Chapter One:

Hindus in Sindh Historical Analysis

1. Population of Sindhi Hindus
Population of Hindus in Sindh has great impact on the society of Sindh; there are
different sources which provide us the amount of Hindus in Sindh. Before we go into
the detail of causes behind Hindu migration of Sindh to India we should analyze that
what is the population of Sindhi Hindus in Sindh and we should know their historical
perspective. According to the census report which held in 1998 in Pakistan, the total
population of Hindus in Pakistan 24, 43,514. While1the Hindu council of Pakistan had
estimated that there are more than 7000000 Hindus present in Pakistan and majority
of them living in Sindh. Hindus are contributing more than 5.5 percent in the overall
population of Pakistan.
Nearly 94 percent of Hindus are living in Sindh Province, and more than 4 percent are
living in Punjab Province of Pakistan, where as a small portion of this population is
settled in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Provinces. They are counted as
minority in Pakistan and once they were in majority but later settlements of Arabs,
Persians and Turks their population was decreased. The cause of conversion of Sindhi
Hindus was constant decreasing their population as well. They live mostly in the
urban areas of Sindh province.
Before the partition of Pakistan, quarter of the population of Sindh was Hindu but
after inter-religious violence Hindus living in Sindh elected to migrate to India. Sindhi
Hindus joined the migration, realizing the fear of violence that might spread in their
province after Partition. Later in 1948 most had left Sindh for India, where large
numbers settled in Rajasthan, Delhi and Mumbai. Only Tharparkar district in Sindh
has Hindus in majority about 51 per cent.
Minority of Hindus used to live in urban areas while minority of them live in rural
areas. Urbanized Hindus are highly educated peoples with government administrative
jobs and some of them are related to business like, trade, merchant, cloth and give the
money on debts to the people. Rural Hindus are formers, labors, masons and
1

(Report by Hindu Council of Pakistan), www.pakistan hinducouncil.org.

carpenters. There are many Hindu social societies to provide social as well as money
assistance to all casts of Hindus.
2. HISTORICAL PRESPECTIVES OF HINDU MIGRATION

When this sub-continent divided into two states and Pakistan came into existence on
14 August 1947. Many Muslims left their forefathers homeland and moved from India
to this newly born state. Meanwhile Hindu community they had a number of
population in Sindh migrated to India. But some families decided to stay and continue
their business in Sindh. These families later renounced as non-Muslim minority of
Pakistan.
Before the division this land that is Pakistan had only Hindu population as old as 8500
years ago. This was the place where the Vedas were written. 2 This territory was
remained as a Hindu dense territory over 7000 years and having ancient civilization.
In 712 AD Sindh was attacked by Muhammad Bin Qasim and this area became
gateway for Islam in India. According to the census report of 1941 Hindus were at
20% of the population of this territory currently known as Pakistan. Now the number
of population dropped to less than 2%. Aftermath of 1965 Indo-Pak war 8000 Hindus
were migrated to India. Subsequently this number was increased to 9000 on account
of 1971 war.

3. Civilization of Hindus
Hinduism is unique religion in the world among the religions. It has no founder or
state of origin. Most religions of the world have a specific origin by charismatic
leaders. Its a religion of the people of India which was gradually developed more
than 4000 years ago. Its roots date back as far as 2000 BC makes it as an ancient
surviving religion of the world. On account of great history its early age is unclear.
Nevertheless some scholars rely on educated guess based on archeological studies. In
1921 some archeologist uncovers the evidence of this ancient civilization along with
2

Gross Violation of Human Rights of Minorities in Pakistan, A study of Migrants Seeking Shelter in
India, November 2012.

Indus River. The old civilization also known as Harapan Civilization (Harapa was the
chief city for one of its cities). Harapa is considered as originated as far as 7000 BC.
Some writings of this period has been discovered but unfortunately these writings are
small in numbers not enough to find the evidence regarding the origin this religion.
The inception of Indus valley culture was around 1800 BC. During this era of Aryan
invaded India and according to a hypothesis Aryan and Vedic (religion of ancient
India) were the foundational members of Hinduism. Another hypothesis which reveals
that between 2000-1500 BC there no invasion but continues spreading of Aryan-Indo
speakers to the eastern and southern parts of India with growing culture interaction
with native peoples. By this process a new culture was emerged by the end of the
second millennium. This particular Aryan ethnicity also found in Regvida. After the
ending of Vedic period Brahaman period was begun about 300 BC. During this time
period social and religious system was developed. That time is usually known as the
numerous settled communities, formal rituals of worship, religious temples and the
caste system.
4. Golden time of Sindhi Hindus
The power of Sindhi Hindus came when a British general, conquered Sindh from the
Talpur Mirs with the help of a rich Sindhi, Seth Nomal Bhojwani because his father
was kidnapped and ill-treated by Muslims and he wanted to end their rule in February
1843. In the result of British government Hindus were allowed to purchase property in
Sindh.3

SINDHI REFLECTIONS,140 Lives and the Indian Partition by Lata Jagtiani

The Hindus also came into power because they gained higher education quickly with
the help of British government and they tried to learn languages. They quickly learned
English language to get higher jobs into the administration of British government and
they were succeeded. Trade and commerce, services and education became
monopolies in the hands of the minority whom with the support of rulers.
In 1847 Sindh was under the presidency of Bombay because of British colonialism
which immediately brought two major changes in the history of Sindh. Firstly, the
rule was transformed from Muslims to non-Muslims authorities. Secondly merger of
Sindh with Bombay presidency had affected sindhs geographical, cultural and
political isolation from India, which resulted in the 19th century the emergence of
modern, social and political institutions.
During takeover of British the Hindus did not hold any land but after the British
success the retired officers of Hindus were landed by government because majority of
Hindus were working in the administration. After attacking of British, traders of
Hindus became so powerful in rest of the sub-continent and Sindh lost its
independence. British were fully supported by the Hindus and their communication
was strong to each other because of that British survived with the help of Hindus.
Sindh was conquered by the British from their bases in Bombay and Kutch while the
Talpurs were defeated by them. Charles was the commander of the army who became
the first governor of Sindh province. Forty percent of the Muslim land holdings
passed on the Hindu creditors within a few years. After long struggle of Quaid-eAzam Mohammad Ali Jinaaah with his 14-points he brought separation of sindhs
from Bombay presidency. Many other Indian Muslim leaders also played their rule
thats why Muslims of Sindh succeeded in getting Sindh separated from the Bombay
presidency in 1936.
5. Downfall of Hindus in Sindh
The downfall of Hindus occurred after the separation of Sindh province from the
Bombay presidency by the struggle of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in 1936.
After this movement the Hindus became powerless and voiceless minority in Sindh
province. At time of separation, some of the Hinds leaders including Gobindram

Mukhi and Sawami Harinamdasji raised protests against this movement. 4The Hindus
also voted for the separation of Sindh from the Bombay presidency because they
thought that they would gain power and their rights within the society of Muslims and
others were thinking that this move may reduce their hold in the region.
The foundation of separation was the population strength as the majority of strength
was Muslims so the Hindus had to loss their homeland. Sindh became an autonomous
province where the Muslims could perform their political, cultural, religious duties
according to their tradition. The situation of Hindus became critical and also their
wealth, property, owner became unsafe. It became difficult for them to have a sigh of
peace because of the violence against them. Due to this crucial situation of the Hindus
they started to move from rural areas in the place where they find peace.
The Hindus were facing so many problems at that time; they were looted, kidnapped
cases and raped of young girls.5 After sometime some of Hindus have decided to leave
Sindh and migrate to India. The Pakistan became separate state by the hard struggle of
Mohammad Ali Jinnah and got independence from British government in 1947.
Muslims were landed where they were in majority and same with Hindus. Before the
separation of Pakistan, Hindus started their migration to India and gradually they are
migrating. After the independence of Pakistan majority of minority of Hindus
migrated to India while the Muslim refugees from India settled down in Pakistan.
6. Current status of Hindus in Sindh
Since the partition of Pakistan Hindus in Sindh have been facing religious and social
persecution. However they appears to be a steady increase in the situation of rejection
of basic fundamental rights leading to a life in a state and have of fear, pressure and
humiliation. Hindus of Sindh are not provided fundamental rights equally and they cannot
perform religious and cultural practices.
Due to religious and social discrimination they seem in every field of life pasturing from
education to livelihood. People of Hindu community who are related with business cannot
4

SINDHI REFLECTIONS,140 Lives and the Indian Partition by Lata Jagtiani

have their own transport for the business because their vehicles are snatched on gun point.
Their girls could not have education because their parents remained worried about kidnapping
of their girls. When they decide to sell their property no one is ready to purchase because they
want to take over without any cost.

The Hindu people who living in urban areas they are feeling insecurity of their
business and also suffering from kidnapers and robbers of local gangs because they
demand protection money. Those are living in rural areas they have been suffering
of economical problems and some of them are bonded labor by the land lards
(Waderas). The rural Hindu communities are much suffering for their survivals.
The most prominent victims are women and children and worst hit among them are
young girls. They have been chosen to be soft targets for persecution and now they
have became the favorite instruments for ethnic cleansing. Abductions, forced
conversions and forced marriages have become real challenges for them as they
believe in Sindh. They are not allowed having jobs into the armed forces, the judiciary
or responsible positions in the civil services.
Discrimination and prejudice against Hindu minority in Sindh are the combine factors
within educational institutions as well as by the state controlled-media Due to all
these challenges many of the Sindhi Hindus have migrated to India and other
countries for the survival of their lives.