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Among other reasons, I like Sindhi women for the wonderful delicacies that they prepare. I especially relish Sindhi halwa, vaghar Kadhi, Koki and Fried Rice. I recently saw the movie “Deham” and truly appreciated the role of Kitu Gidwani in it. Talking of dynamic Sindhi women, who can ever forget the great Sucheta Kriplani and her rendering of Vande Mataram on August 15, 1947. I have also admired Popati Hiranandani for her literary genius.
Achyut Godbole, International Software Expert
India and Hinduism owe their very identity to the Sindh Province. It was the great river Sindhu that did their naming ceremony. One can understand the agony of this community from the fact that though the Sindhi community gave India its first urban, trading and literate culture, it had to lose its own culture after partition. But the Sindhi women have played a key role in the Sindhi integration with the Indian mainstream. I have the highest regard for Sindhi women who are intelligent, versatile, beautiful and yet very homely. In the field of academics, there are so many women doing yeomen service. I particularly admire Manju Nichani, Rekha Shahani and Sarla Chandiramani for their contribution. I would also like to mention scores of unsung Sindhi housewives who manage the role of homemakers to perfection. Hats off to their wonderful tenacity and dedication.
Dr. J J Rawal, Astronomer and President, Indian Planetary Society
I have found, through regular interaction, that Sindhi women are full of life and enthusiasm. They are fun loving and crave for the good things of life. . I like Sindhi women for a strong reason. They make delicious onion bhajiyas and kadhi. On the flip side, fashion and food seem to be their weak points. What’s surprising is that many younger generation Sindhi girls have picked up these typical traits from their mothers and aunts. I know of many Sindhi women at the helm in business and commerce. In comparision, one does not find them much in creative fields.
Naina Kanodia, Painter
The most striking aspect of Sindhi women has been their wonderful style of living life
to the fullest. To put aside the trauma of partition and starting life afresh is a tremedous feat according to me. In fact, the Sindhi woman has left her history behind to establish her own identity in independent India. In comparision, the women of some other communities, who did not have such an agonising past, have not been that glorious in their achievements. Talking of Sindhi women in particular, the first thing I think of is food. Dal Pakwan with pickle is one of my favourite dishes. Among the Sindhi women that I admire for their dynamism and versatility is Manju Nichani, the principal of K C College, Mumbai.
Renuka Shahane, Actress
The first thing that strikes me about Sindhi women is their total integration with the Indian
culture ever since partition. They have gracefully accepted all forms of Indianness in their personality, which I find, is a great accomplishment. Another important trait I observe in them is the judicious blend they have made between modernity and tradition. On one hand, they retain all visible forms of Sindhiness while on the other; they also imbibe all modern trends of lifestyle. Most important, the Sindhi woman, in particular, has left the scars of partition well behind her to accept India as her true homeland. I regret not having had the opportunity to play a Sindhi character in my film career so far. That would have given me an insight into Sindhi life and culture much in the same way I learnt about Gujarat while playing a Gujarati character in Mira Nair’s film Mississippi Masala.
Anjan Srivastava, Actor
The Sindhi women of my generation have in their own sweet way carried forward the Sindhi tradition and culture. If Sindhi literature, music and theatre are alive today in all their forms, the credit largely goes to the Sindhi woman for her versatility and sensitivity. The Sindhi women of my time were beautiful and vivacious. Who can forget the charm of actress Sadhana that lingers in memory to this date. I am unhappy with the detachment of the modern Sindhi woman from her roots. I simply don’t find them rooted in tradition that is truly a tragedy. The modern Sindhi woman is so preoccupied with the superficiality of the so-called modern culture around her that she fails to see the grace and beauty of her tradition.
Dinesh Thakur, Theatre Personality
You can easily spot a Sindhi woman in a crowd to this date. She has retained her legendary obsession with what others call gaudy colour and flashy lifestyle. But she has faithfully clung to her choice and I find that a rare trait. The very core of Sindhiness lies in her firm belief in herself and her tastes. One may find her obsession with glamour a bit overdone, but what’s more important to me is the fact that the Sindhi woman is invariably very warm, social and humble. Almost all the women of the Sindhi families I know fall in that category. They patronize art, music and literature and have strong emotional ties with their culture. As an artiste, this is their most heartening aspect for me.
Ramdas Padhye, Internationally-acclaimed ventroquilist
Talk of Sindhi women and I immediately think of Sadhana and Babita, the famous cousins of the silver screen. They epitomize the Sindhi woman for me and will continue to do so for most people of my generation. I find that the Sindhi woman has strong likes and tastes when it comes to colour, jewellery and any other extravagance, and so strong is her belief in them, that she is almost unaware of the criticism that comes her way. I feel one has every right to feel the way one does and it’s unfair to be judgmental on such issues. I feel the Sindhi woman is very expressive and emotional, a trait so very close to the filmmaker’s heart. Long back, I made “Kadambari” a film based on Amrita Pritam’s novel and that was a tremendous experience. Today I can say with resounding conviction that if given a chance, I would thoroughly enjoy making a film based on Sindhi literature depicting the whole range of emotions that Sindhi women possess.
Madhusudan Kumar, Film Producer, Sitarist & Painter