Mukhi House Diaries

History and Culture

Origins. The word "Sindhi" comes from the Sanskrit term "Sindhu" meaning "river" or "stream", and refers to the people living on the banks of the Sindhu (now named Indus) river that flows through Pakistan. In prehistoric times, Sindh was the location for several river valley civilizations such as Mohenjo-daro.

Greek Invasion. In 325 BC, the Greek invader Alexander the Great gained control of the lower Indus valley, and renamed the river "Indus" (from which the word "India" is derived). The Gandhara civilization was strongly influenced by the Greeks and their art referred to as Indo-Greek art and architecture.

Muslim Invasion. In 711 AD, the muslim invader Muhammad bin Qasim conquered Sindh. A tax was levied on all non-muslims if they did not convert to Islam. Over many centuries, due to Sufi influence from Iran and Central Asia, Islam gradually became the dominant religion. However, Hindu and Muslim Sindhis were ethnically similar and co-existed peacefully for centuries. Several dynasties ruled over Sindh including Soomro, Samma, and Kalhora (in whose court, according to historical accounts, a Mukhi ancestor Mavaldas Manohardas was a diwan).

British Invasion. In 1843, the British general James Napier defeated the Muslim leaders, and merged Sindh into the Bombay Presidency. This shift resulted in the formation of new political and mercantile alliances, in which Hindu Sindhis such as Gobindram Mukhi played an active role. Due to disagreements on the value of being part of the Bombay Presidency, Sindh was subsequently made into an independent province in 1936. After the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947 (also referred to as the partition), many Hindu Sindhis migrated to India leaving much of their possessions behind. The Mukhi House was one of the casualties of that partition.

Sindhi Diaspora. The Hindu Sindhi diaspora spread widely across the continents, carrying with it a tolerant religious philosophy, love of Sindhi food that has strong middle eastern and local influences, and a focus on education and business enterprise, which has mostly resulted in successful adaptation to the modern world. The Mukhi diaspora, currently reside in India, Singapore, Hong Kong, England, US, and UAE in occupations ranging from business to education.

Enduring Beliefs. Despite the religious "intolerance" in Pakistan, the collaboration between the Mukhi family, and the Sindh government in restoring the Mukhi House is a testament of a shared belief in preserving the heritage of Sindh.

Jhulelal

Hindu Sindhi Religious Beliefs
While Hindu Sindhis subscribe mainly to Hinduism, their belief system has strong regional influences. Guru Nanak, a widely revered saint born in Punjab, subscribed to the oneness of God being neither Hindu nor Muslim. Jhulelal, a Sindhi saint revered by both the Hindu and Muslim Sindhis, is said to have resisted the forced conversion of Hindus to Islam, promoting tolerance of both religions. Jhulelal sits on a palla fish, that is local to the Indus river, and also is a Sindhi culinary delicacy. Read more ...
Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons.

Sindbad

Sinbad the Sailor

Sindhi Literature and Poetry
Sindhi literature was strongly influenced by Sufism, with evidence of poetry written in the Sindhi language in the eight or ninth century AD. In the 17th century, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai a Sufi scholar composed some of the best known Sufi poems in Sindhi. The adventures of Sinbad (Lord of the Sindh River) the Sailor, is also considered to have been inspired by the life of sailors on the Indus river. Read more ...
Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons.

Abida

Abida Parveen

Sindhi Music
Strongly influenced by Sufi philosophy, Sindhi music has a long tradition including the musical interpretations of poems from the Shah Jo Risalo (Shah's Message) by Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. These consist of 30 surs, sung in various forms such as traditional, folk, and modern styles. Contemporary singers include Sindhi Sufi singer Abida Parveen, who sings ghazals and kafis; Runa Laila (a Bangladeshi singer), who sings in the Qawwali style such as in the hit song Dama Dam Mast Qalandar in praise of Jhulelal and Shahbaz Qalandar (a Sufi saint); Wazier Ali Shah who sings Sufi Kalams; Alan Fakir a folk singer who performed melancholy Sufi songs such as the Sindhi song Tirin Pawanda Tarien Jadhen Garha Gul; and the rock group Junoon. Read more ...
Photo Courtesy: cinemasangeet.com.

Sindhi-Tahini

Tahine Sweet Rice

Sindhi Food
Reflecting the ethnic melange in the rest of the Sindhi culture, Hindu Sindhi food is a mixture of non-vegetarian food (with the exception of beef) influenced from South Asia, and vegeteranian food from India. Well-known entrees include Tahine, Sai Bhaji, Sindhi Curry, Pallo, Seyal Mani, Beeh, and Papar; well-known desserts include Khirni, Mohanthal, Tosho, Varo, Falooda, Seera, and the summer drink Thadal. Read more ...

Sindhi-Script

"Sindhi" in the Arabic Script

Sindhi Language
Sindhi roots have been traced to the Prakrit language used during the Vedic period, and over centuries has absorbed Arabic, Persian, and Urdu words. During this evolution, Sindhi has been written in different scripts including Devanagari, Lunda, Gurmukhi, and Khubadi, but during the British rule, the Arabic script with a version of the Persian alphabet was widely adopted. In response to the Sindhi diaspora, a Romanized script of Sindhi is being promoted to prevent the languange from becoming obsolete at least in the Hindu Sindhi diaspora. Read more ...
Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons.

Mukhi-Script

"Mukhi" in the Arabic Script

Sindhi Surnames
Many Hindu Sindhi surnames end with "ani" (derived from the Sanskrit word "ansh" meaning "descended from"), which is added to first names of ancestors (Adumal + ani = Advani). Other surname derivations include titles (Mukhi or head of the panchayat), castes (Thakur), towns (Ahu + ja = Ahuja), and ancestor's first name (Assoomal). Read more ...

History and Culture Origins. The word "Sindhi" comes from the Sanskrit term "Sindhu" meaning "river" or "stream", and refers to the people living on the banks of the Sindhu (now named Indus) river that flows through Pakistan. In prehistoric times, Sindh was the location for several river valley civilizations such as Mohenjo-daro. Greek Invasion. In 325 BC, the Greek invader Alexander the Great gained control of the lower Indus valley, and renamed the river "Indus" (from which the word "India" is derived). The Gandhara civilization was strongly influenced by the Greeks and their art referred to as Indo-Greek art and architecture. Muslim Invasion. In 711 AD, the muslim invader Muhammad bin Qasim conquered Sindh. A tax was levied on all non-muslims if they did not convert to Islam. Over many centuries, due to Sufi influence from Iran and Central Asia, Islam gradually became the dominant religion. However, Hindu and Muslim Sindhis were ethnically similar and co-existed peacefully for centuries. Several dynasties ruled over Sindh including Soomro, Samma, and Kalhora (in whose court, according to historical accounts, a Mukhi ancestor Mavaldas Manohardas was a diwan). British Invasion. In 1843, the British general James Napier defeated the Muslim leaders, and merged Sindh into the Bombay Presidency. This shift resulted in the formation of new political and mercantile alliances, in which Hindu Sindhis such as Gobindram Mukhi played an active role. Due to disagreements on the value of being part of the Bombay Presidency, Sindh was subsequently made into an independent province in 1936. After the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947 (also referred to as the partition), many Hindu Sindhis migrated to India leaving much of their possessions behind. The Mukhi House was one of the casualties of that partition. Sindhi Diaspora. The Hindu Sindhi diaspora spread widely across the continents, carrying with it a tolerant religious philosophy, love of Sindhi food that has strong middle eastern and local influences, and a focus on education and business enterprise, which has mostly resulted in successful adaptation to the modern world. The Mukhi diaspora, currently reside in India, Singapore, Hong Kong, England, US, and UAE in occupations ranging from business to education. Enduring Beliefs. Despite the religious "intolerance" in Pakistan, the collaboration between the Mukhi family, and the Sindh government in restoring the Mukhi House is a testament of a shared belief in preserving the heritage of Sindh.
	Jhulelal	Hindu Sindhi Religious Beliefs While Hindu Sindhis subscribe mainly to Hinduism, their belief system has strong regional influences. Guru Nanak, a widely revered saint born in Punjab, subscribed to the oneness of God being neither Hindu nor Muslim. Jhulelal, a Sindhi saint revered by both the Hindu and Muslim Sindhis, is said to have resisted the forced conversion of Hindus to Islam, promoting tolerance of both religions. Jhulelal sits on a palla fish, that is local to the Indus river, and also is a Sindhi culinary delicacy. Read more ... Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons.
	Sinbad the Sailor	Sindhi Literature and Poetry Sindhi literature was strongly influenced by Sufism, with evidence of poetry written in the Sindhi language in the eight or ninth century AD. In the 17th century, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai a Sufi scholar composed some of the best known Sufi poems in Sindhi. The adventures of Sinbad (Lord of the Sindh River) the Sailor, is also considered to have been inspired by the life of sailors on the Indus river. Read more ... Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons.
	Abida Parveen	Sindhi Music Strongly influenced by Sufi philosophy, Sindhi music has a long tradition including the musical interpretations of poems from the Shah Jo Risalo (Shah's Message) by Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. These consist of 30 surs, sung in various forms such as traditional, folk, and modern styles. Contemporary singers include Sindhi Sufi singer Abida Parveen, who sings ghazals and kafis; Runa Laila (a Bangladeshi singer), who sings in the Qawwali style such as in the hit song Dama Dam Mast Qalandar in praise of Jhulelal and Shahbaz Qalandar (a Sufi saint); Wazier Ali Shah who sings Sufi Kalams; Alan Fakir a folk singer who performed melancholy Sufi songs such as the Sindhi song Tirin Pawanda Tarien Jadhen Garha Gul; and the rock group Junoon. Read more ... Photo Courtesy: cinemasangeet.com.
	Tahine Sweet Rice	Sindhi Food Reflecting the ethnic melange in the rest of the Sindhi culture, Hindu Sindhi food is a mixture of non-vegetarian food (with the exception of beef) influenced from South Asia, and vegeteranian food from India. Well-known entrees include Tahine, Sai Bhaji, Sindhi Curry, Pallo, Seyal Mani, Beeh, and Papar; well-known desserts include Khirni, Mohanthal, Tosho, Varo, Falooda, Seera, and the summer drink Thadal. Read more ...
	"Sindhi" in the Arabic Script	Sindhi Language Sindhi roots have been traced to the Prakrit language used during the Vedic period, and over centuries has absorbed Arabic, Persian, and Urdu words. During this evolution, Sindhi has been written in different scripts including Devanagari, Lunda, Gurmukhi, and Khubadi, but during the British rule, the Arabic script with a version of the Persian alphabet was widely adopted. In response to the Sindhi diaspora, a Romanized script of Sindhi is being promoted to prevent the languange from becoming obsolete at least in the Hindu Sindhi diaspora. Read more ... Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons.
	"Mukhi" in the Arabic Script	Sindhi Surnames Many Hindu Sindhi surnames end with "ani" (derived from the Sanskrit word "ansh" meaning "descended from"), which is added to first names of ancestors (Adumal + ani = Advani). Other surname derivations include titles (Mukhi or head of the panchayat), castes (Thakur), towns (Ahu + ja = Ahuja), and ancestor's first name (Assoomal). Read more ...