BOMBAY(PTI): Some 1.3 million Sindhi refugees came to India during partition, leaving behind a that was theirs in Sind (now in Pakistan) and spread out all over the country, struggling to eke out their living as petty traders or small time workers.
Today, this community, with a population of 5.2 million, is in forefront in almost every sphere of life real estate, education, medical, business and industry and philanthropy. After partition, most of the refugees were rehabilitated in military barracks at Ulhasnagar, a satellite town of Bombay. Starting from scratch they set up small trades and today this place is a hub of commercial activity.
There are more than 7000 small scale industrial units in Ulhasnagar and the total trade turnover is of the order of Rs 36 billion per annum, Vijay Mangiani, vice chairman, Ulhasnagar manufacturers’ association said.
This community’s share in real estate is estimated at 20% in Maharashtra and more than double that in Bombay, says Niranjan Hiranandani, secretary, Maharashtra chambers of housing industry.
Sindhis have also marched ahead in field of education. More than 25 colleges have been set up by them in Bombay apart from eight colleges and 35 schools in Ulhasnagar. Even in remote parts of Maharashtra, Sindhis have set up educational institutions. There are 10 colleges and 30 high schools in Vidarbha, six colleges and 25 schools in Marathwada and a couple of them in Pune. Nagpur and Aurangabad, Nari Gursahani, prominent educationist and member of the governing council of Hyderabad (Sind) national collegiate board, said.
These colleges and schools have maintained the best academic standards and admission is open to students of all castes and creed. Sindhis have also been in the forefront in medical services. “Jaslok” hospital, set up by late Lokumal Chainrai, and P.D.Hinduja national hospital and medical research center, founded by the Hinduja family, are two leading hospitals in Bombay.
Above all, their contribution in the sphere of business and industry has been notable, with more than 100 leading businessmen hailing from this community.
They have made their mark in the hotel industry, and the community has produced a number of lawyers, mainly in Bombay.
Sindhis have also made a significant contribution in the film industry, which is spangled with a number of names from this com- munity. A number of politicians like Acharya J.B.Kripalani and L.K.Advani are also Sindhis. However, despite their prominent presence in virtually every field, there is a feeling among Sindhis that they are politically orphaned. The world Sindhi Congress, fighting for political rights of Sindhis, is demanding a separate state, representation in Parliament, state assemblies and appointments as governors and ambassadors.
To establish a separate identity of their own, Sindhis have now come together under the banner of “Indusind.” founded by prominent NRI, S.P.Hinduha.
Indusind addresses the need for a central forum to contribute to India’s economic and social de- velopment, Hinduja says.
“The newly formed Indusind enterprises and finance Ltd (IEFL). an international venture, is expected to be an eloquent testimony to the Sindhi community’s enterprise, talent and business acumen,” says Arjun Asrani, IEFL President and former Ambassador to Japan.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 4, 1994
