I was soon transferred to Sukkur jail where I spent six moths in detention there I metseven whole timer worker of communist party. After three days I met Jay Ram Das DoulatRam, the member of the working committee of congress, the companion of Gandhi.


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Q: What do you say about the partition of India, why Sindhi Hindus decided to migrate?

Before going to Shantiniketin, I attended a meeting of Muslim League held at Khalique Jinah

hall; it was probably presided by Abdullah Haroon or G-M. Sayed, I do not recall exactly. ButI definitely remember the speech made by Ali Muhammad Rashidi, he said in his speechthat Hindu members of Sindh assembly were supporting the Allah Bux Soomro, than thechief minister of Sindh, and there were 28 Hindu members in the Sindh assembly. The

Hindu members unfortunately being a communist I know were too much about thecharacter of Hindu. The Hindu acquired about forty percent of land from the Sindhi Muslimlandlords. Due to land reforms, Hindus were entitled to hold fourty percent of the land onthere own names. Before that reform Hindus were only permitted to hold the land in thename of mortgage. The Hindus were mainly moneylenders and educated sanction of thecommunity but now they were turned as landlords as wellThe Sindhi Hindus have beennever anti Muslim. Some may have been individually but the Sophism was so over led our

way of thinking and philosophy. It is fact that the influence of Sikhism was so great amongthe Sindhi Hindus, therefore, none of us expected that when Pakistan would come intobeing then we would have to migrate .We thought that there would be some disturbancesthat has always in the past. Hindus were expecting that this is a change over of rulers, butat the same moment they were so sure that they will stay on and continue to dominate theeconomy of Sindh, the accounts department, the services. The only people who were countyou for trouble were the RSS K.R. Malkani, the man who has written a book on Sindh, hiselder brother was Naraen Das Malkani, he was the member of congress party, but he asmore or less a Gandhian and Gandhi being a Gujrati was not anti Muslim. Abdullah Haroonwas the president of Sindh national congress and in the Sindh he has great relationshipwith Hindus. He was basically a sugar merchant and his whole firm was dominated by

Hindus.G.M Sayeds influence on Muslim league was so strong. G.M sayed himself was aSophi and he has many deep relationships with the Hindus. Everywhere he was thesupporter of freedom moment. But after the support of Hindu assembly members to Allah

Bux Soomro in the elections held in 1937, Sayed thought that Hindus were corrupting theMuslims and then they had those troubles in Sukkur the Masjid Manzil Gah riots whichaccording to G.M Sayed were staged at the instances of Ayub Khoro, Pir Ali MohammadRashidi and some important Pirs of upper Sindh.Actually RSS probably was the elementthat knows that they were going to be the sword of the Hindus. When I came to my villageduring vacations I was surprised to see exercises being carried by RSS spears and guns inthe morning regular exercises to which Hindus has never been used to in the villages likeDokri, a small town of Larkana district. I learnt that in Hyderabad RSS has consolidated a

big organization, one of the Guru of RSS from Nagpur visited Hyderabad and he thoughtthat Sindh was a very fertile ground for RSS. Even the Sindhi Hindus of Bombay almost halfdivided. Even my own relative, brother in law, I suspected that he had probably connectionwith RSS in Kamber, the Kamber was a small town, there was nothing to RSS. As the time ofpartition came near, Congress supported the Allah Bux Soomro in Sindh, so Muslimsrealized that Hindus are using Allah Bux Soomro to secure their interest under theumbrella of Congress party Consequently Muslims inclined towards Jinnahs movement forindependent Pakistan.


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Q: How will you define the personality and political philosophy of Qaid-e-Azam?

Jinnah was totally a secular man. He had married with Parsi woman. He was actually a Pro-

British man and Gandhi was beyond him. Jinnah was too materialistic in outlook as eventoday failed to understand. It is partly true that Pakistan was made by Qaid-e-Azamthrough his dialogues with British, who themselves brought him infront and supported. Butit is true that Jinnah could have not make Pakistan without the support of Muslim League,

without the support of G.M Sayed, Rashidi and landlords of Uttar Pardesh. Actually MuslimLeague leadership did not understand the secular out look of Qaid-e-Azam; they were ofthe view that Islam is the binding force behind all the Muslims of East and West Pakistan.Especially the Bengali, who wanted Bengali as the state language of Bengal where as Jinnahsaid Urdu should be the language of the state. He ordered commander in Chief Ayub Khanto shoot the student who was raising voice for Bengali language in University. Thus, Bengalicomrades who were leading the movement turned against him. The first struggle between

Muslim League and Jinnah philosophy of Muslim League took place on the plains of EastPakistan. Bengali became Shaheed Myrtar for their language and they started hating allthose who had advised Jinnah that Bengali is a language of Hindus.In 1956, Mian Iftikharasked me Sobho you are one of the best comrade to whom I trust. I do not trust thePunjabi comrade so much as I trust you. I tell you the Punjabi establishment wants to getrid of East Pakistan they think that East Pakistan has 56 percent of the population, if theyremain there, they will dominate the country because of majority votes. He added that EastPakistanis are good Bangalis, they are son of soil, they elect their common people Hindusand Muslims they have same language and culture. As for as Punjabis are concerned, theyare opportunist, they are basically sycophants. They always salute the conquerors. IIftikhar know Punjabis very well.

Q: What would you say about the role of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in the political history of

Pakistan?

Do you think he was a revolutionary?I never liked Bhutto, he was dictator, and he wasscoundrel. He times and again tried to convince me through delivering message by myfriends that I support him. But I never did, even I avoid meeting him. Because I knew thatthis man was basically a counter revolutionary, a man who pretended to be revolutionarybut he was basically agent of Punjab establishment.Zulfiqar Ali wanted to join the AwamiParty. A joke told me by G.M Sayed he said One day Bhutto came at my residence he

requested Shah Sahib I want to join your Party. Joking with him, G.M Sayed told Bhutto doyou know our party is the arty of rebels Bhutto replied, I know, mean while ComradeHyder Bux Jatoi interrupted and asked to Z.A Bhutto Have you talked to your father andtaken permission? He is a Khan Bahadur, Khan Bahadurs son can not become a member ofrebels party. Bhutto shouted back Revolution is not the monopoly of Hyder Bux Jatoi, Iam also a revolutionary, Hyder Bux Jatoi advised him its better go to your father andconsult him about the membership in our party, I know your father better. Bhutto came toLarkana or probably on telephone he talked to Shah Nawaz Bhutto mean while, Sikandar


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Mirza contacted Shah Nawaz Bhutto and revealed that I have planned a great career foryour son Zulfiqar, tell him not to join the rebels- the word Rebel get a currency.Consequently, on the next day Bhutto came and submitted his Resignation, he said I dont

want to be rebel. At that moment Hyder Bux Jatoi shouted didnt I tell you couldnt join therebels?

Q: Do you think, if election would have taken place in 1959, the political history of the

country would have been changed?

Nobody knows at that time Sikandar Mirza was planning a coupe. We came to knowthrough Comrade Hassan Nasir on 3rd October, he told that I have been informed that AyubKhan is going to stage a counter-revolution to prevent the election from taking place onJanuary 1959. We convened a meeting of close associates and discussed the upcomingPolitical Turmoil. It was presumed that upcoming elections, which were scheduled on

January 1959, would make a difference in the political history of the country. According toour estimate Awami League would take about 65 out of 100 seats from East Pakistan.Where as 25 to 30 seats were expected that to win by Maulana Bhashani. While it wasexpected that at least 30 members of communist will came in the assembly some of thebelong to Awami League, Moulana Bhashani Party and rest 7 the communist Party. In thissituation at least 30 communist will be representing in the assembly. This calculation wasalso made by America, realizing the situation, America came on the conclusion that oneMian Iftikhar-din the only communist in the assembly of hundred be can the headache,what would happen if 30 communist along with Mian Iftikhar-din s brains and hisnewspaper empire turned up in the National Assembly, they will make a hell any assembly.

At that time America would not had a chance; America would not be in a position to

reconquer Pakistan in the presence of communist parliamentarians.On October 8th, I readthe Dawn it was written, Army takes over Pakistan. I rushed to G.M Sayed and asked himArmy is at your door. He replied what do mean I handed over newspaper to him. G.MSayed breaking in silence asked me Sobho run away to India, India would be safer placefor you; you should not stay more over in this country.I replied, not at all, why should Iquit, this is my land, I have grown up here. I will stay with you here through thick or thin. Iwas also advised by my Sindhi Comrades to leave this country. I replied than when Idecided to stay over here, because I have family, we have land and property moreover. I onson of the soil, I cannot tolerate to be immigrant. So, I stayed in 1947, 1958 and now you

see I am still here.

Q: As a candidate you contested election for national assembly on reserved seats.

Ultimately you could not become a member of national assembly. Who made conspiracy

against you?

My Slogan at election was even the richest Hindu is an untouchable in Pakistan. My appealis not only to the lowest, the Bhangis, the Harijans of Karachi and the whole of Pakistan but


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my appeals is also the bone collectors of Bhawalpur and the millionaire who have madetheir fortune after the establishment of Pakistan, among them was my opponent BhagwanDas Chawla. During election I got the support of the bone collectors of Bhawalpur even I

could not went over their, but my comrade friends persuade Hindu voters to vote for me.According to the announcement made on Pakistan television that I have secured the

majority of votes among the sixteen or seventeen candidates. After the announcement ofmy success in election, I was congratulated by Nawaz Sharif, Qazi Akhtar, the then ChiefMinister of Sindh. Sharif called me to join him in National Assembly, where as P.K Shahanitold Benazir and she called on phone to join her Party. I replied her, I am not going to joinany party, I will be in the minority of one against the whole assembly because I stand forthe lowest, the deprived whether they are christen, Hindu, or Muslim, it makes nodifference for me. I got telegram from Jam Sadique Ali, from London, well done Sobho. Ihave congratulated on your behalf all the communist members of Parliament here inBritain that in Pakistan a communist who has a mission has been elected in the National

Assembly. Even in India members of both fraction of communist Party cherished on myvictory during their annual meeting when they came to know that a communist Sobho has

seen elected a member of National Assembly. But what happened its a sad story of affairsof our country.In the due time I was busy in making contacts all of those who supportedand vote me. Mean while, my brother called on telephone and asked that why are youcelebrating the victory, election commission has ordered for recounting the votes on theapplication of Bhagwan Das Chawala. In the application he claimed that he has securedmajority of voted. The 3rd session Judge of Larkana refused to recount the votes he told theelection commission that election has already taken place, results have been announced, noother party is informed about the recounting. All the candidates have not been informedwithout Sobho, he is becoming the victim of circumstances. I will only recount the votes ifall candidates on minority seats made any request of single candidate who has madeapplication for recounting.I came to know about the whole story revealed by C.R Aslam my

old comrade friend, his twin sons who were election officers. He told me comrade go andrest. The results have been already arranged by the ISI, and your name is not in the list ofwinners. I said why? He replied comrade do not forget that you are communist, you havebeen a communist and spent years behind the Bar, they know all about you.I received atelephone call from Bhagwan Das Chawala he said you seems to be very happy that youhave won, but I have spent 63 Lakhs to reserve the seat and 7 lakhs to made the appeal, youknow 7 million rupees makes no difference for me. He asked my grand son that tell Sobho,he will never get in the assembly because I am here. He told on phone how it becamepossible do you know? I have military colonel an employ in my business company. He hassecured my seat. Through using his contacts. It seems to feel that all the doors have beenclosed on me.

Q: In recognition of you literary work, you have received award of excellence from the

academy of letters. How do you feel getting appreciation award from the state?

I was told one of my old comrade that there have been a struggle in the academy of letters

for the selection of persons for the award. Baloch and some of Sindhi writers stood for raise


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vigorous voice for my selection. Shah Mohammad Maree told me that we raised the voicethat not a single Sindhi has been awarded since the inception of the academy of letters. Hetold me that we lobby for your name even some Sindhi writers opposed it. Now what they

expected that I would rush to Islamabad to receive the award at the hands of Musharaf. Isaid, Sobho will sick on the day when he called to Islamabad. It is against my principles to

receive the award from a dictator. So, they arranged it the Governor of Sindh, Ishratul Ibadto give me award. The Governor said, I want to see this interesting man. I was told that aspecial ceremony will be held in Karachi and as chief guest governor will distribute theaward. On that day I pretend to be in Larkana and sent my son in law and daughter toreceive the award on my behalf.

Q: After the demise of Soviet Union how do see the future of communism in the world

stage?

I see that ultimately we will win, we shall win and all is not lost. Twenty five percent ofvoters have voted for Communist party in Russia. It has a most important is geo strategicposition with immense reservoirs of oil and minerals it will play a major role in the game ofpower. The country is not totally under the hands of anti revolutionaries. Communism isstill there it is not dead. Hundreds of million people who still dream state should take careof their lives. All the revolutionaries have not been killed, though flowers of Russianrevolutionaries were killed during Afghan war. America, cleverly, put the mostreactionaries to fight against revolutionaries. The Mujahiddin in Afghanistn did not fightwar of Islam, but the were actually reactionary forces with dirty minds. The were notIslamic revolutionary, they were not the devotees of Kamal Ata Turk, the were notfollowers of Molana Ubaidullah Sindhi who dream for Islamic revolution with most modern

foundations.Time has changed as the strategy as well. Communists in all over the world areplaying their role for welfare state. Look at India, 62 members in the national assembly areold communists. Once I asked, Pardhan, the secretary Genral of Communist Party of India(CPI), comrade you have two parties in India, the Moist, Marxist communist party of eastBengal and CPI in Keralla, what are you doing in India/ Are you looking for revolution inIndia? He replied, No, we are saving the Muslims from massacre fighting against Hinduextremists. We are making hurdles against corporate giants who have snatched theresources from mass and looking for more resources. We are trying to stop land mafia whohas grabbed the land and want to deprive masses from their homes. So, we are fighting the

war for poors, the suppressed, the deprived on the ground of assemblies. Our presence inassemblies is something like a fight with out bullets. We are fighting with words and the

echo of voice in assembly is heared by policy makers and public make this voice alivethrough movement for their rights.

Q: What do you think in Pakistan communism can take place?

No, it is very difficult for Muslim to become communist and to tolerate communism. I know


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there are many people who are of the view that I am working for revolution. They still feelthat this old man still strives for bringing communism. You know, when I visited India lasttime in 2005, I never met with any communist leaders with a political agenda. I told them

them that I have come India to meet with my relatives, old friends. Particularly to meetwith Sindhi writers and intellectuals who have kept the flame of Sindhi Language alive in

India. In Pakistan I am satisfied that our comrades have been penetrated in differentinstitutions and working immensely for the welfare of society which we looked for. So thedream of welfare state is not dead, because I see comrades are energetically busy in fightagainst the reactionaries through raising voice in media and public mobilization.

Q: What are most challenging threats to the country of Pakistan.?

Pakistan is full of dirty minds. Religious extremists have turned the country in hell. In thename of Islam, they are killing innocent children and closing the doors for women. I fear

that if they are not taken with iron hands they would turn progressive society into stoneage. Though, I do not recognize Musharafs legitimacy as head of state. He is dictator, but hehas courage and dare to kill the dirty minds. So I endorse his actions to wipe out handfulreactionaries who are being spread like a plague making threat for our up cominggeneration."If you tremble indignation at every injustice, than you are comrade of mine

sobho gyanchandani “man from moenjodaro”

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