Lord Jhulelal: An Analytical Study
by Thakkar Harish Gopalji | 2018 | 62,623 words
This thesis studies Lord Jhulelal, the most important deity revered by Sindhis in India and beyond. Traditional views hold Lord Jhulelal as an incarnation of Vedic Deity Varuna (the river God). Historically, Jhulelal is a binding force for the Sindhi community who had to leave Sindh during the partition of India in order to settle at distant places...
Part 5.6 - The Sindh Story
Author K. R. Malkani is a well-known writer, a journalist and historian. His book ‘The Sindh Story’ is considered to be one of the popular books on History. It gives an authentic account of various events which took place during partition and independence of India in the year 1947.
This book stands out amongst many which are related to Sindh. It is divided into twenty-three chapters and covers many different topics in one book which is commendable. The author has covered a vast array of topics on a huge canvas of time, related to this province, starting with river Sindhu, Mohenjo-daro, the invasion of Alexander and extends up to the rule of King Dahir of Sindh. There are pictures from Mohenjo-daro and its civil structures. He is highly learned and has been educated in various places starting from Hyderabad in Sindh, then Mumbai and Pune. He has worked in different capacities such as sub-editor and an editor for prestigious newspapers and periodicals. He has been a Harvard fellow during 1961-62, a member of parliament and a delegate in Indian peace contingent to China. At the apex of his career, he was appointed the Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry. His vast experience in varied fields has enriched this book.
The subsequent chapters deal with important events in the history of India mainly concerning Sindh. He has taken cognizance of the freedom movement in Sindh in a separate chapter and the situation prevailing at the time of the partition. He has thrown light on the suffering of the Sindhi population during the partition period and the great hardships they had to undergo during their journey to the Indian side and their plight.
A chapter has been dedicated to Sindhi society and culture which helps the reader to understand the mindset of the Sindhi community right from the early period of the invasion of Sindh. Further, he talks about the Sindhi revival as well after their settlement in India.
An independent chapter with the name ‘Jhooley Lal’ has been included in this book. He says there are two figures which are dearest to the hearts of Sindhi people, one has been mentioned as ‘Jhoolay Lal’ and the other as ‘Lal Shahabaaz Qalandar’. Both these names appear in the famous song ‘Ho Lal Meri Pat Rakhiyo’[1] described elsewhere in this thesis.
Lord Jhoolay Lal is known by many names such as Udero Lal, Lal Sain and Amar Lal and is revered by the Sindhi community. The author says that he was the saviour of the Sindhi community in the tenth century when they faced persecution at the hands of Mirkha Shah, a fanatical ruler of Thatta region in Sindh. The Sindhi community went to the banks of Sindhu and prayed to Lord Varuna to send a saviour and protect them. In answer to their prayers, a child was born to Rattan Rao Luhana and his wife Mata Devaki in the town of Nasarpur. This miraculous child saved the Sindhi community by performing a number of miracles. He emerged as a warrior from the Sindhu river and convinced the ruler to treat all his subjects with equality. The silver swing or Jhoola or Peengho in which he was seen as a child is responsible for his name. He is also seen in a flowing white beard seated on a fish. The author specifically states that he was a great youth leader who was a saviour of the Sindhi community before a thousand years. Even today, temples are built in his honour and to describe his glory a particular five-line poetry which is known as panjaras is sung. The author K. R. Malkani has described the essence of the legend of Lord Jhulelal in this book. A black and white picture of Lord Jhulelal has been included in this book proving the importance of this deity in the life of the Sindhi community.
People interested in studying about Sindh, Sindhi people and their culture would definitely find this book an important tool which covers a wide panorama with the perspective of a learned scholar who has been a witness to the journey of Sindhi people from Sindh to independent India. It describes their suffering and their woes and their subsequent revival from ashes to prosperity. The book provides a lot of information to students and researchers alike.