Home | Join! | Help | Browse | Forums | NuWorld | NWF | PoPo   
Allrespect

Take My Music Compatibility Test

Your Favourites Bands/Artists:
List 1 artist/band per line.

Bizarre stories
Recent Readers
My Writings

Recommend to others
SENDME
subscribe to get updated
Subscribe to this to blog if you would like to be emailed whenever it is updated.

Your email

Most Recommended Entries
Site propagation systems
How well do you know me?
Sindhi people
Sunday. 3.25.07 10:59 pm
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia




This article is about a socio-ethnic group of South Asia.



Sindhis

Total population



41.5 million

Regions with significant populations

Pakistan:

39,842,000 [1]

India:

4,890,000 [2]

Languages

Sindhi

Religions

Islam (Sufi majority 48%, Sunni Deobandi / Wahhabis 15%, Shia 18%, Hinduism
15%, Christianity 2%, smaller groups of atheists and agnostics

Related ethnic groups



• Indo-Aryans

• Khojas

• Memons

• Gujaratis

• Punjabis

• Seraikis

• Muhajir Urdu

• Kutchis / Kachhis

• Tharis

• Sindhi Baloch

• Bengalis



Sindhis (सिन्धी, سنڌي) are an Indo-Aryan language speaking socio-ethnic group of people originating in Sindh which is part of present day Pakistan. Sindhis that live in Pakistan are predominantly Muslim, while many Sindhi Hindus emigrated to India when British India was divided in 1947. The Sindhi is an Indo-Aryan tongue with an eclectic history not unlike the Sindhis themselves.



History



The original inhabitants of ancient Sindh, as other regions of Pakistan, were believed to be aboriginal tribes speaking languages related to Munda languages. Then Dravidian speaking nomads are supposed to have invaded from the Iranian plateau and settled in the Indus valley around 4000 BC. The Dravidian culture blossomed over the centuries and gave rise to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient India (now in present-day Pakistan) around 3000 BC. The Indus Valley Civilization spanned much of what is today Pakistan, but suddenly went into decline just prior to the arrival of tribes from Eastern Europe. The ancient civilization of what came to be known as Harappa and Mohenjodaro both derive their modern location names from the Sindhi language as opposed to the Elamo-Dravidian language of the Indus Valley Civilization which remains undeciphered. In Sindhi, Mooanjo-daro literally translates to "Mound of Dead." A branch of these Aryan invadors called the Indo-Aryans are believed to have founded the Vedic Civilization that have existed between Sarasvati River and Ganges river around 1500 BC and also influenced Indus Valley Civilization. This civilization helped shape subsequent cultures in South Asia.



The Sindhi language evolved from the Indo-European languages of the invaders and a distinct culture emerged in the region. Over time, Sindh developed a multi-cultural society composed of mainly Buddhists, Hindus, and other smaller religious and cultural groups. Sindh was often the final stop for Middle Eastern and Central Asian empires such as the Persians, Greeks, Arabs, Turks and Afghans this gave Sindh a distinct and unique culture even before the arrival of Islam. The site of a great deal of historical activity, Sindh was at the crossroads of civilization sitting at the edge of South Asia. Sindh was also one of the regions to become predominantly Muslim and was part of the earliest Islamic empires of the Abbasids and Umayyids. The Muslim technocrats, bureaucrats, soldiers, traders, scientists, architects, teachers, theologians and sufis flocked from the rest of the Muslim world to Islamic Sultanate in Sindh. The Muslim Sufi missionaries played a pivotal role in converting the millions of native people to Islam. Settled by Turks, Afghans, and Mughals, Sindh continued to evolve as a frontier state and by the time of British involvement was ruled by Balochi kings. In 1947, during the independence from British empire, the majority of Sindhis voted to join the new state of Pakistan. This led to a population exchange as well as communal violence as most Hindu Sindhis left for India and were replaced by Urdu-speaking Muslims known as Muhajir. Currently, over 1.5 million Hindu Sindhis reside in Sindh.



Today, many Sindhi tribes inhabit the region of Sindh and parts of India. These tribes include the Khaskhli- a tribe found predominantly in Larkana, ShahdadKot, and Tando Adam- the Dahar, Qasmi, Qureshi, Channa, Jukhio, Bundh, Tunio, Mangrio, Bohar, Jhatial, Thebo, Abbasi, Mangi, Qazi, Mahar, Sindhi Memon, Odho, Lunghar, Narejo, Sailra, Hakro,Banbhan and Syial among many others.[3] Many of these tribes have resided in the region for generations.



Culture and society

A pair of Sindhi ceremonial shoes, c. 1930.

A pair of Sindhi ceremonial shoes, c. 1930.



Sindhis are an Indo-Aryan language speaking people who have been modified by mainly Iranian, Turkic, Afghan and indigenous tribal populations over time. As a result of their geographic location and countless invasions and migration, the Sindhis display a wide variety of phenotypes.



As regards the composition of the Sindhi population the two main stocks that inhabit Sind are related to, and common, one with the Punjab and another with Balochistan. The majority stock is that of Rajputs and Jats who are the partial descendants of Sakas (Indo-Scythians, Kushans and Huns who also constitute the majority of the population of the Punjab. The title Huna, i.e. Huns, remains in use by some clans and is possibly a reference to this partial ancestral lineage. During Kalhora rule a number of Jat tribes such as the Sials, Joyas and Khawars came from the Punjab and settled in Sindh. They are called Sirai i.e., people from the north, and speak Siraiki, a group that overlaps and is sometimes considerable transitional between the Punjabis and Sindhis.



The two main Rajput tribes of Sind are: the Samma, a branch of the Yadav Rajputs who inhabit the eastern and lower Sind and Bahawalpur; and the Sumra who, according to the 1907 edition of the Gazetteer are a branch of the Parwar Rajputs. Among others are the Mahar/Mahers, Bhuttos, Bhattis, Buriros, Lakkha, Sahetas, Lohanas, Mohano, Dahar, Indhar, Chachar, Dhareja, Rathors, Dakhan, Langah etc. The Mohano tribe is spread over Makran, Sind and southern Punjab. They are also identified with the 'Mallah' of the Punjab and both have in common a sub-section called Manjari. All of these Sindhi tribes are known under the common nomenclature of Sammat and includes both Muslim and Hindu Sindhis. there are kartia tribe also living in larkana shikarpur and dadu district it is the sub cost of junejo The smaller stock is that of Balochi tribes settled in various parts of Sind mostly during the last five hundred years or so. Since they were martial people and ruled over Sindh for some time before the arrival of the British, they acquired vast lands in the province with the result that a large number of present-day Sindhi landlords are of Baloch origin. According to the 1941 census, which was the last one held before independence, Balochis formed 23% of the total Muslim population of Sindh. Among the Balochi tribes inhabiting Sind are the Rind, Mengal, Domki, Gabol, Leghari, Lashari, Chandio, Bizenjo, Jatoi, Buledi, Khosa, Jamali, Umrani, Bugti, Marri, Mazari, Talpur, Brohi, Zehri, Korai, Bozdar, Zardari, and Magsi. These tribes are spread over Balochistan, Sindh and the south-western districts of the Punjab. This group is almost entirely Muslim.



A third sub-stock of the Sindhi population comprises the partial descendants (or claimants) of Muslim conquerors, administrators and missionaries who were mainly Arabs, Persians, Afghans and Turks (including the Mughals). They are a small minority settled in cities and towns and have largely blended with the other components of the population and yet maintain something of a sub-culture and are often referred to as Ashraf or the noble descendants of Muslim immigrants with a certain degree of prestige in society. Of this third element, Muslim Arabs have possibly contributed the most to the development of the modern Sindhi language and literature and to the advancement of its intellectual and cultural activities.



Another group of people who are largely overlooked in any discussions about groups and culture of Sindh are Haris a name derived from the term Harijan formerly used to describe Dalit people of India. These people are generally believed to be the descendants of indigenous populations that were enslaved by various invading people. Many are still living under abject poverty and in slave like conditions in rural Sindh, in spite of many efforts by the government to improve the situation.[4] Some are nominally Hindus where as others have converted to Islam and moved on as artisans and wage laborers. They form up to 24% of Muslim population and up to 60% of population of districts of Umerkot, Thatta, Badin, Dadu etc.



The last group of immigrants are the Urdu speaking Muhajirs who may form up to 40% of population of Sindh.



Many famous Sindhis who born in Sindh and claimed International Recognition in their fields can be found at Famous Sindhis.



The Islamic Sindhi culture is a combination of Islamic traditions and local traditions with variances that include an adherence to a Muslim diet, i.e. Halal. Sindhi culture also absorbed considerable Arab cultural influence as well as that of the Iranian Baloch who still comprise a significant minority that have assimilated well with the Sindhis. Sindh is home to the Hindus who have remained in Pakistan as well as other religious groups such as Parsis. Muslim Sindhis tend to follow the Sunni sect, but Shia Muslims are a substantial minority.



Sindhi women in Pakistan are still very traditional overall, but many wear very colorful clothes, while donning a chador on their heads; men traditionally wear white and/or blue Shalwar Kameez and sometimes wear turbans or a traditional Sindhi cap on their heads with Sindhi Ajruk. This, however, has changed in cities where some more devout women can be seen wearing the hijab, while the shalwar kameez and Western clothing have become common for men. Sari used to be popular amongst the ladies of the elite like the Bhutto but has now lost favor to shalwar Kameez.



Sindhis usually flourish in business particularly that of cloth and textiles. Many also work in agriculture and manufacturing jobs. Literacy remains low but is improving for Sindhis. Less than 50% of Sindhis are illiterate, in Pakistan.



Muslim Sindhis tend to have traditional Muslim names, but sometimes with localized variations, while most Hindu Sindhis are identifiable by the "ani" at the end their last names like Hirani, Bharwani, Motiani, Chellani, Sukhani, etc. However, many Sindhi tribes' (even those with Balouchi orientation) names end with "ani" regardless whether they are Muslim or Hindu. Examples include the Umrani, Chutani, Dalkhani, Raisani, Advani, Gowindani, Sanjrani, Nazamani, Mirani, Admani among others. Some famous Sindhis include the Bhutto family, who are a Sindhi political dynasty in Pakistan, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai who was a writer of Sindhi poetry, the billionaires Hinduja brothers of India & L.K.Advani who was the deputy Prime Minister of India & is a big political figure in the country.



References



1. ^ Population Census Organization, Government of Pakistan - Population by Mother Tongue

2. ^ Ethnologue report for India

3. ^ Shri Sindhi Samaj

4. ^ Dawn: Detention of haris: SC admits plea




Sindhi women in Pakistan are still very traditional overall, but many wear very colorful clothes, while donning a chador on their heads; men traditionally wear white and/or blue Shalwar Kameez and sometimes wear turbans or a traditional Sindhi cap on their heads with Sindhi ajruk



The word sjruk is not the correct spelling. It should be spelled as Ajrak. One of the refences are at web site"http://pachome1.pacific.net.sg/~makhdoom/ajrak2.html"



External links




* Sindhi Sangat - The most known Sindhi Organization in India & Dubai


* http://www.YoungSindhiAdults.org A Hindu Sindhi Website / Discussion Forum (NRI Sindhis, mostly from USA, get a preferential treatment on this forum, as compared to their Indian counterparts)


* http://www.beyondsindh.com/home.php A youth Hindu Sindhi magazine website


* http://www.sindhiana.com Sindhi Literary Magazine


* http://bharatratna.com/ A Hindu Sindhi magazine website


* http://www.sindhi-net.com/ A Hindu Sindhi website


* http://nrip.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!3F083E266B4A4913!124.entry -A Blog Entry, listing an essay by Aileen Worth on Sindhis. If someone ever finds the original, please remove this link and place the one to the original


* http://www.gujaratsindhudham.org -Dariyalal Jhulelal Temple, A Heritage Monument at Gandhinagar, India dedicated to Sindhi Culture, Events, Indus Civilisation and Hindu Sindhi People

Categories:

0 Comments.

Sorry, you do not have permission to comment.

If you are a member, try logging in again or accessing this page here.

The Fine Line Between Genius and Insanity
During the nocturnal hours of earthlings, with people either in moonlit vocations, alcohol cravings, or travelling through dreams, thoughts from an insomniac (like me) would be inputted in computers like these (quite an amusing little contraption) to try to twist little humanoid minds...










hmdaswani's Weblog Site • NuTang.com

NuTang is the first web site to implement PPGY Technology. This page was generated in 0.040seconds.

  Send to a friend on AIM | Set as Homepage | Bookmark Home | NuTang Collage | Terms of Service & Privacy Policy | Link to Us | Monthly Top 10s
All content © Copyright 2003-2047 NuTang.com and respective members. Contact us at NuTang[AT]gmail.com.