Stories of Sindh

Neena Hashumal Nandwani (maiden name: Premi Bhagwandas Wadhwani) was born on 15 th July 1932 in Karachi, Sindh, British India. Following Partition, her family left for India because there were riots and disturbances and they were becoming more frequent by the day. Neena currently lives in Singapore, and this is her story. Neena and her husband, Hashumal Neena Hashumal Nandwani is the eldest of three sisters and one brother born to Bhagwandas and Rukmini Wadhwani. Her brother was born in 1949, when her family had resettled in post-Partition India. Neena’s father worked in Manila, the Philippines, and only came back to visit his family once every three years. This was called a 'Sindhwork' contract, where Sindhi men were employed by other Sindhis to work in their overseas shops. A contract was typically for three years and they were not allowed to take their wives or families with them. At the time of Partition, Neena’s father was still in Manila and would only be reunited ...

Maya Chellaram Samtani (maiden name: Mohini Jethanand Belani) was born on 4th July 1936 in Karachi, Sindh, British India. Following Partition, Maya and her family witnessed a lot of violence – events that Maya described as ‘scary’ not just from her perspective as an 11-year-old but for the whole family. These incidents were the catalyst for her family to leave Pakistan.   Today, Maya resides in Singapore and this is her story. Maya (third from left) and her family Maya Samtani was born to Jethanand and Devi Boolchand – one of nine children in a family of five brothers and four sisters. Despite her nuclear family already having 11 members, Maya says they lived as a joint family with her two chachas (paternal uncles) and their families – all in all about 30 people under one roof! Maya's parents, Devi and Jethanand Her father ran a gold and silverware shop in Javeri Bazaar in Karachi. His shop sold things such as bowls, thalis (a kind of circular tray), plates and idols. ...

Geeta Balani (maiden name: Leela Naraindas Chandiramani) was born on 17th December 1937 in Hyderabad, Sindh, British India. Geeta was nine years old when Partition happened – news that her father was privy to, thanks to the nature of his job. When conditions started deteriorating, resulting in an unsafe environment for the family to be in, the family packed up and left for Bangalore, India. Today, Geeta resides in Singapore and this is her story. Geeta (centre) with her daughter and son Geeta Balani was the youngest child of Naraindas and Lachmi Chandiramani. She had two older sisters and a brother. Geeta’s father worked as a Postmaster in the local post office. He was a well-known and respected man in the community. He had a kind, caring and helpful nature. According to Geeta, he “helped everybody”. Her mother was a religious woman who read the Guru Granth daily. Geeta remembers that they lived in a big house in the Qillo area, which was considered a posh locality. Their ne...

Hemandas Punjabi was born in the year 1933 in Karachi, Sindh, British India in a big family of two brothers and seven sisters. Hemandas was 14 years of age when Partition happened and a serious incident spurred his family to leave Pakistan for a safer environment. Today, Hemandas lives in California, the United States of America and this is his story. A recent photo of Hemandas Hemandas Punjabi was born to parents Hiranand and Gomibai Punjabi.  He describes life in Karachi as very happy and pleasant, where his father owned a cloth shop, where he was enrolled in school and had reached the ninth grade, and where the neighbours were friendly. But all that was disrupted when Partition happened. On that fateful day, Hemandas recalls a series of explosions in his neighbourhood. This was enough to spur his family to pack up and vacate their home. While they felt extremely sad to be leaving their lives in Karachi – and their homeland – behind, they knew it was necessary to do so. Hemandas ...

Subash Bijlani was born on 6th September 1942 in Thatta, Sindh, British India to parents Khanchand and Jassie. Following Partition, Subash says his family was fortunate as they were in relative safety up to the time they left, aided by the Muslim community. These days, Subash divides his time between the state of Maryland in the United States of America and Gurgaon, Haryana, India and this is his story. Subash (middle - blue t-shirt) with wife and children and their families Subash Bijlani is one of seven siblings - three brothers and four sisters. His father, Khanchand, was a Sessions Judge in Sukkur and his mother, Jassie, a homemaker. With his father's job as a Judge, the family lived in the designated Judge's residences, which was an independent bungalow on a small hilltop - an environment that undoubtedly is one of the reasons that Subash describes life in Thatta as peaceful. Due to the location of the residence, the family did not have any immediate neighbours but had a n...

Meena Arjandas Daswani (maiden name Vishni Daryanani) was born on 16th July 1935 in Hyderabad, Sindh, British India in a family of 11 sisters and six brothers. Despite having to leave Sindh post-Partition because it was no longer safe, Meena clearly remembers the support her family received from her Muslim neighbours in guiding them to safety. Today, Meena lives in Singapore and this is her story. Meena and her husband, Arjandas Note: Some graphic descriptions ahead, reader discretion is advised Meena Arjandas Daswani was the seventh child in a family of 17 siblings to parents Parpati and Kotumal Daryanani. Before settling down in Sindh, her father worked in a Sindhi firm in Japan and later in Hong Kong, eventually coming to work in Bhaiband Bank in Hyderabad, Sindh. Meena studied two grades in Sindhi in the Nav Vidyala School in Hyderabad. Her eldest paternal uncle, whom they called  Baba ,  was a school principal. So, he took the responsibility to enrol them in school. Meena...

Indur Manghanmal Malkani was born on 10th March 1938 in Sakhar (also known as Sukkur), Sindh, British India, the son of Manghanmal and Bhagwanti Malkani. Following Partition, Indur says the family was fortunate enough to leave early, so he did not witness any violence that others may have. Today, Indur lives in Mumbai, India but remains nostalgic for the homeland that he left behind. Indur, third from left, with his four daughters and one son Indur Manghanmal Malkani was born the eldest child in a family of four brothers and three sisters. Together with his immediate family, they lived in a joint household with his grandmother, two chachas (paternal uncles) and their families, as was the norm in those days. Indur says his family was well-off. His father, in partnership with his two brothers, were in the jewellery business. They owned a jewellery shop called Anandram Morandram Sonaro (‘sonaro’ means goldsmith). The shop was on the ground floor of a three-storey building, while the up...

Pushpa Vashi Ubrani was born Nevhenanda Hardasani on 8th October 1938 in Shahdadpur, Sindh. Because of her father’s status as a wealthy landlord, Pushpa knows that her family’s Partition journey was smoother than most. Yet, life was not a bed of roses – there were ups and downs but Pushpa remained resilient. Today, Pushpa lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with her family. Pushpa in her younger days The youngest in a family of four girls and one boy, Pushpa was fondly known during her childhood as Jasotha. Her father, “Mukhi” Ranghanmal Hardasani was a prominent and well-to-do landlord with vast lands. He was also a leader in the Sindhi community – hence the title Mukhi . Such was their wealth that the family owned several horses – as well as a horse carriage! Pushpa fondly remembers how the carriage was adorned with bells and recalls with a childlike glee the ‘clip clop’ sound of the horses’ shoes. The family lived in a large house and led a happy, comfortable and peaceful life – until...

Sunita Ram Binwani (maiden name Mohini Balani) was born on 2th June 1941 in Hyderabad, Sindh, British India. The youngest child in a family of five siblings, Sunita's family moved to Madras (Chennai), India following Partition. Today, Sunita calls Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia home and this is her story. Sunita and her husband, Ram Sunita recounts living a good and comfortable life in Hyderabad, Sindh pre-Partition. She was used to being surrounded by a big family . Her immediate family – her parents Gopaldas and Sati Balani, together with her three older brothers and one sister, who was the eldest – lived in a large joint family with their grandparents, three  chachas  (uncles),  chachis  (aunts) and cousins. The family always had a smooth and friendly relationship with their neighbours. Sunita studied in a Sindhi all girls’ kindergarten for one year while her brothers and sister studied in an all boys’ and all girls’ school respectively. At the time of Partition, Sunita w...

Tulsa Tolaram Nathwani (maiden name: Tulsi Veroomal Rughwani) was born on 31st August 1938 in Hyderadabad, Sindh, British India. The happy and even luxurious life she led could not prepare her for the destruction and diseases that would follow Partition – no one could have been prepared for it.  Tulsa now lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and this is her story. Born to Parpati and Veroomal Rughwani, Tulsa came from a family of six sisters and two brothers. Tulsa received her education in an English school, where she completed four grades of Sindhi and one grade of English. Her father, Tulsa says, was a wealthy and renowned businessman, who supplied coal for trains. She describes her life as ‘luxurious’ and ‘living like royalty’. The family lived in a large mansion, and whatever Tulsa requested for, she got – right down to specially-commissioned sequined shoes that were made overnight! However, it wasn’t just the material aspects that made life good. Tulsa recalls happy memories of ...

Born in 1931 in Hyderabad, Sindh, British India, Dhanvantibai Thakurdas (maiden name: Kamla) doesn’t recall much details around Partition. However, she does recall with great fondness the life her family had in Sindh before they left for post-partition India. Dhanvantibai currently lives in Singapore and this is her story. Dhanvantibai with her family today Dhanvantibai was around 16-years-old in 1947, the year of Partition.  Prior to Partition, she remembers life in Hyderabad, Sindh to be “very good” and “comfortable”. She came from a family of two brothers and three sisters. Her father owned a shop selling utensils such as those made out of aluminium, copper and steel while her youngest brother owned a bakery. Photo of Dhanvantibai and her extended family She recalls being “very happy” and having lots of fun and outings with her parents and siblings. She was enrolled in school where she studied right up till the 7 th grade. The family lived in a community where neighbours fr...

Ishwari Hassaram Idnani (married name: Maya Lekhraj Nebhani) was born on 29th   April 1933 in Hyderabad, Sindh, British India. Her family’s journey that she describes out of post-partition Pakistan was a long one, and yet she remains grateful for everything she has today. Today, Ishwari calls Bombay (Mumbai), India home and this is her story. Ishwari and her husband Ishwari’s memories of Hyderabad, Sindh are sweet. When telling her story, she paints a picture of a loving, caring and close-knit community in Hyderabad. Ishwari completed six grades of Sindhi in Tikam Das Nanikram Girls School, and three grades in English. “We used to walk home from school with friends – there was no auto, cars or buses. Everyone walked everywhere all the time,” said Ishwari, recounting similar experiences to others who have shared their story here (see Bhagwan Sadhwani’s story). “Even when we were going to visit relatives, we would just walk over to their houses.” “We would do this often, visiting rel...