RAM JETHMALANI

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RÀM JETHMALANI
Ram Jethmalani was born on 14 September 1923, in Shikarpur Sindh. He is an Indian lawyer and politician. He has served as India's Union Law Minister and as Chairman of Bar Council of India.
He was elected a member of parliament in 6th and 7th Lok Sabha on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket from Mumbai. He has served as Law Minister of India and also as Minister of Urban Development during the Prime Ministership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In 2010 he came back to BJP and was elected to Rajya Sabha on its ticket from Rajasthan. Happy Birthday to Great Sindhi Dada Ram Jethmalani”.
It will be interesting for friends to note that on the invitation of Shri Dial Gidwani I visited India in 2008 and held meetings there with friends to decide about the launching of project on “History of Freedom Movement with special reference to the contribution of Sindh”. We were in contact with Shri Ram Jethmalani also. It is proper time to add some thing more about forefathers of Shri Ram Jethmalani: “Jethmalanis are named after Dewan Jethmal s/o Dewan Beliram. They are "Chhabria" by Nukh and originally "Arorvasi". "Arorvasi" means belonging to "Arore / Alore" – The Capital of Sindh during the rule of Raja Dahir.
Consequent to the occupation of Sindh by Muhammad bin Qasim in 712 A.D forefathers of Dewan Jethmal migrated to Punjab and retained their identification as "Arorevansi'. After a long period they returned and settled in Shikarpur.
Dewan Jethmal earned name and fame for his political wisdom and was appointed by Talpurs as the Governor of Shikarpur. He had his own mint and coin carrying his name(J) on one side and Shikarpur on the other. It was the currency of Shikarpur besides the currency of Talpure. His Army consisted on "Rohilas" (Pathans).
After the fall of Sindh to the British, he was offered a very honourable post by them but he refused to serve foreigners. Talpurs of Khairpur requested him to work with them and he accepted their offer and remained in Khairpur till he breathed his last”.
Shri Ram Jethmalani was were approached by Shri Dial Gidwani and Jethmalani was impressed to extent that he appreciated our Move and issued a Press Release and that is posted on the website of Sindhulogy. I am reproducing it as under:
“WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2008
CONTRIBUTION OF SINDHI FREEDOM FIGHTERS TO INDEPENDENCE
CONTRIBUTION OF SINDHI FREEDOM FIGHTERS TO INDEPENDENCE

Sindh played a vital role in freedom movement during British rule but information about it is scattered and there is no single comprehensive document which records the glorious contribution made by Sindh. The main reason for this is that with Independence, came also the Partition and the province of Sindh was in its entirety merged with Pakistan without regard to the fact that certain regions of Sindh had larger Hindu population. But then the unfortunate situation was that the leaders of the Indian National Congress wished to avoid any protracted negotiations as they were in a hurry to get independence and power for themselves, despite protests from the Sindhi leaders; and the leaders of the Muslim League were naturally keen to have the largest areas merged with Pakistan. But apart from surrender of entire Sindh to Pakistan, the situation so arose that with Partition, Hindus in Sindh came under a terrible threat to their life, liberty and property. Large numbers of Hindus from Sindh began to migrate to India with the help of local leaders of the Indian National Congress. The turmoil in Sindh became all the greater with the influx of Muslim refugees from India and the danger to Sindhi Hindus grew day by day making it imperative for them to leave Sindh. Yet, they faced a dilemma as the leaders in India were against Hindus leaving Pakistan to settle in India and the direction to the local leaders of the Indian National Congress in Sindh were to discourage such exodus. But the local leaders, being witnesses to the terrible situation in Sindh, defied the orders from the Central command; and the waves of migration to India began with Sindhis leaving their properties and all their possessions in Pakistan. Faced with reluctance from Indian leadership and to ensure that India does not close its door to refugees from Sindh, the Sindhi leaders rushed to Mahatma Gandhi, who alone in India understood the plight of Sindhi evacuees; and Gandhiji uttered his famous line, “I am a Sindhi”, and under his influence, the gates of hospitality in India began to be opened, somewhat, for those Sindhi refugees from Pakistan.

In those conditions of turmoil, distress, danger, and uncertainty, naturally the emphasis of the penniless Sindhis migrating to India was to face immediate economic challenges and, somehow, to improve their living conditions. Over the years, these challenges have been met successfully.

The time has therefore come to set the record straight and to attempt to present a comprehensive account of the glowing contribution of Sindh in the freedom struggle and the role of heroic Sindhi freedom fighters.

How the Idea Was Conceived

Though Sindh remained second to none in the freedom movement, while going through the pages of history compiled on the freedom movement, it is observed with grief that most of the historians have ignored the outstanding contribution of Sindh in the Freedom Movement.

Independence was the result of the joint and collective struggle launched by the masses of the united British India. Sindh played its vital / leading role in the freedom movement since the War of Independence of 1857 (though it was conquered only 14 years earlier in 1843). Sindh participated in the formation of All India Congress Committee (A.I.C.C.) and All India Muslim league (A.I.M.L.). Non-cooperation movement duly supported by Mahatma Gandhi / I.N.C.C. was implemented in Sindh by virtue of the passing of a resolution at the Khilafat Conference in Karachi.

Immersed in survival initially and accumulation of wealth later, Sindhis did not pay heed to the recall of their glorious past, with the result that they now stand disassociated with it altogether. Added to this, the young generation was compelled to assimilate into culture and society, very different from their own. This situation created adjustment problems for the young generations. The link to their roots and cultural heritage was severed, but cultural and historical identification made them feel lost, because no body was there to tell them who they were and how their collective future identification would be determined and accepted by the world community.

Apathy and lack of interest of Sindhis was obvious when people / scholars of other provinces started making demands for creation of their own Museums and Archives for highlighting their role in the freedom movement. Recently it has been demanded and suggested that Bengal / Punjab Partition Museums be founded.

Sindhis being second to none in the Freedom Movement during British Rule cannot afford to be a vanishing or invisible nation. With their own Identification, they have to play their role in the present and future in the world community. And history has proven that Sindhis are capable of leading the world community in every field of life.

Keeping in view the above facts, like minded people conceived the idea of initiating a project so as to rectify the situation. In this connection Dial Gidwani took a leading role and started looking for the co operation of like – minded Sindhis and organizations. In India he received due co operation from outstanding individuals besides, organizations such as Global Sindhi Council and SindhiShaan. In Sindh / Pakistan he approached the Gul Hayat Institute to extend its co operation for the noble cause.

As a consequence a joint meeting of American Institute of Sindhology, U.S.A., (www.sindhulogy.org.) Global Sindhi Council of India (www.globalsindhicouncil.org) and Gul Hayat Institute of Sindh (Pakistan) (www.gulhayat.com) was held in Mumbai between 11-19 February 2008 to discuss the proposed project and finalize its modalities and chalk out future lines of action. Several Sindhi scholars, historians, academics were invited to participate.

We owe it to our generation and the coming generations, an authentic and objective historical record which, among others, will include the following features :

History of relevant political parties-organization & activities
Movements of political importance.
Chronology of political events.
Role of press and media; Imposition of ban/censure on press/literature.
Impact of Divide & Rule policy on Sindhi Society.
Freedom Fighters and their contribution
Role of Bombay Legislative Council, Central Legislative Assembly and Sindh Legislative Assembly and other debates.

The task will consist of the following assignments:
Collection of source-material in India, Sindh and elsewhere, such as Articles, Memoirs, Auto/Biographies, testimony of witnesses etc.
Government publications, such as Year Books, Reports etc.
Proceedings of Assemblies/Councils.
British records
Newspaper and media reports
Court Cases
Information on websites

ANCESTRAL INFORMATION

Gul Hayat can provide information on your ancestors from its research papers for which the following information is required.

1) Full name of your Ancestor
2) Name of City / Province of his residence in Sindh
3) Political affiliations, if any
4) Occupation
5) Any other relevant information

The Information will include following, which may enable you to arrange your family tree

(A) Nukh/caste/Sub-caste. (B) Childhood,Education & Profession. (C) Details about his/her services rendered. (D)His/Her colleagues & contemporaries. (E)His/Her position in the field of service. (F)Photos,doucments,letters & other material/information”.
It amazing to note that Me and my Gul Hayat Institute have not only launched the project but, have collected very important information & Source-Material on the History of Freedom Movement. It is uploaded on my website www.drpathan.com.