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It is believed that Sindh, since it’s always been ‘the land of Sufis’, has shown the most resilience to the advent of various events over the decades that have turned Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into becoming hotbeds of radical, exhibitionistic Islam. This is a very convincing thesis and if one travels across this province one cannot but help notice rather earthly, folk strains of liberalism among the majority of its people.
Yes, but whereas we are told that this is due to Sindh’s tolerant, Sufi past, very few remember that this historical narrative (about Sindhi history and culture) was not exactly constructed hundreds of years ago. Instead, this narrative, that today has kept much of Sindh at bay from puritan forms of the faith, was actually built by a controversial man who was also labelled by the establishment and the religious parties as a ‘traitor’. His name was G M Syed.
In the late 1950s, Syed was a leading part of the left-wing National Awami Party (NAP), a political expression of Sindhi, Baloch, Pashtun and Bengali nationalists opposed to the conservative West Pakistan dominated ruling elite. NAP was banned by the Ayub Khan dictatorship in 1959, and till its revival in 1962, Syed decided to lead a cultural Sindhi nationalist movement. In 1966 when he was released from jail, he did not rejoin NAP and instead formed a cultural organisation called Bazm-i-Sufia-i-Sindh.
The Bazm also boasted some other famous Sindhi scholars, who set out to create an elaborate historical, intellectual and political narrative of Sindhi culture and history, presenting it as distinct, yet based on pluralistic values. This definition ran counter to what had officially been propagated by Pakistan’s military-civilian elite as ‘Pakistani culture’.
The Bazm also tried to prove that the Islam practised by Sindhis was very different from the version that was being ‘enforced by the Pakistani state and the ruling elite’. Bazm scholars maintained that Sindh had always been the land of mystics (Sufis) and Sindhis have had a history of being extremely tolerant of Hindus and other faiths. The Bazm and Syed were clearly proposing that Sindh and the Sindhis could not be integrated by the state of Pakistan due to the stark cultural differences that they had with what became known as ‘Pakistan ideology’ (a term first used by the Jamat-i-Islami in 1967).
The Bazm went a step further when it published a controversial study in late 1966 which stated that Raja Dahir (the 8th century Hindu ruler of pre-Islamic Sindh) was actually a hero to many Sindhis and that Muhammad bin Qasim (the Arab Muslim commander who defeated Dahir and conquered Sindh) was regarded as a usurper. The ruling establishment (being dominated at the time by the Ayub led military regime) and the religious parties at once denounced Syed and the Bazm as traitors.
But this did not stop Syed. He asked the Bazm to create a student wing, the Sindhi Students Cultural Council, that held seminars and lectures across Sindh and imparted the Bazm’s radically revisionist history of Sindh amongst young Sindhis. At the start of the students and workers movement against the Ayub dictatorship in late 1967, the Bazm become part of the Sindh United Front (SUF) — an organisation of Sindhi nationalists that wanted to step in and play their role in the movement. Syed wanted to use the chaos resulting from the movement to bid for Sindh’s separation from Pakistan.
But since by 1968 the movement was revolving around Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (a Sindhi) and his Pakistan People’s Party, G M Syed advised the SUF to incorporate in its ranks those who were not only against Ayub but also against Bhutto. Syed feared that Bhutto would become the biggest hindrance to Sindhi separatism. He was right. Though the Bazm withered away in the early 1970s, its works and ideas have continued to inspire various Sindhi nationalist organisations and the youth.
It is ironic that from 1972 under Bhutto’s rule, his regime heavily borrowed the more moderate aspects of Syed and the Bazm’s Sindhi nationalist thesis and it was during Bhutto’s regime (1972-77) that Sindh began being (officially) called the ‘land of Sufis.’
In another twist of irony, not only is it still called that in Pakistan’s history text books, but is accepted as that by none other than Altaf Hussain’s Mohajir-centric, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and many Punjabi politicians. Also, it is this (once denounced) narrative and its widespread proliferation across the decades in Sindh that has kept the province relatively safe from the kind of puritan radicalisation that Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkha have been witnessing ever since the Zia dictatorship, from the 1980s onwards.
One is not sure what the Sindhis thought about Dahir or Qasim before the 1960s, but it is true that ever since the 1970s, Muhammad Bin Qasim is not so hot as a historical entity in Sindh as he is elsewhere in Pakistan — a fact that, for example, greatly tormented the pro-Jamat-i-Islami ‘historical novelist’ Naseem Hijazi, who had spend a good part of his career turning various Arab commanders into pious supermen.
Thanks for telling your readers about a fact that many of us did not even know. More paradigm shifts are required.
GM Syed would become the most religious man and also not less than an athesit, when it suited him!
writer has diverted sincerely peoples attention on the valiant personality of Sindhi Nationalist Sir GM Syed over his utter political life.Although writer has been misplaced many great deeds of GM SYYED but all in article really a diligent efforts by Writer.
this is indeed enlightening. keep up the good work NFP.
I am born in Karachi(but father was a migrant), i hope all my sindhi brother accepts me as son of soil!
It was a wonderfull article as i never heard good thing about GMS, thank NFP for the insight.
You're our brother and the son of soil too. Sindh is yours as much as it is mine. You're one of us… So don't think like that bro
shazad u r the son of the soil. u do not need anyone's certificate to be sindhi.
"Truth shall always prevail", It is the success of G.M.Syed's ideology which lives and thrives. After three decades of incarceration and labeling him as a traitor, 'Truth never dies". As for the controlled media "better late than never". My Congrats to Dawn and Mr. Paracha.
Sir … you seem to be overlooking the contribution of countless feudal lords, keeping their people virtual enslavement
.
Sorry for mispelling: Partition, and let me add that what type of sufism it is which has created and inspired gun-toting goons who dominate sindh's instituions and intimidate teachers and students alike. I am myself witness of such a incidents.If you are born in a particular community, you are simply a devil in their eyes, no matter how innocent you may be, and if you oppose them , do it at your own peril
Bro, NFP is talking about GM Syed, not his current disciples. GM Syed was a true son of Sindh & we are proud of it. May be one can differ with the tactics & means of current JSSF leadership however their intention and love for Sindh is crystal clear. The people who come out on roads against tyranny & intolerance are far much better than those who only preach goodness in drawing rooms.
sir i m the biggest fan of ur writing. for this piece of work i really really thankful to u
There r many misconceptions abt G.M Syed… People mad him traitor instead he was a true lover of his land, read his history n books n judge him…
He was wrongly labelled as a traitor by the establishment and religious parties,a saying "Lie has no wings",in the end "truth prevails". His ideology lives and still thrives will more if honest people convey his message to masses. Which could be only done with the freedom of media and judiciary, we lack both.I remember when Saiin G.M.Syed was alive all he said was censored. Hat's off to Mr.Paracha.
Excellent article.I had experienced this period unto 1982 at the university of sindh and lmc and agree with it all and will always miss it. This was the period of having jamiat or jaey Sindh federation in the college and I had always supported the Sindhi view and I was not born in sindh.
I think it is about time that Nadeem publishes a book on history of Pakistan,how he views it, that will be just wonderful! Thanks for writing!
Very well observation ..
This is why NFP is my favorite writer, brilliant to say the least. We owe Saeen G.M. Syed a debt of gratitude, there has to be a way to formalize his memory, maybe we could name Karachi cricket stadium Saeen Syed Stadium. Many thanks NFP
Although this analysis is worthwhile, I feel that it is not the the soufiism that is the cause of the relative tolerance of the Sindi people. Rather,it is the long, dep-rooted and heavy-handed feudalism that has kept the people of this province in a voiceless doldrum and the not the enlightenment of soufiism
Best article Ive read in ages. Where have you been hiding this side of your writing skills so far NFP?
very well written a, with research and analysis…….hats off to NFP……thnx for enlightenment…..
Hi NFP….Good Article….Just to share that some one once asked G M Syed, why does he pray (Namaz) while in his books, he really portray himself as a non-religious person, he replied, I get deep solace and inner satisfaction from praying!!!!I think he was a great mix of opposites and was unfortunately dubbed as traitor like any other great pakistani by Jammaties and their mentors, i.e, establishment…
Sir;
One can have trust in God but still may not be belonging to one of the established religions
Sir,
Actually, Im already fond of u.
Your liberal and progressive thoughts always impress me. but as Aamir Raza presented his concerns, same concerns occured sometime in my mind, while reading u.
In your current article, u did best.
I expect that u would discover all positive aspects of Sindhis.
Indeed insightful. NFP is great at summarizing things in very simple words and with minimum use of words very informatively… He's narrated the story at great piece… I live in Sindh i'm baloch, but yet i feel proud to be born here and having opportunity to be brought among very liberal and tolerant people who love and serve humanity without taking into notice their color, race, religion or sect.. Its a sacred land! An example for other provinces to emulate..
Dear …Jeeay Sindh
I am dreaming that any Non-Sindhi writer can write an article in the praise of Saaeen Jeeaim Sayyad ( G. M. Sayyad ).Any way , We are thankful to you that you are giving information and knowledge to the Non-Sindhi world about Saaeen Jeeaim Sayyad. A commendworthy pen-effort , keep it up and be with truth ! God bless u!
A really good piece of writing and informative. Keep up the good work NFP.
Hats off to NFP for writing thought provoking article.Salut to you! For a new beginning, table has to be turned to project liberal, tolerant and progressive social system, only then we can attain peace and prosperity. In spite of all such extremism in Pakistan,the curious case is with Sindh as pointed by NFP, which is safe from all such evils because of people’s deep respect towards Sufi-ism, and pluralism. Sindhi version of Sufi-ism could also help dilute the rising extremism in other parts of Pakistan because it has practically proved its utility in Sindh as it has saved Sindhi people to fall prey to fundamentalism and become extremists.
Anyways,I wish Pakistan (a land of pure)could become pure and free from of all sort of extremism, fascism and fundamentalism.
BRAVO!
Sir,
Let me accept the fact that whatever I just read is actually printed on the blog of a mainstream media segment- and, allow me to thank you for coming up with the narrative as openly sharp as that!
I confess, I had 'distanced' myself from your writings when I felt you, like all the so-called liberals of the country known as Pakistan, knowingly avoided naming Sindh and Sindhis while talking about the history of Sindh, or Karachi. Or topics related to these topics. Like, for example, you were not fair in the writeup you wrote about the student politics and missed out on mentioning JSQM, or student wings of any of the other separatist nationalist parties.
However, I'm delighted that you brought the subject to the mainstream media which ppl like me have always been propagating through social media on the internet.
Let this 'Pandora's box' be open now. Give us more writings on this.
–
Haq Mojood!
A wonderful piece of writing NFP. Bravo! You're making long strides in becoming my most favourite columnist/blogger.
It's important that people of Pakistan know about the very origins and nature of these so-called religious parties and their despicable role in destabilising Pakistan. Besides, there is a need to know about figures like G. M. Syed who thought of cultural bonds being stronger more sacred than the religious ones. That's true to the extent that today the entire world is divided on the bases of culture, not the religion.
Wow! Very nice article and excellent observation. However, I would like to add that muslims in Sindh have historically remained more tolerant towards other faiths and vice versa. For example, at the time of partition, no communal riots took place in Sindh. No doubt, revolt of G.M.Syed kept this alive politically. There are saints which are respected and revered by Hindus and Muslims, such as: Jhule Lal.
In my opinion (which may be completely flawed), one of the possible reasons for historically peaceful co-existence may be that Sindh has been ruled, for the most of time, by converts of Sindh itself (after arrival of Islam). On the other hand, Punjab has had a history of communal tension even before partition, for example martyrdom of Sikh gurus.
Bhai Paracha you are forgetting the basic facts that Pakistan is a victim of terror, and has done more sacrifice to make Americans safe than the rest of the world combined by fighting terror. Under the capable leadership of General Kayani and ISI, Pakistan is saving the sovereignity and ghairat of the whole qaum while also saving American and Afghan lives by figting terror though Pakistan is the biggest victim. The saving the world role of Pakistan has become even bigger after the recent declaration by Pakistan that it will also save China from terror. Hence you must recognise that strategic depth has been maintained only to save the world, because Khuda has placed this great responsibility in Pakistani shoulder, while giving him the most powerful nuclear weapon and missiles to save the world as well.
So true and hilarious as well..
I see another NVP in the making
Insightful and informative. I am Punjabi, and every time I have had a chance to visit Sindhi towns I have noticed what NFP calls "eartly and folk strains of liberalism" among its people.
But until now I only had a vague idea as why Sindh was so different than the Punjab. This piece made things a lot clear for me, so much so that I have now decided to read GM Syed's many works available in the book stores.
Does dear Nadeem thinks that there is still a glimmer of hope that
ideas of G M Syed will get acceptance in Pakistan? Who will take up to spread the message of tolerance and moderation among radicals and extremists? Pakistan urgently needs the services of
some Sufi like G M Syed.
NDC,
the truth is most Sindhis like the Baloch don't really care what is happening in Punjab or NWFP. They think the problems especially Punjab is facing regarding Islamic radicalism is of its own making and that the Punjabi dominated elite has tried to impose it on rest of Pakistan.
This article tells about the origin of all Sindhi's claims of being irreligious,whose base was laid by Syed Ghulam Murtaza early in 1950s, I am delighted to know about that link.