Stories of Sindh

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...

Jasoti Heman Dadlani was born in Hyderabad, Sindh, British India in 1931, the daughter of Choithram and Gopi Daswani. For most teenagers, the year they turn 16 is forever imprinted in their minds – “sweet sixteen” – with fond memories. For Jasoti, the year she turned 16 will stay with her forever too – but for a vastly different reason. It was the year of the 1947 partition, and the year she left everything behind in her homeland to move to a different place. Jasoti currently lives in Chennai, India and this is her story. Jasoti Dadlani in the year 2021 Jasoti remembers her house in Hyderabad very vividly. “My house was one amongst eight identical bungalows or “row houses” that are connected to each other,” she says. “They were all occupied by eight brothers of the Daswani clan, my father being one of them. The street was famous for these eight houses correctly named “Aatah Ghara” – Eight Houses of the Daswanis! We were a family of three siblings and numerous cousins, and we were all v...