SindhStudies

  By Habib Sanai On March 2, 2025, Sindh is celebrating the 102nd birthday of the renowned poet Shaikh Ayaz , whose literary contribution remains unparalleled and timeless. To fully appreciate Ayaz’s contributions and stature, one must consider the profound transformations brought about by the revolutionary twentieth century. During this era, every field and sphere of life underwent significant change, fostering new norms and sensibilities that demanded special attention and adaptation. Sindh was under British colonial rule, during which the British introduced various reforms in governance, the economy, and education, primarily to serve their own interests. However, these reforms also brought certain benefits to the local population. New job opportunities emerged, and access to education enabled many to break free from the entrenched dominance of feudal lords. Urban centers began to develop, fostering economic and social progress. Additionally, improvements in communication...

 By  Muhammad Habib Sanai With the passing of Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Lakho, Sindh has indeed been deprived of one of the erudite and devoted historians, who, through his writings, has enlightened and enriched us. On the evening of March 3rd, at around 8 PM, he departed from this world following a fatal heart attack. Throughout his life, he shunned the limelight, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to academic and scholarly pursuits. Early Life and Education To learn about his early life and education, let us turn to his own words. A few years ago, he shared his story in an interview with Akbar Jiskani, Editor of the monthly Gul Phul , stating: “I was born in the large village of Mitha Khan Jokhio in District Nawabshah (now in Noshero Feroze). Previously, my ancestors had lived in the nearby village of Hot jo Wahan for ten generations. In 1952, my family moved to the village of Jokhio , where I was the first child to be born. My relatives were poor, but I was the first ...

  By Habib Sanai Last year, on June 16, 2024, Sindhi journalism suffered a great loss with the passing of Ishaq Mangrio — a distinguished journalist who brought to light many themes that were previously overlooked or even disdained by the mainstream media. He is widely regarded as a pioneer in introducing environmental issues and other off-beat subjects into Sindhi journalism, giving them the space and seriousness they deserved. He consistently chose the untrodden path, exploring stories that others ignored or considered unworthy of mainstream attention. According to Hameed Soomro, “Rarely in the past fifty years has any journalist explored and interpreted Sindh the way Ishaq Mangrio has. From the Indus River, the delta, the islands, the floods, the deserts and borderlands, to the riverine and arid zones — he traveled deep into the land, witnessing and documenting Sindh’s landscapes and its lives with remarkable depth. His work gave him the aura of a Sindh expert and a disti...

  Renowned writer, poet, and journalist Jan Muhammad Khaskheli was born on April 23, 1956, in the politically prominent village of Karam Khan Nizamani, located in Hala Taluka. He was born into the household of Haji Khan, a hardworking peasant. Jan received his primary education in his native village, completed his matriculation at M.G. Government High School, Hala, and went on to pursue his Intermediate studies at Sarwari Islamia College, Hala. He later earned a Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Sindh. During his college years, he became actively involved in student politics and later aligned himself with national movements. Around the same time, he developed a deep passion for literature and began composing poetry. When he was unable to secure a government job, Jan initially opened a shop in his village, but the venture was unsuccessful. In the early 1980s, he left for Karachi in search of better opportunities. According to his unpublished and incomplete me...

  Dr. Mubarak Ali (21 April, 1941) By Muhammad Habib Sanai The eminent historian and scholar Dr. Mubarak Ali was born in Tonk, which was then a princely state under British India. Regarding his date and year of birth, he himself once wrote: “When was I born? That’s a difficult question. Whenever I asked my mother, she would say it was the month of Ramazan, and it rained heavily that day. So, it was up to me to choose a birthdate. When I filled out the admission form for school, I wrote April 21, 1941. Whether I was actually born on that date or not doesn’t really matter. Now, it’s my official birthdate—and I count my age from it.” In 1952, his family migrated to Pakistan and settled in Hyderabad, Sindh. In 1989, he left Hyderabad and moved to Lahore, where he still lives today. Education According to him, his father took no interest in the education of him or his siblings. While still in Tonk, he was enrolled by a cousin in Darul Uloom Khalilia for Nazira (recitation...