Sindhi nationalism (Sindhi:سنڌي قومپرستي) is an ideology that claims that theSindhis, an ethnolinguistic group native to thePakistani province ofSindh, form a separate nation. AfterBangladeshbecame independent in 1971,G.M. Syed gave a new direction to nationalism and founded theJeay Sindh Mahaz in 1972 and presented the idea ofSindhudesh; a separate homeland forSindhis.[1] G.M. Syed is considered as the founder of modern Sindhi nationalism.[2] However, Sindhi nationalists stand divided upon the idea of a separate country or autonomy within Pakistan, ultimately resulting in the weakening of Sindhi nationalism. Sindhu Desh ji Dharti Todhe (To you, O land of Sindhu desh) is the Anthem of Sindhi nationalists.[3]
According to a 2009 report by thePew Research Center, 55% of Sindhis in Pakistan identified themselves primarily as Pakistani, 28% identified first as Sindhi, and 16% viewed both identities equally.[4]
The Sindhi nationalist movement's demands ranged from greatercultural,economic andpolitical rights, to politicalautonomy, and to outright secession fromPakistan and the creation of an independent state referred to asSindhudesh. It was founded byG. M. Syed in 1972 to separateSindh fromPakistan.[1] Sindhi separatists believe that the Sindhi people suffer from disenfranchisement at the hands of Pakistan'sPunjabi majority.[5] In 1972 G.M Syed, The considered founder of Sindhi nationalism formed an organizationJeay Sindh Mahaz. Later JSM divided into many factions. Majorly two of these various political counterparts of Sindhi nationalism areJSQM andJSMM which believe in the political struggle[1][6]
Sindhu Desh ji Dharti Todhe (To you, O land of Sindhu desh) a song written by Sindhi poet Sheikh Ayaz is used as the Anthem by both Sindhi nationalists and Sindhi separatists.
Sindhi nationalistsSindhudesh Liberation Army is a militant organization of Sindhi nationalist parties inSindh. The Sindhudesh Liberation Army became publicly known during the 2010, after it claimed bomb blast on railway tracks nearHyderabad, Pakistan. In October 2012, Sindhudesh Liberation Army was designated as terrorist organisation by the Government of Pakistan.
InSindh province many nationalist parties other than these separatist nationalist parties have been demanding for the rights ofSindhi people according to the 1940Lahore resolution within the framework ofPakistan, it was demanded that Sindhis be given a separate state.[7][8] Major parties those advocate this rhetoric areAwami Tehreek led byRasool Bux Palijo; formerly worked withG.M. Syed but parted his ways after the Syed's call for a separate homeland for Sindhis.Sindh United Party led byG.M. Syed's grandsonSyed Jalal Mehmood Shah andSindh Taraqi Pasand Party led byQadir Magsi.[1]
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