Re: Sindhi Books Of Rasool Bux Palijo
Toccara Delacerda
Sindhi Books of Rasool Bux Palijo: A Reflection of His Life and Struggle
Rasool Bux Palijo was a prominent Sindhi politician, lawyer, writer, scholar and poet who dedicated his life to the cause of democracy, human rights and national liberation in Pakistan. He was the founder and leader of Awami Tahreek, a progressive and leftist party that advocated for the rights of the oppressed and marginalized people of Sindh and other provinces. He was also a prolific author who wrote more than 40 books on various topics, ranging from literature to politics, prison diaries, culture and poetry.
Palijo's books are a reflection of his life and struggle, as well as his deep knowledge and insight into the history, culture and politics of Sindh, Pakistan and the world. He wrote in Sindhi, Urdu and English languages, and his books cover diverse genres such as novels, short stories, essays, memoirs, biographies, historical accounts, political analysis, cultural criticism and poetry. Some of his famous books include:
- Book from Indus: This book is a collection of essays that Palijo wrote during his imprisonment under the military dictatorship of General Zia-ul-Haq in the 1980s. He discusses various issues such as the history of Sindh, the role of Sindhi nationalists in the Pakistan movement, the impact of dams on the Indus river, the rise of religious fundamentalism and extremism in Pakistan, the role of foreign powers in the region and the prospects of democracy and socialism in South Asia.
- Sindhu Ji Saanjhah: This book is a historical novel that narrates the story of Sindh from ancient times to the present day. It covers various periods and events such as the Indus Valley Civilization, the invasion of Alexander the Great, the Arab conquest, the rise and fall of dynasties such as the Soomras, Sammas, Kalhoras and Talpurs, the British colonial rule, the partition of India and Pakistan, the creation of One Unit, the movement for restoration of democracy (MRD), the military operations in East Pakistan (Bangladesh) and Balochistan and the emergence of ethnic and sectarian conflicts.
- Sindhi Adab Ji Tareekh: This book is a comprehensive history of Sindhi literature from its origins to modern times. It traces the development of Sindhi language and script, the evolution of various literary forms such as poetry, prose, drama and folk literature, the contribution of various writers and poets such as Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Sachal Sarmast, Mirza Qaleech Baig, Shaikh Ayaz, Rasool Bux Palijo and others.
Palijo's books are not only a source of information and knowledge but also a source of inspiration and motivation for those who aspire to follow his footsteps in fighting for justice, freedom and dignity for all people. His books are a testament to his courage, wisdom and vision that transcended the boundaries of time and space.
Palijo's Contribution to Sindhi Culture and Language
Palijo was not only a political activist and a writer, but also a cultural icon and a language champion. He was one of the pioneers of the Sindhi language movement, which aimed to promote and preserve the Sindhi language, script and culture in Pakistan. He advocated for the recognition of Sindhi as one of the national languages of Pakistan, and for the use of Sindhi in education, administration and media. He also opposed the imposition of Urdu as the sole national language of Pakistan, and the attempts to replace the Sindhi script with the Arabic or Persian scripts.
Palijo was also a patron of Sindhi art and literature. He founded and supported various literary and cultural organizations such as Sindhi Adabi Sangat, Bazm-e-Sofia-e Sindh, Sindhi Shagird Tahreek and Sindhi Girls Students Organization. He encouraged and mentored many young and emerging writers and poets, such as Shaikh Ayaz, Amar Jaleel, Naseer Mirza, Attiya Dawood and others. He also organized and participated in various literary festivals, seminars, conferences and workshops to promote Sindhi literature and culture.
Palijo's contribution to Sindhi culture and language is immense and invaluable. He enriched the Sindhi language with his creative and scholarly writings, and defended it from the threats of assimilation and marginalization. He also revived and celebrated the Sindhi heritage and identity with his passion and pride.
Palijo's Legacy and Influence
Palijo passed away on 7 June 2018 at the age of 88 in Karachi. He was laid to rest in his ancestral village of Jungshahi in Sindh. His death was mourned by thousands of his followers, admirers and friends across Pakistan and abroad. He was hailed as a hero, a legend and a visionary by many political leaders, intellectuals, writers and activists.
Palijo's legacy and influence are still alive and strong in Sindh and Pakistan. His books are widely read and appreciated by people from all walks of life. His political party Awami Tahreek is still active and vocal on various issues such as democracy, human rights, national autonomy, water rights, women's rights and environmental protection. His son Ayaz Latif Palijo is also a prominent politician, lawyer, writer and activist who continues his father's mission and vision.
Palijo's life and work are a source of inspiration and guidance for many people who aspire to change the world for the better. He was a man of principles, courage and wisdom who never compromised on his ideals and values. He was a man of action, vision and creativity who never stopped dreaming and working for a better future. He was a man of love, compassion and humanity who never hated or harmed anyone. He was a man of Sindh, Pakistan and the world who never forgot his roots or his responsibilities.
Palijo's Views on Sindhi Nationalism and Federalism
Palijo was a staunch advocate of Sindhi nationalism and federalism. He believed that Sindh was a distinct nation with its own history, culture, language and identity. He argued that Sindh had been exploited and oppressed by the central government of Pakistan, which had deprived it of its due share of resources, autonomy and representation. He demanded that Sindh should be given its rightful status as a sovereign and equal partner in the federation of Pakistan, and that its people should be able to exercise their right to self-determination.
Palijo also opposed the idea of a unitary state or a centralized system of governance in Pakistan. He criticized the One Unit scheme, which merged the four provinces of West Pakistan into one administrative unit in 1955, as a conspiracy to weaken the provincial autonomy and identity. He also rejected the Kalabagh Dam project, which was proposed to be built on the Indus river in Punjab, as a threat to the water rights and ecology of Sindh. He supported the struggle of the people of East Pakistan (Bangladesh) for their independence from the domination of West Pakistan. He also supported the rights of other nationalities and regions in Pakistan, such as Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.
Palijo's views on Sindhi nationalism and federalism were based on his vision of a democratic, secular and socialist Pakistan, where all people would enjoy equal rights and opportunities regardless of their ethnicity, religion, language or gender. He envisioned a Pakistan where diversity would be celebrated and respected, and where unity would be based on mutual respect and cooperation.
Palijo's Impact on Sindhi Literature and Language
Palijo was not only a political leader and a writer, but also a literary critic and a linguist. He made significant contributions to the development and promotion of Sindhi literature and language. He wrote several books on Sindhi literature and language, such as Sindhi Adab Ji Tareekh (History of Sindhi Literature), Sindhi Boli Ji Tareekh (History of Sindhi Language), Sindhi Boli Ji Mukhtasar Tareekh (A Brief History of Sindhi Language), Sindhi Boli Ji Qadeem Tarz (The Ancient Style of Sindhi Language), Sindhi Boli Ji Jadeed Tarz (The Modern Style of Sindhi Language) and others.
Palijo also introduced new genres and styles in Sindhi literature, such as historical novels, prison diaries, political essays and cultural criticism. He also translated several works from other languages into Sindhi, such as Mao Tse Tung's Selected Works, Karl Marx's Das Kapital, Friedrich Engels' The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State, Vladimir Lenin's Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism, Leon Trotsky's The Permanent Revolution and others.
Palijo also played an important role in standardizing and modernizing the Sindhi language and script. He advocated for the use of Perso-Arabic script for writing Sindhi, instead of Devanagari or other scripts. He also devised a new system of orthography for Sindhi, which was based on phonetic principles and aimed to simplify the spelling and pronunciation of Sindhi words. He also coined new words and terms in Sindhi to express modern concepts and ideas.
Palijo's Books on Sindhi Literature and Language
Palijo was a prolific writer and a scholar of Sindhi literature and language. He wrote several books on various aspects of Sindhi literature and language, such as history, criticism, linguistics, translation and orthography. Some of his books on Sindhi literature and language are:
- Sindhi Adab Ji Tareekh: This book is a comprehensive history of Sindhi literature from its origins to modern times. It traces the development of Sindhi language and script, the evolution of various literary forms such as poetry, prose, drama and folk literature, the contribution of various writers and poets such as Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Sachal Sarmast, Mirza Qaleech Baig, Shaikh Ayaz, Rasool Bux Palijo and others.
- Sindhi Boli Ji Tareekh: This book is a detailed history of Sindhi language from its ancient roots to its contemporary status. It covers various topics such as the origin and classification of Sindhi language, its phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, dialects, sociolinguistics and language planning.
- Sindhi Boli Ji Mukhtasar Tareekh: This book is a brief history of Sindhi language for general readers. It summarizes the main features and stages of Sindhi language development in a simple and concise manner.
- Sindhi Boli Ji Qadeem Tarz: This book is a study of the ancient style of Sindhi language that was prevalent before the advent of Islam in Sindh. It analyzes the linguistic characteristics and features of the ancient Sindhi language, such as its vocabulary, grammar, syntax and phonetics.
- Sindhi Boli Ji Jadeed Tarz: This book is a study of the modern style of Sindhi language that emerged after the Islamic influence in Sindh. It analyzes the linguistic changes and innovations that occurred in the modern Sindhi language, such as its vocabulary, grammar, syntax and phonetics.
Palijo's books on Sindhi literature and language are valuable resources for anyone who wants to learn more about the rich and diverse heritage of Sindhi culture and civilization.
Palijo's Translations of Foreign Works into Sindhi
Palijo was also a prolific translator who translated several works from other languages into Sindhi. He translated works from various fields such as philosophy, politics, economics, sociology, history and literature. He translated works from various languages such as English, Urdu, Arabic, Persian, Hindi and Bengali. Some of his translations are:
- Mao Tse Tung's Selected Works: This book is a collection of writings by Mao Tse Tung, the founder and leader of the Communist Party of China. It contains his essays, speeches, letters and poems on various topics such as revolution, socialism, democracy, culture and war.
- Karl Marx's Das Kapital: This book is a critique of political economy by Karl Marx, the founder of Marxism. It analyzes the capitalist mode of production, its historical development, its contradictions and its impact on society.
- Friedrich Engels' The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State: This book is a historical materialist analysis of the origins and development of human society by Friedrich Engels, the co-founder of Marxism. It traces the evolution of human society from primitive communism to class society.
- Vladimir Lenin's Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism: This book is a Marxist analysis of imperialism by Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. It exposes the economic and political nature of imperialism as the final stage of capitalism.
- Leon Trotsky's The Permanent Revolution: This book is a theory of socialist revolution by Leon Trotsky, one of the leaders of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. It argues that in backward countries like Russia, the bourgeois democratic revolution can only be completed by the proletariat in alliance with the peasantry.
Palijo's translations are remarkable for their accuracy and clarity. He not only translated the words but also conveyed the meaning and spirit of the original works. He also added his own notes and comments to explain and contextualize the works for Sindhi readers.
Conclusion
Rasool Bux Palijo was a legendary figure in the history of Sindh and Pakistan. He was a visionary leader, a prolific writer, a scholar, a cultural icon and a language champion. He dedicated his life to the cause of democracy, human rights and national liberation. He wrote more than 40 books on various topics, ranging from literature to politics, prison diaries, culture and poetry. He also translated several works from other languages into Sindhi. He enriched and defended the Sindhi language and culture with his creative and scholarly writings. He inspired and mentored many generations of Sindhi writers, poets, activists and leaders. He left behind a legacy and an influence that will last forever.
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