Rauf Nizamani (born 2nd July, 1954) — An Unwavering Beacon of Enlightenment

 Rauf Nizamani (born 2nd July, 1954) — An Unwavering Beacon of Enlightenment

By Habib Sanai

The term 'intellectual' has been so frequently overused — and often misused — that people have grown hesitant to apply it even to those who have made meaningful contributions to the intellectual and enlightened growth of multiple generations. Nevertheless, I regard Rauf Nizamani as a true intellectual — a steadfast source of enlightenment, particularly for the people of Sindh.

Education

Rauf was born on July 2nd, 1954, in Karachi. When he turned five, he was enrolled at Depchand T. Ojha School, located directly in front of his home. He writes that it was during the General Ayoub era, and relations with the USA were warm, which led to donations of milk and ghee for students. Every student received a glass of milk each day at lunch, and every week or so, students were also given a sealed canister of ghee. After completing fourth grade, he transferred to Abdullah Haroon Secondary School. He still remembers his two teachers: Khair Muhammad Soomro, who taught him algebra and was kind to his students, and Taj Muhammad Samoo, who ignited his love for Sindhi literature by introducing Sindhi books and magazines.

He admits that he was not an exceptional student but an average one; however, he never failed. He secured first place in eighth grade, which was surprising not only to everyone else but also to himself. He explains that this was due to the influence of his classmate Adam, who belongs to the Oakhai Memon community. Adam inspired him to develop a love of reading books and magazines, as he used to visit libraries and send articles and photos to children's magazines.

Another reason was that his childhood friends formed new friendships, leaving him feeling lonely. He channeled this loneliness into improving his academic performance and passed his Matric exams with a First Division. His academic success and involvement in non-academic activities were praised by both his friends and family, which further fueled his passion for excellence.

After completing his intermediate education at Haroon College, he enrolled in the B.A. Honours program in Economics at the University of Karachi. According to him, the greatest benefit of studying at Karachi University was the opportunity to interact with students and teachers from various parts of the city and the country. These interactions broadened his understanding of different regions and people, allowing him to develop a fresh perspective. He believes that a university can be seen as a vibrant melting pot, where students from diverse regions, educational backgrounds, and cultures come together — weaving a rich tapestry of perspectives through the exchange of ideas and experiences.

 

 

Employment

After completing his M.A. in Economics, he began his career as a Research Officer at the Sindh Regional Plan Organization, where he worked for a few years. He later joined the State Bank of Pakistan, serving there for 35 years until his retirement.

Political and Literary Pursuits

His first formal political affiliation was with the Sindhi Awami Tehreek. At the time, he believed that the correct political approach was to address both the national and class questions simultaneously — a stance adopted by this party. In contrast, nationalist parties focused solely on the national question, while leftist parties emphasized class struggle. He acknowledges that this affiliation broadened his horizons, offering opportunities to meet numerous politicians and writers. It also enabled him to understand the internal rifts, conflicts, and polemics between political groups. His close association with Rasool Bux Palijo and Dr. Feroz Ahmed, and the guidance he received from them, played a significant role in shaping his intellectual development. Eventually, he parted ways with the Sindhi Awami Tehreek and became a supporter of broader leftist movements.

He writes that he began his literary journey during his college days, experimenting with short stories, poetry, and drama. Some of his works were even presented at meetings of the Sindhi Adabi Sangat, Lyari Branch, though he never submitted them for publication. 'Soon, I realized that this was not my true calling,' he reflects. Nonetheless, he continued to read fiction in Sindhi, Urdu, and English. Eventually, he turned to writing essays and articles on political, social, economic, and literary issues — a shift that came to define his identity as a writer of non-fiction, particularly in the field of political economy.

Books

His first book, Palestine aeen Samraaj (Palestine and Imperialism), was published in 1982. Since then, he has authored and translated more than a dozen books. A complete list is given below:

  1. Palestine and Samraj (1982, Jiapo Publications, Karachi)
  2. Misr: Jadojahd je Aakhri Marhale me (Egypt: In the Final Stage of Struggle) — Year of publication unknown
  3. Teen Dunya aeen Fauji Aamriyatoon (The Third World and Military Dictatorships) (1992, Sindhica Academy, Karachi) — A translation of essays by Tariq Ali, Aslam Khawaja, and Abdullah Malik on Pakistan, Indonesia, Chile, and Sudan
  4. Godan Bher Nah Jhukandaseen (On Our Knees Never!) — Second Edition (2016, Naoon Niyapo Publications, Karachi) — A translation of On Our Knees Never! Prisoner of the Chilean Junta Speaks by Rodrigo Rojas
  5. Samraj aeen Awam (Imperialism and the People) — A translation of a speech by Fidel Castro — Year of publication unknown
  6. Sard Jang Ja Panjah Saal (Fifty Years of the Cold War) (1998, Sindhica Academy, Karachi) — A translation of the memoirs of Andrei Gromyko, former Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union
  7. Jadeed Sindhi Kahanee (Modern Sindhi Stories) (2003, Indus Publishers, Karachi) — A collection of 14 literary criticism essays
  8. Doctor Zhivago (2010, Sindhi Adabi Board, Jamshoro) — A translation of the famous novel by Boris Pasternak
  9. Gul Gul Hubkaar (A Scent from Every Bloom) (2014, Popat Publishing House, Khairpur) — A collection of 21 literary essays
  10. Zindghi Joon Kathaoon aeen Saroniyoon (Tales and Memoirs of Life) (July 2021) — An eBook of 65 autobiographical and memoir essays
    Read online
  11. Galiyoon Kitaabn Sandyoon (Talks About Books) (November 2021) — An eBook comprising 92 articles, mostly about books
    Read online
  12. Maholiyat: Dharti aeen Insaani Aaeendo (Environment: The Earth and the Human Future) (August 2022) — An eBook featuring 36 articles on environmental issues
    Read online
  1. Acho t Kitaabn saan Dosti Karyoon (Let’s Make Friends with Books) (July 2023) — An eBook containing 126 articles about books
    Read online

In addition, at least three books in Sindhi and one each in Urdu and English are awaiting publication.


https://thefridaytimes.com/28-Jun-2025/rauf-nizamani-as-unwavering-beacon-of-enlightenment


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