My parents, elder sister and myself
In this interesting article, found the name of "J.Kimatrai" (my inlaws) and (Pohoomal Bros) my paternal family in it.
Thought I would share it
Excerpts
Role of SindhWorkis (Sindhi Traders in foreign countries) in Gadar Revolt & INA under Subhash Chandra Bose
Submitted by:
Dial V. Gidwani- Sindhu American
,
Respecting the sacrifices of the Ancestors ,educating the future Generations.
The Sindhi Hindu community uprooted as the result of India’s Partition, now girdles the globe. But then for Sindhi traders, globalization was never a new concept. For decades, well before Partition, Sindhi traders (commonly known as SindhWorkis) had established themselves practically in every city of the world, with larger concentration in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia; through the Middle East to Africa and Gibraltar, and across Britain and Europe to the U.S. and Latin America.
These SindhWorkis or Sindhi traders earned a fine reputation for trustworthiness and honesty in foreign countries. Their word was known as a bond. They supported local, social events and aided worthwhile charities from time to time, locally and in Sindh and India. They were religious and remained steadfast in their family, social and cultural roots and religious identity. Largely their donations were to religious institutions, mandirs (temples) and gurdwaras but many like Bahi Wattumall, Chellarams. Bhai Maghnamal of K A J Chotirmull and many others gave much for educational and social purposes for Sindhis and others.
The SindhWorkis kept a low profile while giving aid and support. As the grand old man heading the Watumalls is said to remark when someone questioned him as to why he does not publicize his charities, he quoted Rahim who was a great philanthropist, “dene wala koi aur hai; log brahm mujh pay kyoun karen!” (Means: Giver is Some One Else - implying that there is some Higher Power that is the Giver - So why should people think that I am the giver?). Later, when Watumalls established the public foundation for Education, naturally their charities had to come out in the open.
By and large SindhWorkis remained aloof from politics. Many suffered almost silently the pain of India for its being a colony of the British but there was no organization worth the name till the first decade of the twentieth century through which they could channel their frustration and funds . A change in the attitude of the SindhWorkis came about with the formation of the Gadar Party early in the second decade of the twentieth century.
Establishment of the Gadar Party:
The Gadar Movement was established around 1912-1913. It was the first organized violent bid for freedom after the uprising (Indian War of Independence) of 1857. Gadar in Punjabi means “revolt” – and indeed this revolt was the saga of courage, valor and determination of overseas Indians to free India from the shackles of British slavery...
It was as the result of Rash Bihari Bose’s effort that some Sindhis also became sympathizers and helpers of the Gadar Movement. Notable among them were Dr. Choithram P. Gidwani, who was in regular touch with Rash Bihari Bose... Please note the following extract on page 89 of The Sindh Story by K.R.Malkani (published by Sindhi Academy Delhi):
There was considerable sympathy and support among the people of Sindh for the Gadar Movement.
...As many as 145 Gadarites were hanged by Indian Government, 308 were sentenced for longer than 14 years and many more for lesser terms. Some of them passed years in KALA PANI (Black waters) in the Andamans.
Fourteen Gadarites remained hidden in Sindh for long, sheltered through aid from the Brahmacharya Ashram. They moved out to safety, with changed identities and in disguise with somewhat altered appearance, when the police- hunt for them was no longer hot.
Dr. Choithram as also most Sindhis had by now had begun to embrace the Gandhian doctrine of non-violence as the way to make the British leave India. They no longer subscribed to the Gadarite philosophy of force and violence to gain independence. But even so, they felt honour bound to protect the Gadarites from police-hunt. “We have promises to keep”, they said, and they kept their promise. They also said among themselves, “If Gandhiji knew, he would understand”, but they left Gandhiji uninformed.
Support of SindhWorkis:
Sindhi traders (SindhWorkis) began to support the Gadar Movement. Certainly, the SindWorkis were not in the frontline of the movement. Their support largely consisted of financial donations – often substantial – to the movement. In one case, the firms of
Pohoomal Bros, D.Chelaram, M.Dialdas & J.T.Chanrai of Hong Kong contributed on a large scale to a fund for the purchase of ammunition for an armed rising by Gadarites. Quite apart from this ad hoc assistance, SindhWorkis were paying regularly to the Gadarite treasury. The SindhWorki support also extended, in many cases, to providing safe-houses to hide the Gadar revolutionaries. Moreover, SindhWorkis were able to help Gadarites in passing their important and confidential messages as they had a vast and intricate network covering practically every country with associates, correspondents and in many cases, even branch offices.
Again, as The Sindh Story by K.R.Malkani points out, “When Subhash Chandra Bose set up INA in the Far East, his best and biggest supporters were the Sindhi businessmen there. Both Subhas Bose and Gandhiji referred to Sindhis as ``World Citizens'' since they are to be found everywhere.”
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose is immortalized in our History for having formed the Azad Hind Government in exile, and regrouping and leading the Indian National Army to battle against the allies in Imphal and Burma during the World War II.
Sindhi families abroad donated large sums of money, ornaments, jewelry to support the Independence movement of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
Among the Sindhworkis who distinguished themselves by supporting these freedom movements are:
1) Wassiamull Assumall 2)
J. Kimatrai 3) Utoomal Assudomal 4) Gangaram, Singapore
5) Jhamandas Melwani, Hongkong/Singapore 6) Sehwani family (Manila) 7) K a J Chotirmall, Hongkong/Singapore8) Kewalram Corpoartion, Japan 9) Gulraj Corpoartion, Japan 10) P Parsram, Japan 11) Watumull's Hawaii 12) Watanmal Bulchand 13) Chanrais 14) D Chellaram 15) G. Assanmall 16) Jhangimull and many others
This educational movement is joint effort of American Institute of Sindhulogy www.sindhulogy.org ,GlobalSindhi Council Mumbai www.globalsindhicouncil.org and Gul Hayat Research Institute Dokri,Larkana (sindh) www.gulhayat.com
www.sindhulogy.org
"Knowledge is the most powerful Resource for the nation building "
APJ ABDUL KALAM Former President of India. www.abdulkalam.com
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