A language which is spoken by the majority in a particular state, with a change of geographical locations becomes the language of minority. Say, for the Sindhi people who have migrated to Tamil Nadu, Tamil language has become a major part of their lives. In this fast and highly globalised world, Sindhi culture is shrinking; but the Indian Institute of Sindhology(IIS), established in 1989 in Gandhidham, has been working to preserve the Sindhi language and culture.
“We see many Sindhis are not comfortable in speaking their mother tongue, due to various reasons. The young today want to speak only English, because they were actually never thought to speak in Sindhi. No school or institute teaches Sindhi and perhaps it is with the motto to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Sindhi Community and ensure its continuity by disseminating it among the younger generation the IIS was established,” says Lakhmi Khilani, Director IIS.
Since its inception, the Indian Institute of Sindhology, Gandhidham, has been pursuing the idea of developing itself into a cultural university. For giving a proper shape to the idea, several symposia were held with the active participation of a number of scholars, writers and educationists of Sindhi language. The institute has a huge library with thousands of Sindhi books, many of them rare ones, on various topics. All Sindhi magazines published in India and abroad are also displayed and collected in volumes. The library is being run by competent Sindhi-knowing staff. The library is open to scholars and the public on all working days. The institution will soon have diploma/M.A courses in Sindhi language. The subjects would include Comparative Cultures, Sindhi Folk Lore, Sindhi language and literature, Musicology, Ancient Sindhi Culture, Teachers’ Training, Personality Development, Sindhi handicraft, Sindhi entrepreneurship, Diplomacy and Foreign relations. The website www.sindhology.org will be of use to people who want to learn Sindhi or wish to visit IIS for research/project work.
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The Indian Institute of Sindhology is completing 25 years this December and will have silver jubilee celebrations on their campus in Gandhidham from December 24 to 26. Sindhi personalities L .K Advani, Ram Jetmalani and Dada J P Vaswani will be addressing the inaugural function. Sindhi authors, artists and scholars will also be a part of the celebrations.
The writer is a corporate communications professional.