Sindhiani Tahreek (Sindhi: سنڌياڻي تحريڪ, "Sindhi women's movement") (also known as The Sindhiyani Tehreek) is a women-led political organization formed by rural women in Sindh, the southern province of Pakistan.[1]

Sindhiani Tahreek
Formation1981; 43 years ago (1981)
TypeNon-governmental
HeadquartersSindh, Pakistan
Region served
Sindh
President
Umrao Samoon

History

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Sindhiyani Tehreek was launched in 1980 by rural women of Sindh province of Pakistan to fight the discriminatory laws against women promulgated by Zia's regime. The founding women were members of the Awami Tehreek, a Left-leaning Sindhi political party.[1][2] Ideologically, the Sindhiyani Tehreek was influenced by Marxism-Leninism-Maoism.[3] The organization's membership consisted of peasant women, students, school teachers, educated housewives and professional women.[3] Sindhiyani Tehreek fought against honour killings, forced conversion and unequal distribution of land.[4]

Allied with Awami Tahreek in Sindh, Sindhiani tahreek endeavoured to make women aware of larger provincial issues such as question of using Sindhi language in schools and political institutions in the province, accelerating practice of auctioning land to Non-Sindhi people, and the growing Sindhi nationalism.[5][6][7] Sindhiani Tahreek fully participated with shoulder to shoulder with their men comrades in MRD against Zia regime.[1]

1980s

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Sindhiyani joined Anti-Kalabagh Dam movement in late ‘80s. Members participated in long marches in hot summer days, they walked on foot, with their children hanging around their waist. The marches include hundreds of Sindhi women. Benazir Bhutto also joined them in late ‘90s, in one of their protests in Obauro near Ghotki then during the Long March to Karachi from Sukkur.[1][8]

2000s

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The movement is now divided into three factions, one led by Rasool Bux Palijo, second led by, Ayaz Latif Palijo and third called "Sindhi Aurantan Ji Tanzeem" (Sindhi Women's Movement) (a front of the Awami Jamhoori Party), is led by Zahida Dahri and Nazir Qureshi. The last two have a good presence in several districts including Karachi and Hyderabad.[9] Members of Sindhiani Tahreek participated in Aurat March in 2020.[10][11][12]

Notable members

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "The Sindhiyani Tehreek: Revolutionary Feminism in Sindh?". Jamhoor.
  2. ^ "Veteran politician Rasool Bux Palijo laid to rest".
  3. ^ a b "The Sindhiyani Tehreek: Revolutionary Feminism in Sindh?". Jamhoor. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Pakistan's 'good' and 'bad' feminisms". Himal Southasian. 18 October 2018.
  5. ^ Myron Weiner, Ali Banuazizi, “Political Science,” The Politics of Social Transformation in Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan Syracuse University Press: 1994. See pp. 435.
  6. ^ "Sindh loses a principled political voice". Daily Times. 7 June 2018.
  7. ^ "Veteran politician Rasool Bux Palijo passes away". ARY NEWS. 7 June 2018.
  8. ^ Report, Dawn (19 October 2015). "'Resurrection of dam issue a plot against federation'". Dawn.
  9. ^ "Women, Sindh and politics". www.thenews.com.pk.
  10. ^ "You Go, Girl". Newsline.
  11. ^ "Aurat March 2020: A case for 'scandalous' slogans | Special Report | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk.
  12. ^ Reporter, A. (9 March 2020). "Defiance in the air as women stage Azadi March in Sukkur". Dawn.
  13. ^ "AT activists protest against reopening of C-J canal". DAWN. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  14. ^ "May 12 tragedy: lawyers observe black day". Dawn. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  15. ^ "PPP bargained away census, Palijo tells women workers' convention". Dawn. 18 March 2017.
  16. ^ "Protest against supply of toxic water in Sindh". Dawn. 21 July 2017.
  17. ^ "A glance at Sindh's female election hopefuls". Dawn. 7 May 2013.
  18. ^ "Winds of change: Meet Hajiani Lanjo, Tharparkar's first female candidate". The Express Tribune. 22 April 2013.
  19. ^ Report, Dawn (28 October 2002). "SUKKUR: Newsmen condemn colleague's murder". Dawn.
  20. ^ "Rest in peace: PIA staffer among victims". The Express Tribune. 22 May 2012.
  21. ^ "Palijo hurt in road accident". Dawn. 24 June 2007.
  22. ^ "Sindhiyani Tehreek activist Zahida Shaikh passes away". The Express Tribune. 8 January 2018.
  23. ^ "Palijo saeen". The Express Tribune. 14 June 2018.
  24. ^ "JiJi Zarina Baloch Sings of Sassi-Punnu and Bhambhore". All Things Pakistan. 7 November 2010.
  25. ^ "Nationalists vs Federalists Pages 1 - 50 - Flip PDF Download | FlipHTML5". fliphtml5.com.
  26. ^ "An unending war on women". www.thenews.com.pk.
  27. ^ Newspaper, the (13 May 2011). "Black day observed in parts of Sindh". Dawn.
  28. ^ "Awami Tehreek slams ordinance to form Pakistan Islands Development Authority". www.thenews.com.pk.
  29. ^ Report, Dawn (15 September 2019). "Awami Tehreek begins hunger strike". Dawn.
  30. ^ "Protest against burying women alive". Dawn. 6 September 2008.
  31. ^ "Hindu migrant family from Pakistan abused, forced to commit suicide". The Siasat Daily. 10 October 2020.
  32. ^ "AT women hold rally against 'biased' system". Dawn. 9 October 2017.
  33. ^ Hasan, Shazia (16 October 2020). "Boat rally taken out to oppose development of cities on islands". Dawn.
  34. ^ "AT leader dies after road mishap". Dawn. 2 March 2018.
  35. ^ Report, Dawn (24 October 2014). "Interior of Sindh closed in protest against 'division' moves". Dawn.