Literature

Hyderabad LitFest Focuses on Sindhi language and literature

February 4, 2025

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For the first time ever in the history of the LitFest Scenario of Indian literature, the Sindhi language, literature and culture were represented with a strong sense of pride

Hindvasi Report

Hyderabad, India

The Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF- Hyderabad LitFest 2025) held in the Knowledge City of Hyderabad from January 24 to 26, did something historic in its 15^th edition. It included Sindhi language and focused entirely on it. What followed during the three festival days was inspiring for the often neglected Sindhi language.

On 24th January was an enlightening panel discussion: Fragmented Selves: Sindhi Language, Literature, and History. The well-known writers Nandita Bhavani and Rita Kothari, were talking to Moderator Soni Wadhwa, on the Sindhi Language. Nandita Bhavnani was brilliant in presenting her views. Rita Kothari was as good as Nandita. Soni Wadhwa probed deeper to give the huge gathering at the HLF an insight into the Fragmented Selves, Sindhi Language, Literature and History.

Hyderabad LitFest organized Multilingual Poetry Readings in English, Hindi and Sindhi. Aditya Tiwari, Afshan D’Souza-lodhi, Jitendra Vasava were really good at reading their poems. Susheel Gajwani presented three classic Sindhi poems by three Sindhi poets of great stature. Nand Javeri’s Pala Pala jo Pandhi, Mohan Gehani’s short poems and Paru Thakur Chawla’s Pyaar Khiski vayo hathan maan.

The HLF-loving audience were thrilled to hear the Sindhi language poetry. It was a new experience for the people attending this session. The Sindhi sessions were like a crescendo. The graph rising higher and higher. So when Dr. Subhadra Anand and Saaz Aggarwal, the ever so loved English writers, researchers and lovers of the Sindhi language, spoke at length about Sindhi identity and Culture, the people were amazed by what they learnt about the Sindhi identity and culture. Moderator Aparna Rayaprol was aware of the brilliance of the work done by Dr. Subhadra Anand and Saaz Aggarwal and made the conversation a revelation for the audience. It had the audience wondering why the Sindhi language was being given an unfair treatment.

26th January afternoon was invigorating at this delightful festival. The Hyderabad LitFest 2025 had two important book launches. Menka Shivdasani, Barkha Khushalani and Susheel Gajwani read a beautiful folktale-The Flute and the Tree, the Umar Marui tale from Menka Shivdasani’s The Seven Queens, an original English Anthology written by the highly respected English Poet Menka Shivdasani, beautifully translated by Barkha Khushalani.The Seven Queens was launched in the presence of Dr. Subhadra Anand, Anju Makhija and HLF attendees.

Also launched was Mohan Gehani and Menka Shivdasani’s Anthology on Sachal Sarmast, Love is the Only Finality.

Then, HLF 2025, with Saaz Aggarwal, Barkha Khushalani launched Susheel Gajwani’s English book, SUNRISE over VALIVADE, in the presence of Menka Shivdasani, Anju Makhija, Dr. Subhadra Anand, Sushil Anand and the wonderful HLF program Host. Saaz Aggarwal, Barkha Khushalani and Susheel Gajwani read a chapter from SUNRISE over VALIVADE.

The lovers of good literature were truly enthralled to hear the Sindhi Poetry and Folktales as well as the fresh cultural perspective on the rich language, presented by the Sindhi writers, poets and researchers.

The icing on the delicious HLF 2025 cake was the screening of the highly acclaimed Sindhi feature film, AakhreenTrain -The Last Train, produced by Shobha Lalchandani, Anil Chawla, Barkha Khushalani, and Goldie Gajwani and directed by Susheel Gajwani. Watching AakhreenTrain -The Last Train overwhelmed a lot of people. It was the first Sindhi film the people had seen. The love story, against the ghastly backdrop of the Partition, touched the non-Sindhi audience to the core. Hyderabad’s The Pinnacle, T-Hub theatre, in the Knowledge City, was a full house packed with a discerning audience. AakhreenTrain -The Last Train was screened here by HLF 2025, Moving Images Talkies. Sanghamitra Malik hosted an animated interaction with the director Susheel Gajwani after the screening. The screening was on Saturday, 25-1-25. Sanghamitra Malik called Aakhreen Train-The Last Train an important film on Partition depicting the Sindhi anguish and trauma so effectively.

Hyderabad LitFest must be congratulated on creating history by including Sindhi language and literature in the festival. For the first time ever in the history of the LitFest Scenario of Indian literature, the Sindhi language, literature and culture were represented with a strong sense of pride by Dr. Subhadra Anand, Menka Shivdasani, Saaz Aggarwal, Nandita Bhavnani , Rita Kothari, Soni Wadhwa, Anju Makhija, Barkha Khushalani and Susheel Gajwani. Congratulations, Dr. Vijay Kumar, Dr. Kinnera Murthy, Dr. Usha Raman and the entire HLF Team.