A fantastic online event titled “Shaandaar Sindhi” was organised by Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence on Saturday, 10 October 2020. The 100-minute session highlighted the unique music, dance, language, and cuisine of Sindhi community and has attracted attendance from around the world.
The event started with an invocation by acclaimed Singer and Songwriter-Composer Renu Gidoomal. Gopichand P Hinduja gave opening words to the program, during which he relayed a clear message to the community about passing the cultural baton to the young.
He said “I request associations to make efforts to keep our Sindhiyat alive. For the survival of Sindhiyat, or Sindhi culture, three things must be passed on to our next generation – our language, our cuisine and our traditions. Because the main ingredients of any culture are its language, food, and traditions. For example, my parents went to Iran but stayed true to our own culture. We have all learnt Persian but not at the cost of Sindhi. Sindhis have survived and prospered because of their adaptability. We have assimilated so much into our host cultures that our mother culture today stands vulnerable.”
“Our next-generation hardly speaks our language, they don’t know our food beyond Sindhi Curry and our traditions are getting fast replaced”. Speaking of traditions, he said “We are perhaps the only community in the world that continues Vedic form of worship even today. People in Vedic period worshipped elements of nature. Sindhis are the only ones who have kept worship of Varun Dev alive, through the worship of Jhulelal.”
Prakash P Hinduja commended the Sindhis’ contribution to the business and spiritual sector and gave an overview of the work of Sindhi community leaders in South East Asia, Europe, Dubai, and America. Ashok P Hinduja reiterated on economic growth, through which he said charitable and cultural activities can be further promoted.
Chairman of Global Sindhi Council and Sahyog Foundation Dr. Ram Jawhrani elaborated on what Sindhiyat means, and laid emphasis on celebrating Sindhi identity and restoring the Sindhi traditions and culture. Executive Director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London Dr. Nandakumara commended the support of the people of Sindhi community to the Bhavan and stressed on identifying Sindhi scholars and recording their works for posterity.
Raj Daswani recounted the formation of SAUK and highlighted the work in Sindhi drama & theatre arts. Gulshan Makhija, Hero Parwani and Kishan Ramnani of Sindhu Sakha Sangam presented the beautiful Sindhi Bhagat performance.
Chair of Harrow Interfaith Sonoo Malkani presented typical Sindhi cuisine. The exhilarating session concluded with the high energy Mast Kalandar song by Renu Gidoomal.
Vote of Thanks was given by Ragasudha Vinjamuri, Founder of Sanskruti Centre.
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Great initiative from one of the most prosperous Indian community