On 10th October the Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence organised “Shaandaar Sindhi” virtual event which highlighted the performing arts, culture and cuisine of Sindhi community.
The event began with an invocation by Singer, Songwriter-Composer Renu Gidoomal. She also presented Nangda Nimani Da, Sindhi Abani Boli and Mast Kalandar songs over the course of the session.
In his opening message, Gopichand P Hinduja said, “Despite being the biggest body of stateless refugees, Sindhis turned to sea and spread themselves all over the world and have succeeded. Today we would be the richest and most successful members of cultural state as we don't have a physical state to call ours post partition. The world is our home and wherever we have established we contributed to our local community. Philanthropy is in our very nature. For instance, the education and healthcare infrastructure of the city of Bombay is made by us Sindhis!! We are perhaps the only community in the world that continues Vedic form of worship even today. People in the Vedic period worshipped elements of nature. Sindhis are the only ones who have kept Varun's worship alive through Jhulelal, an incarnation of Varun God. You would find it hard to come across a temple dedicated to Indra or Agni or Vayu anymore, except us Sindhis who venerate Jhulelaal. Sindhis have survived and prospered because of their adaptability. We have assimilated so much into our host cultures that our mother culture today stands vulnerable...our next generation hardly speak our language, they don't know our food beyond Sindhi Curry and our traditions are getting fast replaced. For the survival of Sindhiyat, or Sindhi culture, three things must be passed on to our next generation - our language, our cuisine, and our festivals & traditions, because the main ingredients of any culture are its language, food, and traditions.”
Prakash P Hinduja commended the Sindhis’ contribution to business and spiritual sector and commended Sindhi community leaders in South East Asia, Europe, Dubai and America who are marking Sindhi culture with events and activities. Adding to it, Ashok P Hinduja emphasised on economic growth which will enable promotion of charitable and cultural purposes further.
Chairman of Global Sindhi Council and Sahyog Foundation Dr Ram Jawhrani elaborated on what Sindhiyat means, and laid emphasis on celebrating Sindhi identity and restoring the Sindhi traditions and culture.
Dr. Nandakumara commended the support of people of Sindhi community to Bhavan and stressed on identifying scholars and recording their works for posterity. Raj Daswani recounted the formation of SAUK and highlighted the Sindhi drama & theatre arts. Gulshan Makhija, Hero Parwani and Kishan Ramnani of Sindhu Sakha Sangam presented the beautiful Sindhi Bhagat performance. Chair of Harrow Interfaith Sonoo Malkani presented unique Sindhi cuisine. Vote of Thanks was given by Ragasudha Vinjamuri, Founder of Sanskruti Centre and Sushil Rapatwar rendered technical support. The event was conducted in collaboration with Sindhi Association of UK and supported by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
