The International Sindhi Conference and Cultural Festival which took place at Adipur - Gandhidham on 3rd, 4th & 5th January 1999 was a unique in the history of Sindhi Community in India after Partition where Sindhis from all walks of life, from all parts of the Country and abroad met on a common Platform to have a critical look at their past, present and future as a community and to exchange their views with reference to their geopolitical situation in which they were residing after migrating from Sindh. It was a big gathering of Sindhis which included eminent political leaders like Shri Lal Krishin Advani, (Home Minister, Govt. Of India), Shri Ram Jethmalani, (Minister for Urban Development, Govt, Of India), Shri K. R. Malkani (M.P) and Shri Suresh Keswani (M.P); Sindhi industrialists and businessmen like Mr. Parkash Hinduja (Geneva) Mr. Prahlad P. Chhabria (Pune), Mr. Gopaldas Mahbubani (HongKong), Mr. Murij Manghnani (Dubai), Mr. Ram Buxani (Dubai), Mr.Chandersen Jatwani (Dubai), Mr. Manghanmal Pancholia (Dubai), Social workers like Mr. Nathir Lalchandani (U.S.A), Mr. Prem Lalwani (U.S.A), Mr. Munawar Laghari

(U.S.A), Mr. Prem Bhojwani & Mr. Murli Tolani (Jakarta, Indonesia), Mr. Raj Daswani (London), prominent Sindhi writers like Kirat Babani, A. J. Uttam, Sundri Uttamchandani, Krishin ‘Rahi’ & Maya, Arjan ‘Hasid’, Sindhi scholars and academicians like Dr. Chandru Daswani (Delhi), Dr. Devinder Kodwani (Adipur-Gandhidham), Dr. S. Uttamchandani (Ahmedabad) And Dr. Durga Thavrani (Calcutta) also graced the occassion by their scholarly presence and so also prominent and well known Sindhi artists like Ms. Anila Sunder (Ballet), Dr. Prem Parkash (Drama), Mr. Ghnashyam Vaswani (Music), and Ms. Koshi Lalwani (Music).

In an atmosphere surcharged with emotion and festivity, the festival was ceremoniously declared open by Padmashri Dada Hundraj "Dukhayal" with traditional music of sharnai and dhol. On this occasion Shri Ghanshyam Vaswani’s latest two audio-cassettes were released by Dada ‘Dukhayal’ and an audio cassette of the songs sung by Dada ‘Dukhayal’ himself "Vanu Kuharo" was ceremoniously released by Dada Hari "Dilgir".

Soon thereafter, the magnificent exhibition presenting glimpses of Sindh, Sindhis and Sindhi language literature, history, art and culture from ancient Indus Valley Civilization (Mohan-Jo-Daro) to modern times was ceremoniously declared open by another great Sindhi Poet Dada Hari ‘Dilgir’. The same day Bhai Maganmal Pancholia well known philanthropist businessman of Dubai ceremonially inaugurated Jiwatram Manghnani Sabha Ghar which is like an open air auditorium where all the functions of the Conference were to be held.

In the afternoon, the International Sindhi Conference was inaugurated by the well known Sindhi legal luminery and Jurist Hon. Minister for Urban Development, Govt. Of India, Shri Ram Jethmalani. The theme of the Conference was "Sindhis - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow". The inaugural address of Shri Jethmalani was well received and also applauded by a huge audience. Shri Jethmalani expressed full confidence that if Sindhis

were to discard the divisive tendencies which he in Sindhi language termed as "chugli" (backbiting), "chatbheti" (Jealousy), "chaplusi" (flattery) and "charhat" (oneupmanship), they had the capacity and potential of attaining the highest peaks. The other Honourable Guests who graced the occasion were Shri Suresh Keswani (M.P), Shri Parkash Hinduja (Geneva), Shri Prahlad P. Chhabria (Pune), Shri Ram Buxani (Dubai), Shri Nanik Rupani (Mumbai), Ms. Vishni Israni (Gandhidham), Shri Gopal Daryani (Adipur) and Shri Amir Doultani (Ahmedabad). Dr. Satish Rohra, Director, Indian Institute of Sindhology in his welcome address highlighted the importance of the theme of the Conference at this important juncture in the life of the community which after having remarkably rehabilitated itself after undergoing a traumatic experience of Partition and migration, in search of its identity and a soul.

On the same day evening, a cultural programme was presented by renowned Sindhi dancer Ms. Anila Sunder.

It was a dance drama titled "Sindh Munhi-ji- Ama" which depicted the plight of a family caught in the vortex of partition and migration. Shri Prem Lalwani, Chairman, Alliance of Sindhi Association of America (Chicago) was the Chief Guest of the occasion. The programme was well received by one and all.

The programme on the 4th January 1999, started with the ceremonial inauguration of "Kalawanti Gopaldas Mahbubani Memorial Block" in the S. H. N Academy. The Block was inaugurated by Shri Ram Jethmalani and the occasion celebrated in Sindhi tradition with music provided by Sharnai and Dhol. This Block has been constructed with the help of Shri Gopaldas Mahbubani in the sacred memory of his late wife Smt. Kalawanti. On this occasion, students of S. H. N Academy presented a cultural programme and the Chief Guest of this function was well known Sindhi industrialist of Dubai, Shri Chandersen Jatwani. The Guests of Honour were Shri Prem Bhojwani (Jakarta), Shri Kanhiyalal Kewalramani (Jaisu Shipping, Adipur), Shri M. D. Ahuja (Gandhidham) and Shri Mohan Chandnani (Vice-President, Gandhidham Collegiate Board). The Programme presented by the school children was highly appreciated. Shri Jatwani congratulated the school and gave each of the participants a cash gift. Shri Gopaldas Mahbubani presented gifts to them. The Chief Guest honoured all those students who had secured highest marks in Sindhi subject in their schools and Tolani Arts & Science College during the past two annual examinations. He presented them the Gold Medals instituted in the sacred memory of Late Shri Jiwat Hiranand Chawla, well known Sindhi writer, by his wife, Smt. Kamla. This occasion was also utilised for the release of new Sindhi books. One of them "Dat-ain-Hayat" is a collection of poems of Late Shri Narayan ‘Shyam’. This book was released by well known Sindhi poet, Shri Arjan ‘Hasid’.

At 11 o’clock the same day, the first session of the symposium "Sindhis - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow" was held under the chairmanship of Shri Suresh Keswani M.P. In this session, the persons who presented their views were:
Shri Nathir Lalchandani (U. S. A) who talked about the weak economical conditions of some Sindhis, Shri Munawar Laghari (U. S. A), who threw some light on the condition of Sindhis in Sindh, Shri Kirat Babani (Mumbai) said about the Sindhis in India and Shri Murli Tolani (Jakarta) spoke about the Sindhis in Indonesia. In his presidential address, Shri Suresh Keswani M.P. emphatically put forward the view that the Sindhis must unite politically and solve their problems by themselves.

The second session of the symposium took place the same day afternoon under the chairmanship of Shri K. R. Malkani M.P. In this session scholarly papers were presented by Dr. Chandru Daswani (Delhi), Dr. S. Uttamchandani (Gujarat - Vidyapeeth, Ahmedabad) and Dr, Devender Kodwani (Director, TIMS, Adipur).

The cultural programme in the evening was presented by well known Sindhi Drama Workshop, Ahmedabad. It was a Sindhi drama "Wari-a-Sando-Kot" written by Shri Lakhmi Khilani and directed by Dr. Prem Parkash. Shri Suresh Nihalani, of Adipur- Gandhidham township was the Chief Guest of the occasion.

The programme on the morning of the 5th January 1999, started with the open session. Shri L. K. Advani, Hon. Home Minister of India, laid the foundation stone of the Bharti Sindhu Vidyapeeth Campus and unveiled the statue of Sindhi Martyr Hemu Kalani. He visited the exhibition on the ‘History & Culture of Sindh’ and was highly impressed by it. He congratulated Indian Institute of Sindhology for organising such an axhibition. He remarked that he would have missed something worth while, if he had not seen the exhibition. He commended the idea and suggested that this Exhibition should made a permanent feature of Sindhology so that Sindhis in India and abroad could see the exhibition whenever they get such a chance. Shri Advani described his visit to Ladakh where there is the source of river ‘Sindhu’. Shri Advani honoured with shawls the writers, the scholars and Artists who had come to participate in the Conference which included Writers: Shri Kirat Babani, Shri A. J. "uttam" and Smt. Sundri Uttamchandani, Shri Kishin Rahi, Shri Arjan ‘Hasid’, Scholars: Dr. S. Uttamchandani, Dr. Chnadru Daswani, Artists: Smt. Anila Sunder (Dance), Shri Ghanshyam Vaswani ( Music) and Shri Menghraj Talreja (Painting), Smt. Koshi Lalwani (Music).

Shri Advani lauded the spirit of self respect and self reliance of the Sindhis with which they have faced the sufferings and have established themselves very well. Not only that, but they have served the country by establishing so many Schools, Colleges, Hospitals etc. in India without depending on Government help.

He was all praise for Sindhology which had organised such a grand function where so many scholars, Writers, Artists, Businessmen, Industrialists etc had come from all over India and abroad to think about their past, present and future. Shri Advani was so emotionally moved by seeing such a big enthusiastic crowd that he ignored the security arrangements and walked across through his pandal and he was warmly received and cheered by the whole audience.

The same day in the afternoon, in Jiwatram Manghnani Sabha Ghar, under the joint auspices of Central Sahitya Academy, New Delhi and Indian Institute of Sindhology, Adipur a programme titled "Meet the Author" was held. Shri Kishin ‘Rahi’, an eminent poet was the Chief Guest of the occasion and the "Author" was revered Sindhi Poet Dada Hari Daryani ‘Dilgir’. Dr. Satish Rohra explained the idea underlying the programme and Shri Valiram Kishnani, spoke on the life and works of the poet, Dada ‘Dilgir’. Shri Prakash Batambrekar, the Regional Secretary Of Sahitya Academy welcomed the guests. Shri Dilgir described his creative process and his out look about the life. He recited some of his poems also. The audience asked some questions about his poetry, life and related aspects. At the end of this literary session, Shri Prakash Batambrekar, thanked Dada ‘Dilgir’, the Chief Guest and other participants and Indian Institute of Sindhology for making this programme a part of the Conference & Festival.

The Finale to the Cultural Festival was a programme of Sindhi vocal music sponsored by All India Radio, Bhuj. Well known vocalists like Shri Ghanshyam Vaswani (Mumbai), Shri Dushyant Ahuja (Adipur), Prof. Kishin Kewlani (Adipur), Ms. Teji Bhojwani (Adipur) presented Sindhi Kalams, Ghazals and Qafis etc. The Programme was well received by the audience. This programme was compered by Shri Kamal Nihalani of A. I. R Bhuj Shri Mohan Ramani, Programme Executive, A. I. R Bhuj thanked the artists, the audience and the Indian Institute of Sindhology.

The description will be incomplete if we do not talk of the Sindhi Bazar that was organised at the venue of this Conference.The Bazar had the stall of Sindhi books, audio cassettes, embroidery and art work, wood craft, Kutch textiles and above all mouth watering Sindhi Dishes like "Dhodho Chutni", "Dal Chhola Dhubhal", "Pakwan Dal", "Bhugal Beeha" etc. There were also stalls imparting information put up by Kandla

Port Trust, Sindhu Resettlement Corporation, Sadhu Vaswani Mission, Indusind Bank (Morvi), World Sindhi Institute (U. S. A), Sathyalok Charitable Trust etc.(Madras) and Tolani Arts and Science College, Adipur.

Judging from the massive participation of the cross section of society, presence of large number of Sindhi personalities and well organised programmes, it was a historic and a memorable event which created an atmosphere of cultural oneness of the community.