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Sindhis demand state for community in India

DUBAI — The Sindhi community in Dubai renewed its call for a separate state for its people in India.

At the 10^th convention of the Sindhi Council of India (SCI) which began yesterday, entrepreneurs from the community in India and the UAE met for the first time in Dubai to discuss the need for a new state for them to protect their age-old traditions and customs.

Dubai-based entrepreneur and president of the NRI region of the SCI Dr Ram Buxani told Khaleej Times, “We do not have our own state in India. To protect our culture, language and traditions, we need our own space. Protecting the heritage of the Sindhis is equivalent to protecting India.”

Acknowledging the impact of globalisation on the community, he called upon its younger generation to uphold and preserve the values, tradition and the language of the community. “It is important that our tradition, culture and language are protected for posterity. Sindhi children will have a crucial role in perpetuating the success of the community.”

He recalled Dubai’s decision to make it a free port in the 19^th century and said traders including those from the community were attracted to the emirate because of the facilities it offered. “We (Sindhis) had a temple built here 100 years back on the land given by the then ruler of Dubai free of cost,” he noted.

Ambassador of India to the UAE Talmiz Ahmed said though the community did not have its own state, they had made their presence felt in the whole world through their achievements and their progress.

The convention saw chairman of the Indian High School, Dubai, Nari Savlani talk with pride about the achievements of Sindhis across the globe.

About 150 Sindhis had come from India for the two-day convention, which ends today.