Speaking in favour of Sindhi language in Indian parliament in 1967, Atal Bihari Vajpayee said: “I speak Hindi but Sindhi is my ‘Mausi’ (Mother’s sister) and I have the same respect for Sindhi as I have for Hindi.”
[Editor’s Note: A speech of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which he delivered in Indian parliament in 1967 in favour of Sindhi language, has been circulated on WhatsApp groups by Indian Sindhi community. The same has been shared with Sindh Courier by Mr. Nari Lachhwani, an eminent poet, singer and artist, based in Bairagarh, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, with a satirical note: “Atal Bihari said ‘Sindhi is his Mausi’, and the Sindhi community also accepted Sindhi language as their ‘Mausi’ (Mother’s sister), forgetting the fact that it is not their Mausi, but the Mother. They all became Atal Bihari.” His satirical words refer to the decline of Sindhi language in India due to the indifferent attitude of community towards their mother language”. Sindh Courier reproduces here the satirical note and the speech of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee}
Mr. Nari Lachhwani’s Satirical Note
अटल बिहारीअ चयो __ सिंधी मुंहिंजी मासी आहे त सिंधियुनि बि मञी वरितो सिंधी संदनि मासी आहे । ग़फ़्लत में माउ खे माउ मञणु ई भुलिजी विया । सभु सिंधी अटल बिहारी बणिजी पिया
اٽل بھاريءٰ چيو :سنڌي منھنجي ماسي آھي تـ سنڌين بہ مڃي ورتو سنڌي سندن ماسي آھي . غفلت ۾ ماءُ کي ماءُ مڃڻ ئي ڀلجي ويا۽ سڀ سنڌي اٽل بھاري بڻجي ويا
A note by Sindhi community
On the 7th of April 1967, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (Who later became the Prime Minister of India), delivered a powerful speech advocating the inclusion of Sindhi language in the 21st Schedule of the Indian Constitution stating that it should be the language of the Nation. It was due to his immense efforts that the Sindhi language was recognized and accorded its rightful place in the Schedule. The Sindhis will never forget this and will forever remain indebted to him with unabated affection, gratitude and respect.
(The speech was first published by ‘Sindhi Shaan’, a quarterly magazine, in its April-June 2004 issue)
Shri Atalji’s speech in the Lok Sabha
Respected Chairman,
I rise to welcome and propose the passage of this bill. Although belatedly, we are rectifying the injustice done to the Sindhi language. Sindhi is one of our National languages, and as such the preservation and growth of the Sindhi language is part of the cultural advancement of our country. Why Sindhi was denied its rightful place in the Schedule for the last 20 years? My demand to include
Sindhi in the VIII Schedule of Indian Constitution through a non-governmental bill was turned down in 1957 when I was elected to the Parliament for the first time. On several other occasions too I had raised this demand but probably at that time Lady Luck was not favoring the Sindhi language. But I am happy that today the stars are favorable.
I must state that just according Sindhi its rightful place is not enough – that was long due and is now being implemented. Sindhis do not have a state of their own and as such Sindhi will not be the regional language of any one state or province. And from this point of view, Sindhi is non-regional and it is essential that it receives national protection.
And when Sindhi is not the State language of any state, we have to make Sindhi a national language and treat it as a language of the whole country.
Shri Surendranath Dwivedi (on behalf of center) said that Sindhi should be made the link language; and Shri Vajpayee agreed that this concept should be diligently pursued.
“The spread and progress of Sindhi literature, appropriate share of advertisements in Sindhi newspapers, facilities and assistance to writers and litterateurs are issues that the Central Government will have to seriously address. Adequate justice has to be done to the Sindhi language in states with substantial Sindhi population. In the education sector too, Sindhi should be accorded its rightful place and Sindhi students too, where eligible should be given their rightful place. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting should be asked to take advantage of the Sindhi language to enable our voice to be heard not only within our own country but also across our border.
Today the desire of the Sindhi population is being fulfilled. This is a moment of great joy and happiness for Sindhis and also for me. I rejoice in this achievement. I speak in Hindi but Sindhi is my ‘Mausi’ (Mother’s sister) and I have the same respect for Sindhi as I have for Hindi. All the languages of this country are sisters and I pray that they all prosper. And it is from this point of view that this bill deserves a warm welcome and smooth passage.
My congratulations to the honorable minister. Perhaps this memorable work was destined to be carried out by his auspicious hands and was hence held up for so long.
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Read: The documental ancientness of Sindhi Language
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