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THE MAKING OF EXILE: SINDHI HINDUS AND THE PARTITION OF INDIA
To date, most books on Partition have ignored or minimised the Sindhi Hindu experience, which was significantly different from the trials of minorities in Punjab or Bengal. The Making of Exile hopes to redress this, by turning a spotlight on the specific narratives of the Sindhi Hindu community.
Post-Partition, Sindh was relatively free of the inter-communal violence witnessed in Punjab, Bengal, and other parts of north India. Consequently, in the first few months of Pakistan’s early life, Sindhi Hindus did not migrate, and remained the most significant minority in West Pakistan.
Starting with the announcement of the Partition of India, The Making of Exile firmly traces the experiences of the community – that went from being a small but powerful minority to becoming the target of communal discrimination, practised by both the state as well as sections of Pakistani society. This climate of communal antipathy threw into sharp relief the help and sympathy extended to Sindhi Hindus by other Pakistani Muslims, both Sindhi and muhajir. Finally, it was when they became victims of the Karachi pogrom of January 1948 that Sindhi Hindus felt compelled to migrate to India.
The second segment of the book examines the resettlement of the community in India – their first brush with squalid refugee camps, their struggle to make sense of rapidly changing governmental policies, and the spirit of determination and enterprise with which they rehabilitated themselves in their new homeland.
Post-Partition, Sindh was relatively free of the inter-communal violence witnessed in Punjab, Bengal, and other parts of north India. Consequently, in the first few months of Pakistan’s early life, Sindhi Hindus did not migrate, and remained the most significant minority in West Pakistan.
Starting with the announcement of the Partition of India, The Making of Exile firmly traces the experiences of the community – that went from being a small but powerful minority to becoming the target of communal discrimination, practised by both the state as well as sections of Pakistani society. This climate of communal antipathy threw into sharp relief the help and sympathy extended to Sindhi Hindus by other Pakistani Muslims, both Sindhi and muhajir. Finally, it was when they became victims of the Karachi pogrom of January 1948 that Sindhi Hindus felt compelled to migrate to India.
The second segment of the book examines the resettlement of the community in India – their first brush with squalid refugee camps, their struggle to make sense of rapidly changing governmental policies, and the spirit of determination and enterprise with which they rehabilitated themselves in their new homeland.
438 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2014
70 people are currently reading
438 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 6, 2016
I highly recommend this book to any Sindhi. This book has filled a deep void that I was only superficially aware of. Nandita has done an absolutely fantastic job in describing and researching this book. As a scientist by background, I am extremely impressed with the objective and straightforward analysis of her research. I have tried to read various books on partition in the past hoping to find some insight into my Sindhi heritage but all failed miserably - mainly because they were too wordy, old fashioned history type books and they contained little reference to Sindhis. I completely identify with the young Sindhis around the world that Nandita describes in her book. I am super fortunate that my parents taught me to speak the language and cook the food, but other than that not sure what else makes me Sindhi. Reading this book makes me feel so much closer to my heritage. Thank you Nandita for writing this!
May 8, 2016
This books fills a great void of books on Sindhi Partition experience. I agree with Ashish Nandi that future generation of Sindhis will be grateful for this book. Another good thing about the book is its comprehensiveness, objectivity and an unbiased attitude.
If you have only one book to ready/buy on Partition saga of Sindh then this is it.
If you have only one book to ready/buy on Partition saga of Sindh then this is it.
September 28, 2017
Great account of a little heard story
Much needed addition to partition literature which is Punjab focused. While it's great for academics, for a lay reader like me, crisper editing, and a little more insight into Sindhi culture pre and post partition would have made it complete.
Much needed addition to partition literature which is Punjab focused. While it's great for academics, for a lay reader like me, crisper editing, and a little more insight into Sindhi culture pre and post partition would have made it complete.
November 25, 2016
Informative
Good narrative with thorough perspective on different issues. Personal accounts throws light into the situation prevailing at that time. Recommended
Good narrative with thorough perspective on different issues. Personal accounts throws light into the situation prevailing at that time. Recommended
August 25, 2018
An articulate account of the most recent trying period in Sindhi history. The story of Sindh is indeed a sad one. While more violence was definitely recorded for other communities such as Punjabis and Bengalis during that time, their cultures and regions largely retain their flavor till today. For as the author points out - "Over the centuries, Sindhi culture emerged from the marriage of Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism; from the mingling of Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian; from cultural borrowings, owing to the invasions from the north and west, as well as through trade with various parts of the world. While it is true that in Sindh, such hybridism led to a degree of animosity in the decades before partition, its loss still deserves to be mourned. Pushing Sindhis into the narrowed and divided categories of Indians and Pakistanis, into ghettos of their own minds has come at a steep price, and we are all the poorer for it".
September 14, 2014
A thoroughly researched book. Fills a big hole in the history of Sindhis. It's hard to find books on the Sindhi history and this book fills many gaps in the process. A good collection of personal histories apart from the scavenging of the official documents makes this one of a kind.
June 19, 2016
A great narrative of the trials faced by people from Sindh at Partition, and how the 'Sindhi' ways were altered both in Sindhi Hindus who migrated to India and the Sindhi Muslims. Well researched!
January 30, 2015
An amazingly written work which carry no bias, a rare phenomenon for books related to partition.
May 28, 2019
A book on the history of sindhis. Well crafted and written
August 6, 2023
Partition narratives tend to focus on the Punjab and Bengal experience. The Sindhi experience was markedly different and not as well documented. Nandita Bhavnani provides and excellent analysis and lesser know historical details that are still impacting the Sindhi community.
April 6, 2021
Excellent work .. comprehensive book on partition and its aftermath on Sindhi community.. and never fail attitude of Sindhi people.. I would highly recommend this book.
June 12, 2021
Highly recommended for any Sindhi living in Sindh, India, or elsewhere to know their heritage.
May 23, 2022
Absolute must-read for Sindhis.
January 31, 2024
An incredibly researched book that is a true eye opener. I'm confident it will serve as a milestone book for any student of Sindhi culture who wants to know more about contemporary Sindhi history.
May 19, 2024
i think about religon
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2016
If you come across a snake or a Sindhi whom would kill first? Quite Dramatic!!
The book by Nandita Bhavnani is definitely a thorough research story of the Sindhi circa 1947 and helps us understand how the Sindhi society has evolved since then. It states about our perceptions and underlying realities which define the Sindh culture. Sindhis as we know were never a part of Indian culture. They were the actual minority within the new Pakistan that was being born. Punjab and Bengal which were divided found themselves in similar territories when they fled across the border on both sides, however Sindh which had probably 30% Hindus was never divided.
Karachi was a Hindu capital of Sind with a Muslim minority however by 1948 the city was overrun with refugees. In a short span of two to four months the city was a Hindu minority. As a result there was two options for the minorities in Sind either to stay back or take refuge in an alien nation called India. The entire nation was being a communal war at that time. The concept of India was not alien to them because many of the great Sindhi have fought and died for the cause but was the nation ready to accept them? Sindhi like J B Kriplani and L K Advani were famous Sindhis but this story of how Indian government meted out with them.
The story talks from scene to scene. It tries to capture every major event that took place from the eyes of people who were actually there. Sindhis as the book says believed in a nation called Pakistan. They thought they have survived and flourished in Muslim dominated society why not in Pakistan. However the in ability of the Pakistani government at the time of independence to address the problems and insecurities of the minorities led to this mass exodus. Exodus of human lives of people who travelled across the border. This was the first of its kind movement of the people in such large numbers. Governments in Bombay, Ajmer, Bhopal, Kathiawar got scared when this alien population over ran their households. The writes talks about the inhuman conditions in which these people stayed and survived.
We read about the history of Karachi riots of 1948 January and great work of leaders like Bhai Pratap Dialdas who set up Gandhi Dham for Sindhi (a home away from home). We read about the society and their culture and their lives which were forced onto them post partition. Sindhi a trading class living within Muslim society was introduced to Bombay they were bound to flourish. There were setbacks in term of acceptance and in every form they had to start from the start but they definitely flourished.
I would not argue with the writer for being so dramatic. None of us do know the true history of Sindhis. We see them everywhere and call them cowards for they fled their homes. But this book probably tried to put a comforting picture. It is not in perception but what they faced during those years the reality lies. We should give a moment to understand the realities of the time and give them due credit to choose India as its own.
Food was costly, stay was out in the open, no employment and family to feed, what that could drive a man to do!!
There was no home, no back you can turn to, your family separated or killed and you are all alone, what that could drive a man to do!!
The book by Nandita Bhavnani is definitely a thorough research story of the Sindhi circa 1947 and helps us understand how the Sindhi society has evolved since then. It states about our perceptions and underlying realities which define the Sindh culture. Sindhis as we know were never a part of Indian culture. They were the actual minority within the new Pakistan that was being born. Punjab and Bengal which were divided found themselves in similar territories when they fled across the border on both sides, however Sindh which had probably 30% Hindus was never divided.
Karachi was a Hindu capital of Sind with a Muslim minority however by 1948 the city was overrun with refugees. In a short span of two to four months the city was a Hindu minority. As a result there was two options for the minorities in Sind either to stay back or take refuge in an alien nation called India. The entire nation was being a communal war at that time. The concept of India was not alien to them because many of the great Sindhi have fought and died for the cause but was the nation ready to accept them? Sindhi like J B Kriplani and L K Advani were famous Sindhis but this story of how Indian government meted out with them.
The story talks from scene to scene. It tries to capture every major event that took place from the eyes of people who were actually there. Sindhis as the book says believed in a nation called Pakistan. They thought they have survived and flourished in Muslim dominated society why not in Pakistan. However the in ability of the Pakistani government at the time of independence to address the problems and insecurities of the minorities led to this mass exodus. Exodus of human lives of people who travelled across the border. This was the first of its kind movement of the people in such large numbers. Governments in Bombay, Ajmer, Bhopal, Kathiawar got scared when this alien population over ran their households. The writes talks about the inhuman conditions in which these people stayed and survived.
We read about the history of Karachi riots of 1948 January and great work of leaders like Bhai Pratap Dialdas who set up Gandhi Dham for Sindhi (a home away from home). We read about the society and their culture and their lives which were forced onto them post partition. Sindhi a trading class living within Muslim society was introduced to Bombay they were bound to flourish. There were setbacks in term of acceptance and in every form they had to start from the start but they definitely flourished.
I would not argue with the writer for being so dramatic. None of us do know the true history of Sindhis. We see them everywhere and call them cowards for they fled their homes. But this book probably tried to put a comforting picture. It is not in perception but what they faced during those years the reality lies. We should give a moment to understand the realities of the time and give them due credit to choose India as its own.
Food was costly, stay was out in the open, no employment and family to feed, what that could drive a man to do!!
There was no home, no back you can turn to, your family separated or killed and you are all alone, what that could drive a man to do!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews