What if Ghotki-Kandhkot Bridge is named as “Sufi Saint Bhagat Kanwar Ram Bridge”?
- Naming a bridge after Bhagat Kanwar Ram would not merely be a tribute to one man. It would be a statement, a declaration that Sindh still believes in religious harmony.
- Bhagat Kanwar Ram sang of unity in an age of uncertainty. He paid the ultimate price for standing as a symbol of harmony. The least we can do is ensure that his name is not lost to time.
By Abdullah Usman Morai | Sweden
My first introduction to Shaheed Bhagat Kanwar Ram did not happen in a classroom, nor through a formal history book. It came quietly, almost accidentally, through a calendar hanging on the plastered wall of our otaq (guest house) in Moro town of Sindh.
In those days, our otaq was more than just a guest room. It was a place of stories, discussions, tea gatherings, and borrowed wisdom. Chacha Mahboob Ali Shah Kazmi would often stay there; he had the key. Most of the time, he lived in Sann town at the otaq of G. M. Syed, a towering political and intellectual figure of Sindh. Whenever Chacha Mahboob Ali came to us, he did not come empty-handed. Along with his warm presence, he brought books. Books that carried the fragrance of history, politics, poetry, and spirituality.
We were very young then, brothers and cousins running around barefoot, unaware of the deeper currents shaping our land. One day, Chacha brought a calendar. I do not remember the year. I only remember the image printed on it: a serene, dignified man with a peaceful face and luminous eyes. The name beneath the portrait read: Bhagat Kanwar Ram.
Curious, I asked, “Chacha, who is he?”
Chacha paused, looked at the image, and then at us. What followed was not just an answer; it was a story of devotion, humanity, and tragedy.
The Saint of Harmony
Bhagat Kanwar Ram was not merely a singer; he was a Sufi saint of Sindh. Born in the early twentieth century in a Hindu family in Sindh, he rose to become one of the most beloved voices of Sufi poetry in the region. He sang the verses of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Sachal Sarmast, and other mystic poets whose message transcended religion and caste.
In his voice, the poetry of love and unity found a home. He sang at dargahs and public gatherings, where Muslims and Hindus sat together without distinction. His art was not entertainment; it was spiritual nourishment.
But history is not always kind to its gentle souls.
Pre-partition, when communal tensions were at their peak and fear overshadowed trust, Bhagat Kanwar Ram became a target. Despite being a symbol of harmony, he was brutally murdered by extremists who could not tolerate the very unity he represented.
As Chacha Mahboob Ali Shah narrated the story of his death, I remember feeling a deep sadness. I was too young to understand politics, but I could understand injustice. I looked again at the calm face on the calendar and wondered how someone who sang of love could meet such a violent end.
That calendar remained on our wall long after the year had passed. Even when its dates were outdated, no one removed it. It was no longer a calendar; it was a memory, a silent lesson in coexistence.
Disappearing Saints, Fading Values
As I grew older, I often reflected on that image. Where are such people today? Where are the voices that sing for unity rather than division?
Sindh has always been known for its Sufi ethos, a land where the shrines of saints echo with the message of tolerance. From Bhittai to Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, from Sachal to Sami, the spiritual landscape of Sindh has been inclusive. Bhagat Kanwar Ram was part of that same tradition. He embodied the Sindhi spirit where identity was rooted not in exclusion, but in shared humanity.
Yet, in today’s fast-paced and polarized world, such figures seem to be fading from public memory. Their names survive in scattered books and aging photographs, but not in our everyday conversations or public spaces.
History is not only preserved in archives; it is preserved in what we choose to honor.
A Bridge between Ghotki and Kandhkot
These days, several bridges are under construction in Sindh. Bridges are more than infrastructure; they are symbols. They connect divided lands, shorten distances, and make journeys possible.
There is a bridge between Ghotki and Kandhkot that is being constructed. What if one of these bridges were named “Sufi Saint Bhagat Kanwar Ram Bridge”?
Imagine travelers crossing it and reading his name. Some may ask, just as I once did, “Who was he?” And someone will narrate his story. In that simple act of naming, history would breathe again.
Naming a bridge after Bhagat Kanwar Ram would not merely be a tribute to one man. It would be a statement, a declaration that Sindh still believes in religious harmony. It would affirm that our collective memory includes both Muslim and Hindu saints who shaped our cultural soul.
In a time when divisions often make headlines, such a gesture could quietly restore balance. It would remind us that Sindh’s strength lies in its pluralism.
Keeping the Calendar Alive
I sometimes think about that old calendar in our otaq in Moro. It taught me that memory is powerful. A single image sparked a lifelong awareness of a forgotten saint.
If a faded calendar on a wall could keep his memory alive for years, imagine what a bridge bearing his name could do for generations.
Bhagat Kanwar Ram sang of unity in an age of uncertainty. He paid the ultimate price for standing as a symbol of harmony. The least we can do is ensure that his name is not lost to time.
Bridges connect places. But some bridges can also connect hearts.
Read: A Friendship beyond the Borders
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Abdullah Soomro, penname Abdullah Usman Morai, hailing from Moro town of Sindh, province of Pakistan, is based in Stockholm Sweden. Currently he is working as Groundwater Engineer in Stockholm Sweden. He did BE (Agriculture) from Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam and MSc water systems technology from KTH Stockholm Sweden as well as MSc Management from Stockholm University. Beside this he also did masters in journalism and economics from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Mirs, Sindh. He is author of a travelogue book named ‘Musafatoon’. His second book is in process. He writes articles from time to time. A frequent traveler, he also does podcast on YouTube with channel name: VASJE Podcast.
