A Nation Moving Beyond Its Comfort Zone Toward the Global Horizon
- When we turn the pages of history, we discover that Sindhis have never been confined solely to comfort-zone living. Historically, this assumption proves inaccurate.
Abdullah Usman Morai | Sweden
Sindhis are often described as people who prefer not to step outside their homes and comfortable lives means their “comfort zones.” To some extent, this perception seems true because Sindhi society has historically maintained deep attachments to its land, villages, families, and traditions. Many families once had enough to meet their daily needs with ease. In Sindhi, this is described as a “Mani Machhi Wari Zindagi”, which means a household where bread and fish are available, meaning basic sustenance is assured. In other words, if peace, stability, and food are present at home, why venture abroad?
But when we turn the pages of history, we discover that Sindhis have never been confined solely to comfort-zone living. Historically, this assumption proves inaccurate.
Shah Latif and Maritime Journeys
Three to four hundred years ago, Sindh’s great Sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, in his masterpiece Shah Jo Risalo, particularly in Sur Samundi, mentioned Sindhis who traveled to distant lands for trade. Latif paid poetic tribute to Sindhi seafarers, traders, sailors, and travelers, honoring their struggles, hopes, and sacrifices. Through his verses, he immortalized those who journeyed far and wide for livelihood and commerce.
This stands as clear evidence that Sindhis were well acquainted with overseas travel for trade and employment. While many of these traders may have been Hindu Sindhis, overall, the land of Sindh produced people who crossed seas and built connections with the world. In other words, entrepreneurial spirit and global awareness have long existed throughout Sindh.
Attachment to Home: Compulsion or Choice?
Many Sindhis hesitated to leave home because their basic needs were already fulfilled in their villages and towns. Going abroad meant staying away from family for long periods, an emotionally difficult decision in Sindhi society. Consequently, many Sindhis traveled to big cities only temporarily, for business, trade, or visits, and returned to their hometowns after a short while.
Changing Times and Forces of Transformation
Over time, circumstances changed. Economic activity declined in rural areas, affecting Sindh’s countryside. Water shortages, deteriorating law and order, population growth, expanding families, division of ancestral lands, and the desire for higher education became driving forces that compelled Sindhis to seek new paths and new horizons.
At the same time, ridicule and taunts from other communities within Pakistan, such as claims that “Sindhis never leave their homes,” became a challenge for Sindhi youth, motivating them to prove themselves nationally and internationally.
Today’s Sindhi Across the Globe
The thirst for higher education and passion for research are pushing Sindhis forward. Today’s Sindhi is different. Young Sindhi men and women can now be found in every corner of the world. Thousands of Sindhi students are pursuing higher education in Europe, many of whom have secured jobs and become part of their host societies.
Within Pakistan, Sindhis have migrated to major cities, especially Karachi and Islamabad, where their visible presence demonstrates that they are no longer confined to their hometowns.
Nowadays, Sindhis can be seen working in business, jobs, and services in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, and Muscat. In various cities across the UK, they are active in healthcare, finance, IT, and business. In the United States and Canada, they are engaged in technology, medicine, engineering, and research. In Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Indonesia, they continue their traditional trading legacies.
Interestingly, Sindhi communities also exist in Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Rwanda, and even Latin American countries such as Chile, where they are involved in business. In countries like China, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and Italy, Sindhi students are pursuing higher education and playing meaningful roles in local societies. Sindhi footprints have even reached and settled on distant islands across the world.
The Legal Path of Dignity and Respect
One encouraging and important reality is that most Sindhis prefer legal and dignified pathways abroad, like student visas, work visas, business visas, and lawful immigration channels. Illegal migration (“dunki”) or dangerous routes are not common among Sindhis and are not encouraged.
Choosing legal routes is not only a matter of personal dignity but also enhances the reputation of the entire community. When even one individual adopts illegal methods, blame often falls upon the whole nation. Therefore, today’s Sindhi youth, by choosing clean and lawful paths, are paving the way for future generations who aspire to become part of the global community.
In essence, sometimes, nations need criticism, hardship, and crises to move forward. Law-and-order challenges, economic pressure, and the pursuit of knowledge have all driven Sindhis toward new horizons.
From Shah Latif’s maritime travelers to today’s Sindhi students in European universities, this is a continuous journey of travel, learning, and identity. Today’s Sindhis remain deeply connected to their homeland while also being linked to the wider world.
Sindhis are no longer limited to being content with merely “bread and fish.” They are moving forward in search of knowledge, dignity, global citizenship, and a meaningful future. With determination, education, and hard work, they have set out to spread in the world for a better future and life, and perhaps this, after all, is the true beauty of any nation.
Read: From the Fields to Footprints
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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.
