indhi is one of the oldest and most well-structured languages in the region. It is predominantly spoken in Sindh but also used in certain areas of Balochistan, such as the adjacent Las Bela district. Additionally, Sindhi is spoken in some parts of India, where many Sindhi Hindus migrated to following the Partition.

A debate regarding the origin of Sindhi goes on. Dr Ernest Trumpp (1828–1885), a Christian missionary and a German professor of oriental languages at the University of Munich, who arrived in India in the 1850s and conducted extensive research in the Sindh and Punjab, was the first to compile Shah jo Risalo from various manuscripts and publish it in book form. In his scholarly work, Grammar of the Sindhi Language: Compared with the Sanskrit-Prakrit and the Cognate Indian Vernaculars, he asserted that the Sindhi language was derived from Sanskrit.

Dr Nabi Bakhsh Baloch, in an article authored in 1959, asserted that “Sindhi is not directly derived from Sanskrit but is an ancient language of the Indus Valley predating Sanskrit.” He elaborated, “Based on archaeological findings… it can be concluded that the ancient language of Sindh was likely a Semitic language, which was subsequently influenced by Aryan languages. Among these Aryan languages, the most impactful in ancient Sindh were the Iranian and Dardic languages, followed by Sanskrit through the influences of Pahlavi and Prakrit.” He goes on to claim that “The ancient civilisation of Sindh was more Semitic than Aryan. Therefore, it can be asserted that the language of the ancient Sindhi civilisation was also a Semitic language. This early language of Sindh leaves behind distorted traces, which can be observed on seals discovered at Mohenjo-Daro.”

A third view was presented by Siraj-ul Haq Memon, who wrote a critique of Dr Baloch’s theory. Memon argued that “Sindhi is not the offspring of Sanskrit; rather, Sanskrit is an offspring of Sindhi.” In his discussion of Sindhi civilisation, he attempts to show that “the people of Sindh carried their language and culture westward to regions such as Babylon and Mesopotamia, where they spread their influence.” He posits that instead of being shaped by Babylonian and Sumerian civilisations, the Sindhi civilisation, particularly that of Mohenjo-Daro, influenced the developments of Babylon and Sumer.

Dr Matthew A Cook, a professor at North Carolina Central University in the US, has identified four theories regarding the origins of the Sindhi language. Three of these theories trace their roots within the Indo-Aryan family. However, the fourth suggests that modern Sindhi is derived from the Proto-Dravidian system, with connections to other Dravidian languages and the Indo-Aryan system.

Historically, Persian was the official language of the region for a long time. Following the British annexation of Sindh in 1843, Sindhi became the official language of the province in 1848. Sir Bartle Frere, the commissioner of Sindh at the time, issued orders on August 29, 1857, instructing civil servants in Sindh to pass an examination in Sindhi. The British authorities also standardised the Sindhi alphabet in 1853.

During the One Unit days, the authorities suppressed the language. Dr Tariq Rahman found that records previously maintained in Sindhi, were increasingly printed in Urdu during this time. On June 11, 1965, the municipality of Hyderabad resolved to use Urdu for official purposes, aligning with the policy of the West Pakistan government. Sindhi nationalists point out that during this period, Urdu replaced Sindhi on official signage at railway and bus stations. Also, Sindhi writers were discouraged and Urdu writers patronised. Sindhi publications were denied advertisements and Sindhi broadcasts were significantly reduced.

During the ZA Bhutto regime, the provinces got another opportunity to pick their official languages. None except Sindh chose a language other than Urdu. The Sindh Assembly enacted a Language Bill in 1972. It mandated that both Sindhi and Urdu be taught in all primary and higher secondary educational institutions in Sindh from the fourth to the twelfth grade. Clause 6 of the Language Bill said that “the Sindhi language may be used in government departments, offices, including courts and the Sindh Assembly.” Since its passage, Sindhi and Urdu have both served as official languages in Sindh. After Urdu, Sindhi is the language with the highest number of newspapers, magazines, journals and book publications. Additionally, numerous TV channels broadcast in Sindhi. Sindhi is the only language, aside from Urdu, used for printing CNICs.

Given the current needs, institutions like the Abdul Majid Bhurgri Institute of Language Engineering have been making significant strides in digitalising the Sindhi language. Sindhi Language Authority launched a campaign on February 1, which will run until February 28, advocating for the declaration of Sindhi as one of Pakistan’s national languages. The SLA is also championing for a similar recognition of other languages, including Punjabi, Seraiki, Balochi and Pashto. They have been actively engaging with government officials, members of the National Assembly and the Provincial Assemblies as well as with senators on this matter.

While these initiatives offer hope for the protection and promotion of the Sindhi language, younger people in urban areas are increasingly losing contact with their mother tongue. While approximately 7,000 languages are spoken in the world today, it is estimated that only 200 will survive by the end of the 21st Century. Promoting the Sindhi language is therefore crucial.

The writer is an assistant professor and chairman of the Department of History and Pakistan Studies at Aror University of Art, Architecture, Design and Heritage, Sukkur. He can be reached at qasim_shu2016@yahoo.com