Gujaratis have not limited their contribution to social, religious or trade activities. Their stature in the political arena is no less
[Editor’s Note: This is Part 27 (Gujaratis of Karachi – Part – 4) of a series of articles based on a pre-partition book named “મારી સિંધ યાત્રા” (“منهنجي سنڌ جو سفر”) in Gujarati authored by a scholarly Jain sadhu Shri Vidyavijayji, narrating his experiences of Journey and his Stay in Karachi for about 2 and a half years between 1937 and 1939. It would be advisable to click on the Introductory Article and read it to better understand the series. – Nasir Aijaz, Editor Sindh Courier]
Vimal Shah, Mumbai
Gujarati News Papers
Newspapers like ‘Sindh Sevak’ and ‘Sindh Samachar’ publishing twice daily, a twenty-five-year-old daily like ‘Hitechchhu’, a daily like ‘Hindu Samaj’, Weekly newspapers like ‘Aman Chaman’ and ‘Jwala’ – the Gujaratis of Karachi manage all these newspapers, and they are the transparent machinery of the pride of Gujaratis. And the most recent English daily named ‘Daily Mirror’ is also a creation of Gujarati brains. Any College Magazine without having a Gujarati Section would be as good as the wealth of a poor man.
[Note by Vimal Shah: ‘Sindh Sevak’ was established by a renowned Gujarati of Karachi, Shri Manubhai Dungarshi Joshi (1906-1996). The following sections regarding ‘Vatan’, ‘Millat’ and ‘Times Gujarati’ newspapers are based on my own research with the help extended by Mr. Nasir Aijaz, Editor, sindhcourier.com and not from the book on which this series of articles is based.]
Gujarati Newspapers in 2023
I visited Karachi in June 2023 when I learnt that there are only two Gujarati daily newspapers ‘Vatan’ and ‘Millat’ being published in Karachi these days. I could buy a copy of only ‘Millat’, but I could click a photograph of the ‘Vatan’ signboard while passing by their office. After Gujarati stopped being part of the school curriculum, from a compulsory subject in 1992 to optional to simply just not there, there had to be a drop in the readership as the current generation doesn’t read Gujarati. Ismailis, Parsis or Zoroastrians, Memon, etc, speak Gujarati but they don’t write Gujarati. They write in ‘Dawati’, which is writing Gujarati using the Arabic or Urdu script. Therefore, the Gujarati script is dying in Karachi. The publishers of these two dailies are also struggling for viewership but they are keeping them alive out of their passion for preserving the language.
Vatan’ – a Gujarati Daily
The Dawn Group of Newspapers established by Mohammed Ali Jinnah in 1942 used to publish ‘Dawn Gujarati’ as well as ‘Vatan’. Later they stopped ‘Dawn Gujarati’ and ‘Vatan’ was acquired by one of their employees Usman Arab Saati, who is the present group editor of ‘Vatan’. They publish 4 pages daily and 16 pages on Sundays.
‘Millat’ – a Gujarati Daily
‘Millat’ is an independent Gujarati newspaper founded by Fakhre Matri in 1948.
After he passed away it was published by his son Inquilab Matri and now after he too has passed away, his daughter Shumaila Matri Dawood is keeping it alive.
During my visit to Karachi, I noticed this signboard of a Gujarati daily ‘Times Gujarati’ in very poor condition manifesting the existence of that newspaper in the past.
The ‘All Kathiyawad Mansoori General Jamat’ conducts classes for learning Gujarati Language in Ranchore Line and couple of other locations in Karachi.
Activities of the Muslims
All the above are the wealth of the Hindus. Apart from having many affluent people, and many thinkers, Muslim Gujarati communities like Bohra and Khoja too manage many Institutions. There are many orthodox Muslim reformers, literates, and volunteers like Bhai Hatim Alvi. When they roar in public discourses, municipalities, etc., Gujaratis cannot refrain from taking pride in these ‘Noor-e-Gujarat’.
[Note by Vimal Shah: Mr. Hatim Alvi was a Mayor of Karachi from 6th May 1938 to 5th May 1939 and a road in Karachi is named after him.]
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Activities of the Parsi
Apart from these, is the contribution of a very small but popular for their wealth and generosity, the Parsi community in the development of Karachi any less? An ideal person like the Headgear of the entire Gujarati community in Karachi, Bhai Jamshed Mehta belongs to the same community. ‘Parsi Virbaiji High School’, ‘Mama Girls High School’, and many other educational institutes are Gems of the community. “Parsi Political Sabha’, ‘Young Men Zoroastrian Association’ and many other such leading organizations participating in public interest activities also belong to the community. Apart from these, astute authors, scholars, historians, and gentlemen generously mingling with people from all the faiths like Dr. Dhala, Bhai Nariman Golwala, Bhai Peshton Vaniya, Bhai Rustom Dasturji, and P. Dastur are adorning their community as well as Karachi. And despite being Parsi, a bi-weekly named ‘Parsi Sansar’ with wide circulation is serving all the communities who also take pride in identifying themselves as Gujarati.
Likewise, if you examine further, Bhatia, Lohana, Jain, and other communities, there are social and religious organizations managed by all of them, whose mention here is almost impossible.
Prabhu Tatva Prachar Mandal
Yes, you can’t forget the contribution of ‘Prabhu Tatva Pracharak Mandal’ (Congregation promoting the God element) under the leadership of Shri Jamiat Aacharya and Bhai Nariman Golwala, who have sacrificed their entire life promoting unity and affection among all the communities taking pride in identifying themselves as Gujarati. This Mandal very generously does everything possible for promoting affection among all the communities, irrespective of their faith and bring them closer.
Generosity of Gujaratis
The stature of Gujaratis is not limited to their community. Today if there are any calamities like earthquakes, famine, floods, or incidents of firing – or whether satyagraha (passive resistance) or migration in any corner of India, Gujaratis hold their heads high by generously donating and helping in all respects. If the contribution of Gujaratis is eliminated from any donations collected in Karachi, there won’t be much left in the remaining collections.
Political Activities
Gujaratis have not limited their contribution to social, religious or trade activities. Their stature in the political arena is no less. The Sindh Assembly would look dull without the roars of Bhai Jamshed Mehta, Bhai Sidhwa, Dr. Popatlal, and Shri Narayandas. There are 20 Gujarati members out of total 56 in the Karachi Municipality. Very old Hindu corporators of the Karachi Municipality like Bhai Hiralal Ganatra, Jyeshtaram Bhai, and Khimchand Shah; and erstwhile Mayor Bhai Hatim Alvi and the current year Mayor Shri Sidhwa are the gems of the great Gujarati community are adoring the Municipality. Looking at the activities of Congress, a lean and thin person like Dr. Purushottamdas Tripathi, the person holding a position like secretary of the Congress Committee is also a Gujarati. Not only that, aren’t the President of the Congress Committee, Bhai Sidhwa and Treasurer Sheth Haridas Lalji Gujaratis too?
The Gujarat Nagar
The ‘Gujarat Nagar’ of Hindu Gujaratis is also a matter of pride of Gujaratis. This Gujarat Nagar has been inhibited at the same place where the Congress session was held. Gujaratis have preserved the memories by constructing a stupa at the home of Mahatma Gandhi. The President of this society Sheth Hemraj Bhai, Sheth Jasraj Bhai, and a few other dignitaries grace the Gujarat Nagar. The Gujarat Nagar looks very delightful with the Shiv Mandir, Lecture Hall, Tennis Court, Schools, etc.
Thus, there’s a significant contribution of Gujarati men and women in all the activities in Sindh, in particular Karachi, and in the words of the great poet Kavi Nanalal:
ગુજરાતીઓએ મહાગુજરાત ને વસાવ્યું ગુજરાતણોએ મહાગુજરાત ને શણગાર્યું છે.
Gujarati men settled Mahagujarat and Gujarati women decorated Mahagujarat.
(Continues)
Click here for Part-I, Part-II, Part-III, Part-IV, Part-V , Part-VI , Part-VII , Part-VIII , Part-IX, Part-X, Part-XI, Part-XII, Part-XIII , Part-XIV, Part-XV, Part-XVI , Part-XVII, Part-XVIII , Part-XIX, Part-XX, Part-XXI, Part-XXII , Part-XXIII , Part-XXIV, Part-XXV , Part-XXVI
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About the contributor of the series of Articles based on the book
Vimal Shah is a follower of Jainism by birth and is based in Mumbai, India. He is a Computer Engineer and holds a Diploma in Jainology from Mumbai University. He has an immense interest in reading, writing, studying, and teaching Jain Philosophical subjects. He conducts classroom as well as online sessions on Jain Philosophical courses. He continues to study various subjects and remains a student of Jain Philosophy. He has significantly contributed to the Translation Project of the ‘Compendium of Jainism’ from English to Gujarati – an initiative of the JAINA India Foundation. He is also associated with a Project for the translation of Jain Aagams (Scriptures) from Gujarati to English. He has a special interest in the history and preservation of the Jain Heritage in Pakistan. He was part of a Delegation of the Jain Heritage Foundation, New Delhi that visited various Jain Heritage Sites in Pakistan in May-2023.
