ASSIGNMENT TOPIC

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES OF SINDHI CULTURE

Submitted To

Ma’am Kinza Zainab

Submitted By

Zaryab Fatima BSSOF17M37

Zahra Zulfiqar BSSOF17M08

Ammara Raza BSSOF17M31

Iqra Bajwa BSSOF17M48

Rahat Fatima BSSOF17M02

Program

BS Sociology (4th Semester)

Date of Submission

May 8, 2019

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY AND CRIMINOLOGY

Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, encompassing

History

There are two important elements for writing the history of any land: the availability of basic
sources, and the presence of professional and trained historians. The modern historiography of
Sindh was introduced during the British rule when the Historical Society of Sindh was founded
with the purpose of reconstructing the history of Sindh. The Society held regular meetings where
the members presented research papers on different aspects of history, as well as published a
historical journal which contained well-researched papers, thus contributing immensely to
recording the history of Sindh. Sadly, the Society and the journal discontinued after Partition.

ORIGIN OF THE NAME

The province of Sindh has been designated after the river Sindh (Indus) which literally created it
and has been also its sole means of sustenance. However, the importance of the river and close
phonetical resemblance in nomenclature would make one consider Sindhu as the probable origin
of the name of Sindh. Later phonetical changes transformed Sindhu into Hindu in Pahlavi and
into Hoddu in Hebrew. The Greeks (who conquered Sindh in 125 BC under the command of the
Alexander the great) rendered it into Indos, hence modern Indus.

PRE-HISTORIC PERIOD

The Indus valley civilization is the farthest visible outpost of archeology in the abyss of
prehistoric times. The areas constituting Pakistan have had a historical individuality of their own
and Sindh is the most important among such areas. The prehistoric site of Kot Diji in Sindh has
furnished information of high significance for the reconstruction of a connected story which
pushes back the history of Pakistan by at least another 300 years, from about 2,500 BC. Evidence
of a new element of pre-Harappan culture has been traced here. When the primitive village
communities in Baluchistan were still struggling against a difficult highland environment, a
highly cultured people were trying to assert themselves at Kot Diji one of the most developed
urban civilization of the ancient world that flourished between the year 25,00 BC and 1,500 BC
in the Indus valley sites of Moenjodaro and Harappa. The people were endowed with a high
standard of art and craftsmanship and well-developed system of quasi-pictographic writing
which despite ceaseless efforts still remains un-deciphered. The remarkable ruins of the
beautifully planned Moenjodaro and Harappa towns, the brick buildings of the common people,
roads, public-baths and the covered drainage system envisage the life of a community living
happily in an organized manner.

Sindh is one of the four provinces in Pakistan located at the Southern border. The province of
Sindh has been named after the famous River Indus. In Sanskrit, the province was dubbed
Sindhu meaning an ocean. Around 3000 B.C, Dravidian cultures urbanized and gave rise to the
Indus Valley Civilization. According to the Historians, Indus Valley Civilization declined due to
the natural disasters such as floods but the invasions of Indo- Arians caused the sudden collapse
of it. In the recent history, Sindh was conquered by the British in 1843. Sindh province remained
the part of British India until 1947 when it was made one of the provinces of Pakistan.

 Language

Sindhi language evolved over a period of 2400 years. The language of the people of Sindh, after
coming in contact with the Aryan, became Indo-Aryan (Prakrit). Sindhi language, therefore, has
a solid base of Prakrit as well as Sanskrit, the language of India, with vocabulary from Arabic,
Persian, and some Dravidian – descendants from Mediterranean sub-continent. Initially, Sindhi
had close contacts with Arabic- speaking Muslims. Therefore the language adopted many of the
Arabic words.

Sindhi language is an ancient language spoken in Pakistan and many other parts of the world. It
is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by approximately 41 million people in Pakistan, and 12
million people in India; it is the second most spoken language of Pakistan, mostly spoken in the
Sindh province. It is a recognized official language in Pakistan, and also an official language in
India. Government of Pakistan issues National Identity Cards to its citizens only in two
languages; Sindhi and Urdu.

Sindhi language is also greatly influenced by Sanskrit and about 70% of the words in Sindhi are
of Sanskrit origin. Sindhi is a very rich language with a vast vocabulary; this has made it a
favorite of many writers and so a lot of literature and poetry has been written in Sindhi. It has
been the inspiration for Sindhi art, music, literature, culture and the way of life. The language
can be written using the Devanagri or Arabic script

 Festivals

The people of Sind love their religion and the two festivals of Eid-ul-Adha and Eid-ul-Fitr are
celebrated with zeal and enthusiasm. Different domestic festivals are arranged by the local
people to provide people with new things they buy on Eid’s occasion. On different occasions, the
Folk dance of Bhagat is also performed by professionals to entertain the visiting people. Hence, a
Sindhi Cultural Festival is a compound of folk dances, music and cheap entertainment for local
people.

 Lifestyle

The culture and lifestyle of Sindhi people has its own roots in the Indus Valley Civilization.The
Indus or Sindhu River that passes through the land, and the Arabian Sea (that defines its borders
also reflects the culture of the Sindhi people. Sindhi people are well known for their hospitality,
hardworking nature and bravery. The handicraft of Sindh is very much famous. Sindhi Ajrak is a
benchmark of sindhi culture. Sindhi language is an ancient language spoken in Pakistan and
many other parts of the world. It is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by approximately 41 million
people in Pakistan, and 12 million people in India; it is the second most spoken language of
Pakistan, mostly spoken in the Sindh province. It is a recognized official language in
Pakistan, and also an official language in India. Government of Pakistan issues National Identity
 Cards to its citizens only in two languages; Sindhi and Urdu.Which reflects the acceptability of
this language.Sindhi language is also greatly
influenced by Sanskrit and about 70% of the words
in Sindhi are of Sanskrit origin.People of Sindh are
mostly related to an agricultural base lifestyle. The
fertile Indus Plains provide a valuable source
of income for the local people who are farming on
these lands. Inland fishing is also a mean of
earning income along the Indus River in Upper
Sind providing further opportunities for local
people. Sindhis are very lively people. They love
to dance on Sindhi folk music. The land of Sindh
has produced many great poets and singers who acknowledged themselves with their great work
of Sindhi poetry. 

People of Sindh are more inclined towards an agricultural based lifestyle. The fertile Indus Plains
provide a valuable source of income for the local people who practice farming on these lands.
Inland fishing is also practiced along the Indus River in Upper Sind providing further
opportunities for local people. Itinerant way of lifestyle is commonly seen in the desertic regions
of Thar where people move from place to place in search for drinking water sources along with
their animals.

 Arts and Music

Sindhi society is dominated by great Sufis, the mystics and the martyrs. It has always been the
land of peace, love, romance, and great cultural
and artistic values. There were the great
theologians of the Naqsh bandi order in Thatta
who translated the fundamentals of the religion
of Islam into their mother tongue. There were
the great Sufi (mystic) poets like Shah Abdul
Latif Bhitai who was the cherisher of truth and
spent all his life in its propagation, pursuit and
quest. Bhitai was also an excellent musician.
He invented a new type of musical instrument,
Tambura (drone instrument), which till today,
is a primary source of music in rural Sindh.
The beauty of Shah’s verses is enhanced by his
blending of traditional Indian rag with the Sindhi folk songs and music.

 Cultural character

The ancient Sindhi civilization was the place, where the aesthetic utilization of leisure was freely
indulged. There has been evidence, that the excavations of sites dating back to 3000 B.C. (all
over Sindh) is also true, around 1200 years ago when Jaina Dakshiniya Chihna (778 A.D.)
described the distinguished features of Sindhi’s in this way: “Elegant, with a lovely, soft and
slow gait, they are fond of the art of harvas (that is, songs, music
and dancing) and full affection towards their country.” Sindhi’s
celebrate Sindh Cultural day worldwide on 6th December by
wearing Ajrak & Sindhi Topi on that time. Traditional Sindhi
Dressing:
Sindh the province of Pakistan is best characterized as fame for
its best quality Mirror work and fabulous hand
embroidery.Sindhi women are fond of wearing heavy worked
dresses.These traditional dresses are not only liked by Sindhi
woman ,but they are famous and admired by women throughout the country as well.Mostly
Sindhi dresses are loose shirt (Kameez) and trouser (Shalwar).People of Sind hove to wear
traditional Sindhi Cap (topi) and stole (Ajrak).Beautiful hand made shawls are also weared by
women in winter.

Jewelry:

Sindhi women are fond of wearing heavy jewellery, most

Sindhi Food:
The traditional Sindhi foods are very delicious and
spicy. Bhee (Bhee simply means 'Lotus root' in English. A
high quality lotus root is grown in the North of Sindh which is then cooked in clay-pot using various
spices, which then results in an excellent delicious that is famous all over Pakistan.),Sindhi Biryani
(Boiled rice steamed and mixed with special sindhi recipe of spices),Sindhi Curry (chick pea flour
and vegetables like lady finger, potato and eggplant),Seyal Mani (Cooked Chapati in green sauce
with tomato, coriander and spices),Seyal Dab-roti (variation of above, but instead of Chappati,
use bread),Seyal Phulko, Bhaji,Seyal Bhaji (mixed vegetables cooked with onion garlic paste),Sabu
dal chawal ( yellow dal with rice)In typical sindhi wedding, the food Is mostly sindhi
mutton,curry,palak uin channa daal, dilpasand curry.Famous drinks of sindh are Falooda,thadal
etc.
Sindhi Biryani

Curry

Sindhi Speciality:

Sindhi topi and ajrak have been symbols of the Sindhi culture and
civilisation for thousands of years and all the people of Sindh have an
emotional attachment with these cultural symbols.Sindhi poetry is
also prominent in Sindhi culture. Poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.
Sachal Sarmast is very famous amongst all of Pakistanis. Regional
poets are Shaikh Ayaz, Ustad Bukhari, Ahmed Khan MAdhosh.
Many Sindhi poets are doing their poetry work continuously.There
are many regional sports that are played in Sindh.
Malakhiro(Malakhra) is one of the famous sports of Sindh. Other
sports include Wanjh wati, Kodi Kodi, Beelarhoo, Thipai Rand,
Notinn and Biloor.
Sindh is the land of great Sufi saints that included Abduallh Shah Gahzi (R.A), Shah Abdul Latif
Bhittai (R.A), Jhule Lal or Lal Shahbaz Qalandar or Lal Sai and Sachal Sarmast who preached
about peace and communal harmony.
The Sindhi Culture is an integration of Hinduism and Islam. It is regarded to be more of a Sufi
culture. This can be noted in their folklore, songs, poetry, lifestyle, customs and traditions.