Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 12:50, 17 May 2010

Saraiki nationalist movement refers to the efforts to establish a collective identity for the Saraiki (Template:Lang-ur) ethnic group in the Punjab province of Pakistan and to secure an official status for the language and people. As of 2002, there were approximately 30 million Saraiki people, who were speaking the Saraiki language, in central Pakistan in the Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan provinces, mainly based in the former princely state of Bahawalpur.

Beginning in the 1960s, Saraiki nationalists have sought to gain language rights and lessen Punjabi control over the natural resources of Siraili lands. This has led to a proposed separate province Saraikistan, a region being drawn up by activists in the 1970s. The 1977 coup by General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq of Pakistan, a centralist ruler, caused the movement to go underground. After his death in 1988, the Saraiki movement re-emerged with the goals to have a Saraiki nationality recognised, to have official documents printed in Saraiki, a Saraiki regiment in the Pakistan Army, employment quotas and more Saraiki language radio and television.

Several parties are working on this mission like Pakistan Saraiki Party, Siraikistan Qaumi Movement, and Saraiki National Party. Majid Kanjoo is one of the leaders of the Saraikistan movement.

Aims of Saraiki Movement

The Saraiki movement was the combination of language planning and efforts to establish a collective identity to convince the Saraikis and others of the status of Saraiki as a separate language distinct from Punjabi. It also aimed to establish Saraikis as a separate nationality by invoking shared awareness of the local past among the people living across the Saraiki region speaking different dialects of the Saraiki language. Consensus on the name Saraiki for all the dialects spoken in the Saraiki region was a part of this reaction. Creation of a Saraiki identity in south-western Punjab involved the deliberate choice of a language called Saraiki, as a symbol of this identity. Language was chosen as a unifying symbol because an ethnic language serves its speakers as an identity marker. It is the only behaviour that carries extensive cultural content. It was chosen also because it was an aspect the leaders thought will serve to unite the group and will be useful in promoting the interests of the group as they define them.

Like many such movements, the Saraiki movement also started in the name of cultural revival and promotion. Articulation of the economic conflict with the upper Punjab region later gained prominence after the language identity was established. Factors like geographical, cultural and linguistic differences with Punjabis and the settlement of Punjabis in Saraiki areas before and after the partition on their own do not account for the need of Saraikis to assert their separate identity through the Saraiki movement in the 1960s. What really lay behind it was the lack of development of the Saraiki region which was not voiced in the first phase, ethno-nationalism is generally a response to perceived injustice. In general, the slogans and demands of the Saraiki nationalists have been coupled with linguistic rights and economic grievances, but in the late 1990s and the following decade, the linguistic issue has ceased to have much importance, at least in the eyes of Saraiki political leaders. This is evident in the charter of demands made at the end of a Saraiki conference held in December 2003, in which, out of twenty-one demands made, only one pertained to language. (Daily Khabrain, 2003)

How was the Saraiki Identity Created?

"People will redefine themselves when circumstances make it desirable or when circumstances force it on them" . Dorian

The Saraiki middle class reacted to the threat to their language and identity and set out to develop an ethno-national consciousness in order to resist the assimilation of their ethnic group and language. The efforts towards this cause were directed towards creating a Saraiki identity. Initially this was done to counter the fear of identity extinction and to get rid of the ‘misleading' label of Punjabis. These endeavors have been termed as the Saraiki movement'.

NEED OF SARAIKISTAN

Now there is lively discussion on TV Channels, in the public and in the Assembly for the creation of more provinces. During discussions India is praised for the land reforms and elimination of 650 princely states. Somehow the participants intentionally or unknowingly forget to praise India for the creation of more states and then re-adjustment of provincial areas purely on linguistic basis.

We should not hesitate to adopt good policies of Indians who were not stupid by creating more provinces and reorganizing them on linguistic basis. Due to such realistic attitude for mutual coexistence, India is successfully maintaining national unity in spite of many religions, languages, cultural identities and warring factions. India is now becoming regional power and we have become a beggar nation.

Now is the time that we all should unite and start this campaign for the creation of Soobah Siraikistan on linguistic, cultural and historical basis, i.e., all the areas of Siraiki Wasaib should be grouped together to form Siraikistan. We should not feel guilty or apologetic while demanding this. In this connection, kindly inform all Siraiki activists, media persons, MNAs, MPAs and Senators as to how India created more provinces and how they divided East Punjab which was half the size of Pakistani Punjab . This will help them to face and properly respond to all the anti-Siraikistan elements. See below some details regarding creation of Indian States.

So far we have kept quiet about employment of Siraiki people in the services. Now the time has also come that we should vigorously demand our due share and representation, on our population basis, in the Central and Provincial Civil Service, all the Armed Forces and all the Semi Government and Government controlled bodies.

In all the previous census reports, population of Siraikis was shown very low where as that of Punjabis used to be inflated and Siraikis used to be counted as Punjabis. This was a pre-planned move to grab lion’s share from the national wealth. So far they succeeded in that. In the coming population count a clear picture will emerge if there is no foul play like before. For this an awareness campaign is to be started in Siraiki Wasaib.

Our Punjabi Establishment and diehard Punjabi politicians are still following policies of intolerance, hegemony, exploitation and denial of rights of others by force. Due to this colonial attitude we lost East Pakistan with such a disgrace and now we see separation movements in Balochistan. Next on line is perhaps South Punjab .

Our Establishment is still not willing to give due right to smaller provinces and Siraiki Wasaib. Prejudiced people of upper Punjab are against creation of more provinces in Punjab as they want to keep subjugation of Siraiki Wasaib. They want to continue this system of loot khasoot of this area for the development and prosperity of their areas. Budgetary allocations of Punjab province and the federation are clear indicators.

It is the height of cheating that in the current budget of Punjab Rs. 170 billions have been allocated for the development programs of upper Punjab where as a meager sum of only 6 billion is provided for south Punjab . This is a blatant act of robbing and depriving south Punjab in order to develop upper Punjab .

It is to be noted that only Lahore Ring Road will cost Rs. 17 billion, then there will be Rs. 60 billion projects for flyover bridges and then Rs. 80 billion projects for Monorail and Rs. 200 billion projects for Metro and so on. These are the type of mega projects in the pipeline for Lahore to make it like Amsterdam or Switzerland . To finance all such projects they will definitely squeeze money from the development funds of south Punjab .

We should demand that the Lahories should FULLY pay for the cost of such gigantic projects in the form of additional taxes. In case of shortage of funds LDA should sell the Governor House, golf courses, old race course park, Minar-e-Pakistan Park, Liberty market park and Model Town park and other similar parks and also GOR. They should immediately stop non-productive projects like construction of Bab-e-Pakistan. Why should South Punjab share the financial burden for the beautification of Lahore and other development projects of upper Punjab ?

There is another important issue regarding Provincial Autonomy. If all the provinces are given autonomy and full control over their natural resources, before creation of Siraikistan province, then Siraiki Wasaib will the ultimate loser. The shortfall and loss of revenue from the natural resources of mineral rich provinces will then be recouped from the Siraiki Wasaib to finance development projects of upper Punjab .

They talk about present Swat crisis to curb the demand for more provinces and with this excuse they want to have the liberty to keep depriving us of our due share. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. NO MORE we can remain under subjugation of upper Punjab . Punjab province shall have to be divided into 3 to 5 provinces whether People of upper Punjab like it or not. This is also very much necessary for a stable and strong Pakistan and also for the development and prosperity of neglected areas, especially Siraiki Wasaib.

I am also attaching one pdf file of my article written in Siraiki, which shows some of the important reasons for creation of Soobah Siraikistan. In my personal opinion, Pakistan should have 15 to 20 provinces. A list of countries showing population and number of provinces is given below for information and reference.

There should be an open debate in the public, in the media and in the Parliament on this issue. The best solution is that the Government should first create Siraikistan Province , with an executive order of the President similar to the “ Province of West Pakistan Dissolution Order 1970”. After that an independent and impartial Judicial Commission be appointed to propose creation of more provinces with proper adjustment of boundaries, like India did fifty years ago. Actually we should have done this at the same time.

Unfortunately, at that very time, our Pro-Punjabi Establishment and Lahori Chauvinists were maneuvering to create One Unit, with the connivance and full support of a Punjabi Governor General Ghulam Muhammed of Mochi Gate Lahore. They succeeded in this to put the entire West Pakistan under the control of Takht Lahore. They were even not fully satisfied with this and later on they managed to get Federal Capital shifted to Islamabad for their ulterior motives. When one unit was abolished they took the revenge by annexing Bahawalpur which was never part of Punjab .

Now the Punjabi establishment, politicians and diehard Punjabi activists have became all in one. As a result we see Government of the Punjabis by the Punjabis for the Punjabis. During regimes of Ziaulhaq and Punjabi Muslim Leagues ( A, B, L, M, N or Q ), the exploitation of Siraiki Wasaib had been at the extreme.

Our present Punjabi CM is Khadim-e-Aala only for the upper Punjab where as he is Mukhalif-e-Aala for the progress and prosperity of Siraiki Wasaib. This year’s budget prepared by his team is a clear proof of that.

Many questions and objections are being raised in the media and public debates. These are given below and will be thrashed out soon in my next article.

Now our urgent issue is to strongly protest and keep protesting against the budgetary allocations until this disparity is removed completely and we get our due share. Demand for Siraikistan province shall have to continue also.

The movement for linguistic states in INDIA The movement for linguistic states in INDIA Political movements for the creation of new, linguistic-based states developed around India in the years after independence. The movement to create a Telugu-speaking state out of the northern portion of Madras State gathered strength in the years after independence, and in 1953, the 16 northern, Telugu-speaking districts of Madras State became the new State of Andhra. Other small changes were made to state boundaries during the 1950-1956 period. The small state of Bilaspur was merged with Himachal Pradesh on July 1, 1954, andChandernagore, a former enclave of French India, was incorporated into West Bengal in 1955. The States Reorganisation Commission Main article: States Reorganisation Commission In December 1953, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehruappointed the States Reorganisation Commission to prepare for the creation of states on linguistic lines. This was headed by Justice Fazal Ali and the commission itself was also known as the Fazal Ali Commission. The efforts of this commission was overseen by Govind Ballabh Pant, who served as Home Minister from December 1954. The commission created a report in 1955 recommending the reorganisation of India 's states. The States Reorganisation Act The States Reorganisation Act of 1956, which went into effect on November 1, eliminated the distinction between part A, B, and C states. It also reorganised the state boundaries and created or dissolved states and union territories. States Reorganisation Act The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 was a major reform of the boundaries and governance of India's states and territories. The act reorganised the boundaries of India 's states along linguistic lines, and amended theIndian Constitution to replace the three types of states, known as Parts A, B, and C states, with a single type of state. Although additional changes to India 's state boundaries have been made since 1956, the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 remains the single most extensive change in state boundaries since the independence of India in 1947.

Changes to states and union territories On November 1, 1956, India was divided into the following states and union territories: States Andhra Pradesh: Andhra was renamed Andhra Pradesh, and enlarged by the addition of theTelangana region of erstwhile Hyderabad State. Assam Bihar Bombay State: the state was enlarged by the addition of Saurashtra and Kutch, the Marathi-speaking districts of Nagpur Division of Madhya Pradesh, and the Marathwada region of Hyderabad . The southernmost districts of Bombay were transferred to Mysore State . (In 1960, the state was split into the modern states of Maharashtraand Gujarat.) Jammu and Kashmir Kerala: formed by the merger of Travancore-Cochin state with the Malabar District of Madras State . Madhya Pradesh: Madhya Bharat, Vindhya Pradesh, and Bhopal were merged into Madhya Pradesh, and the Marathi-speaking districts ofNagpur Division were transferred to Bombay State . Madras State: the state was reduced to its present boundaries by the transfer of Malabar District to the new state of Kerala. (The state was renamedTamil Nadu in 1969.) Mysore State: enlarged by the addition of Coorg state and the Kannada speaking districts from southern Bombay state and western Hyderabad state. (The state was renamed Karnataka in 1973.) Orissa: enlarged by the addition of 28 princely states including two princely states of Saraikela and Kharsawan, but later these two states merged with Bihar . Punjab: the Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) was merged into Punjab . Rajasthan: Rajputana was renamed Rajasthan, and enlarged by the addition of Ajmer-Merwara state. Uttar Pradesh West Bengal Union territories Andaman and Nicobar Islands Delhi Himachal Pradesh Lakshadweep Pondicherry Tripura Manipur

India consists of twenty-eight states and seven Union Territories. All states, and the two union territories ofPuducherry and the National Capital Territory of Delhi, have elected legislatures and governments patterened on the Westminister model. The other five union territories have centrally appointed administrators and hence are under direct rule of the President. In 1956, under theStates Reorganisation Act, states were formed on a linguistic basis. Since then, this structure has remained largely unchanged. Each state or union territory is further divided into 610 districts for basic governance and administration. The districts in turn are further divided into tehsils and eventually into villages. States: 1. Andhra Pradesh 2. Arunachal Pradesh 3. Assam 4. Bihar 5. Chhattisgarh 6. Goa 7. Gujarat1. Andh 8. Haryana 9. Himachal Pradesh 10. Jammu and Kashmir 11. Jharkhand 12. Karnataka 13. Kerala 14. Madhya Pradesh 15. Maharashtra 16. Manipur 17. Meghalaya 18. Mizoram 19. Nagaland 20. Orissa 21. Punjab 22. Rajasthan 23. Sikkim 24. Tamil Nadu 25. Tripura 26. Uttar Pradesh 27. Uttarakhand 28. West Bengal Union Territories: 1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands 2. Chandigarh 3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli 4. Daman and Diu 5. Lakshadweep 6. National Capital Territory of Delhi 7. Puducherry

In India there are 29 states and 6 Union Territories (UT). Here a little over a billion people reside. Among these 29 states, Uttar Pradesh is the highest populated state and West Bengal is densely populated.

Outcome of the Saraiki Movement

The Saraiki movement has been successful at some levels. It is responsible for creating a sense of collective identity among the Saraiki speakers even if it has not been successful in forming a pressure group like that of Bengalis, Sindhis, Mohajirs (Urdu speakers) and Pakhtoons . Now the Saraikis are counted as one of the five indigenous nationalities and Saraiki as a distinct language at some official and unofficial levels. Saraiki was also included in the question about languages in the censuses of 1981 and 1998. Despite all this, however, the symbol of language which came out as the most powerful symbol in this movement has not yet acquired much evocative power' . The Saraikis are still not as emotionally attached to their language as the speakers of some other regional languages of Pakistan are. The Saraiki movement helped to give a collective name Saraiki' to different dialects and made people embrace this name for their collective identity but it ultimately failed to influence ordinary Saraikis to take pride in their language or consciously increase its usage in different domains.

See also

• Saraiki people
• Saraiki language
• Saraiki literature
• Saraikistan
• Saraiki Wasaib
• Saraiki Culture
• Bahawalpur (princely state)

References

• Saraiki Language and Ethnic Identity by Dr Saiqa Imtiaz Asif.

http://www.wasaib.com/english-article/seraiki-language-and-ethnic-identity.html

• http://pak1stanfirst.com/index.php?start=12

External links

• Saraiki province: a bone of contention for many

• Seraiki people
• Nationalism
• Nationalism by country or region
• Seraikistan