Prose - (Post Partition) Prose writing in Sindhi initiated in a big way after standardization of Sindhi script in 1853. After 1947 too, the trend was perpetuated by the writers who migrated from in the aftermath of Partition. Every aspect of prose flourished and hundreds of books are published in every genre of prose. After Independence , many essay collections by noted writers came into print viz. Tirth Besant’s - (1909 - 1994) - Vasant Varkha - 1959, Sahit Saru - 1961, Sahit Sirj - 1978, Khushboo - e - 1979, Sarang - 1979 and Aatm - Balu - 1982. Tirth Basant’s style is captivating in all the books. Harumal Sadarangani Khadim ’s (1913 - 1992) Kakha ain Kaanaa - 1966, Kanwar Paroon Paataar mein - 1984 are important collections as in the latter book Khadim carried a co mparative study of Shah Abdul Latif (1689 - 1752) with of , Persian and Punjabi and highlighted characteristics of Shah’s . Besides, there are important edited books of essays like Choond Sindhi Mazmoon by Kirat Babani (1922 - 2015) - it is col lection of 28 essays, related to literary evaluation and critical review of literary trends , and Hiro Thakur’s (b.1943) edited Collection of 22 essays Behtreen Sindhi Mazmoon. Naeen Zindagi (1949) was edited by Melaram Vaswani (1901 - 1972) which included 16 essays on miscellaneous subjects. Kirat Babani’s own essays are compiled in Adab mein Qadran jo Suwal (1974), Okha Dokha (1981), Pehi Manjh Paataar and Sindhi Kahani Virhagne Baid (1984) wherein he critically evaluated literary pieces. Hiro Thakur’s Tahqe eq ain Tanqeed (Research and criticism - 1997) also is a n in - depth study of medieval poets like Qazi Qad an (1463 - 1551) , Shah Abdul Latif (1689 - 1752) and Rohal. In his Indlath ( Rainbow - 2008) one important essay, among others is Banished duri ng British rule . Mohan Gehani’s (b.1938) three collections - Jaa Chitayam Chita Mein (1999), Tiryal Pakhryal Panna (2013) and Vahandar Nadia mein Chand Betaaryoon (2017) include referential articles and also a scholarly appraisal of some books. Popati Hir an andani (1924 - 2005) published about half a dozen collections of essays wherein she underlilned social evils and significance of , and also peeped into cultural heritage of . There are number of books that present research and analytical study of medieval poets. Kalyan Advani (1911 - 1994) in his b ooks on Shah (19 51), Sami (1953), Sachal (1954), a long with life, person of the concerned , has brought in concerned poet’s philos ophic shades and also literary characteristics. His Shah jo Risalo (1958) and Shah jo Risalo Mujmal (1961) with explanatory notes were highly commendable works and he was awarded Sahitya Akademi Award (1968) on Shah jo Risalo Mujmal. Hiro Thakur’s (b.1943) Qazi Qadan jo Kalaam (1978) and Jhammu Chhugani’s (1940 - 2016) Mahamati Prannath ji Vani (in two parts - 1991 and 1996) are significant research work and critical assessment of concerned poets. Besides, Fatehchand Vaswani’s (1894 - 19 79 ) Shah jo Choond Kalaam in three volumes and Jhamatmal Bhavnani’s (1905 - 1985?) Kaamil jo Kalaam (1954) are good studies of Shah Abdul Latif. Motilal Jotwani (1936 - 2008) too in Shah Abdul Latif - His life and Work - elaborately discussed Sufism and Shah’s poetry in the perspective of Indian poetic trends. In this respect Shah jo Risalo – A Study (1992) by Murlidhar Jetley (b.1930) is significant entry. Bhojraj Nagrani’s (1903 - 1984) Samia jaa Sloka, Jhamatmal Bhavnani ’s Dadu Dayal, Baldev Matlani’s (b.1952) Sachal joon Vayoon, Shah Sachal hiku Taqabli Abhyasu , Lilaram Ruchandani’s Qazi Qadan (1973), Jairamdas Doulatram’s Sant Kavi Mahamati Prannath (1618 - 1694) - 1967, Jhammu Chhugani’s (1940 - 2016) - Mahamati Prannath (1991 and 1996) , Jayant Relwani’s (1936 - 2011) - Mekaran Kapdi (1666 - 1729 ) in which Relwani has described Mekaran’s life and Sindhi poetry , are also meritorious works. There is a good number of books on history of Sindhi literature - Mangharam Malkani ’s - Sindhi Nasur ji Taareekh (1968) is detailed study of Sindhi prose and in his Sindhi

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Adab jo Mukhtsar Jaizo (1980), the writer has reviewed various l iterary forms. Lalsingh Ajwani (1899 - 1976) in History of Sindhi Literature (1970) - has focus ed on medieval poets like Shah, Sachal Sami etc. and has covered very little review of Post Independence literature. Lilaram Ruchandani’s (1924 - 2002 ) Azadia Baid Sindhi Sahit jo It i haasu (Post Independence History of Sindhi Literature - 1994) covered literatur e till ninth decade of the 20 th century and Popati Hiranandani (1924 - 2005) - in her History of Sindhi Literature ( 1984) discussed literature of the period from 1947 to 1980. Murlidhar Jetley’s - (b.1930) - Sindhi Sahitya jo Itehas (1972) encapsulates evolution of Sindhi Literature from its initial stage to 1970. Its revised edition appeared in 2006 wherein review of literature is updated till turn of the century . Kanaiyalal Lekhwani’s (b.1942) - research work on Sindhi Boli ain Adab ji Tareekh (2011) coverd liter ature r ight from beginning to the year 2008. Histories on Sindh also have appeared - Chetan Mariwala’s (1916 - 1984) two books of historical essays - Itehasik Chitra and Vichitra Varqa appeared in 1950 and 1951 respectively. Ja iramdas Doulatram Aalamchandani (1891 - 1979) in his Sindh ji Khoj (1993) include d articles on history and . Gangaram Samrat’s (1918 - 2004) important historic books are Arya Virt (1947) Bharat Varsh (1966), Sindh Soveer (1979), Baldev Gajra’s (1931 - 1991) Azadia ji yudh mei n Sindh jo Bhag (1985) , Mohan Gehani’s (b.1938) Sindh je Tareekh joon Jhalkoon (1998) (This book was later published in Hindi and English, too) , Jayant Relwani’s (1936 - 2011) Sindh Kutch ain Kathiawad jaa Sabhyatak Naata (2008) , Jetho Lalwani’s Sindhi Kutch i Lok Sanskriti Parampara (in Hindi - 2014) and Lachhmandas Keswani’s Sindh History from 1840 to1947 (201 4 ) peep into . There is a good number of books that critical ly evaluat e literary books and also literary topics. Hiro Shewkani’s (b.1935) – Jidat jo Mafhoom (1975) for example details principles of modernity in the first part and in the second part applies those principles to evaluate Sindhi Story. His scholarly critical evaluations are collected in about half a dozen books viz. Sirjan jo Sankat ain Sindhi Kahani (2004) which won him Sahitya Akademi Award - 2008 and Sindhi Novel Kathghare mein (2007) wherein Sindhi novel is assessed. His Jaaizo (1981), Lok Lahwaro Vahe toon oocho vahu obhar (2003) and Adab jaa Miyaar ain Sindhi Adab (2013) include miscellaneous articles on Shah, Sachal, Sami, Dukhayal’s poetry, stories of romantic trio Mohan, Guno and Lal Pushp, and also other critical essays. Lal Pushp (1935 - 2009) in Jeevan Jhankyoon (1969) has given in - depth study of Shah, Sachal and Sami’s life and work, along with study of Pre - Partition pillars of Sindhi prose writing namely Bherumal Meharchand, Jethmal Parsram and Amarlal Hingorani. Besides, his books Kahani kala jo Vika s (1972) and Drishti ain Darsani (1972) are landmark in the criticism of Sindhi story . Param Abichandani’s (1926 - 2005) Sahitya Akademi Award winning book Taka Tora (1994) is also a remarkable contribution towards Sindhi criticism Harish Vaswani (1940 - 2013) in his Sahitya Akademi Awardee (1987) book 40 - 84 (1984) sums up critical evaluation of Post Independence Sindhi Short Stories and also covers comprehensive appraisal of two novels - one of them being S ahitya A kademi Award (1973) winning Pyar ji Pyas (Gob ind Malhi - 1972) along with articles on Sindhi Nai Kavita . His second book Buree ain te Butryoon (Cipher and three Ciphers - 2000) is a miscellaneous book containing stories, poetry, travelogue and criticism which includes articles on poetry. His important cr itical analysis of Shah Abdul Latif’s poetry and its relevance in modern times is appreciably acknowledged by scholars. Prem Prakash’s (b.1946) booklets on Kahani (Story - 1989 ) , Natak (Drama - 1990) and Nai Kavita (1988) and his thesis Sindhi Natak ji Osar (Evolution of Sindhi Drama - 1993) are commendable contribution to criticism of Sindhi drama . Namdev Tarachandani ’s (b.1946) - Sindhi Katha Sahit (2004) consists of critical articles on text of Sindhi Stories. Namdev does not rely on set principles of critici sm; instead

2 he depends on his insight into the stories while evaluating them. Navaan Ufaq (New Horizons - 1975 ) edited by Shyam Jaisinghani also deals with new perspectives of Sindhi Story . Vasdev Mohi (b.1944) in Gaalh Shairia ji (2007) brings analytical a rticles on poetry and . His Virhagne khanpoi Sindhi jo Handbook ( Post Partition Handbook of Sindhi Ghazal - 2008) discusses history, format, practice and artistic beauty of Sindhi ghazal that has been in vogue for the last two and a half centur ies in Sindhi poetry. Lakhmi Khilani ’s (b.1935) reviews and thought provoking editorial prefaces in Rachna Quarterly are collected in four volumes of Rachna Yaatraa (2001,2002,2003 and 2005) Satish Rohra’s (b.1929) miscellaneous penetrating and analytical critical writings are included in Chhanda Chhaana (1995), Kavita khan Kavita taaeen (2000), Katha khan Katha taaeen (2002) and Sahitya Sirjan (2005). Jetho Lalwani (b.1945) is credited with many critical books related to folk literature, besides he is closely attached with play writing, and his books related to technical aspects of drama Natak ain Rangmanch Kala, (1981) , Natak jo Vikas (1982), Sindhu Na tya Darshan (1982) and Sindhi Natak Parampara (2012) are good informative books that present critical angle too. Jagdish Lachhani (b.1939) has penned more than a dozen books wherein he has discussed literature right from its basic principles to its evaluat ion in scholarly style. Moreover , he has also written approximately half a dozen monographs under Sahitya Akademi’s ‘Makers of Indian Literature’ series. Some of his monographs are: Mohan Kalpana (2007), Shyam Jaisinghani (2011), Lal Pushp (2011) and other s. Kamla Goklani’s (b.1950) half a dozen books include her reviews on various books and regional literature like Rajasthan je Sindhi Sahit jo Jaizo (1985). There are many biographies written in Sindhi , a few among them are First Sahitya Akademi Awardee Tirth Basant’s (1909 - 1994) Kanwar (1957). The writer presents many glimpses of Martyr Kanwar’s life. Apart from it , he also wrote biography of “Gandhiji” in three volulmes (1972, 1978 and 1979). Other biographers and their biographies are Kanayalal Talrej a - Veer Savarkar (1970), Amar Shaheed Kanwarram (1977); Jetho Lalwani - Shaheed Hemu Kalani, Popati Hiranandani - Aziz hika Aala Shakhsiyat, and Mohan Kalpana (1930 - 1992) - Fankaar ain Felsoof Sugan Ahuja (1973) . Many important writer s in Sindhi have written his/her autobiography. Some are: Chetan Mariwala’s (1916 - 1984) Saambhar ji Darsinia taan (1960) - in which he has presented memories of his life. Similarly N. R. Malkani (1890 - 1974) in Nirali Zindagi (1973) has narrated his personal experiences and also has given commentary on political scenario during his period. Descriptions of his association with Mahatma Gandhi and his participation in freedom struggle are interesting to read. In Munhinji Hayatia jaa Sona Ropa Varqa (1981) Popati Hiranandani (192 4 - 2005) has described pathetic conditions at the time of Partition and Sindhis’ displaced life thereafter, and also their struggle to settle themselves . I n Bukha, Ishq ain Adab (Hunger, Love and Literature - 1984) by Mohan Kalpana (1930 - 1992) readers witness writer’s impressive style. Hari Dilgir in Cholo Munjhinjo Chika mein (1987) and Gandu Munhinj i Godi mein (2003) has described what goes in his conscious and sub conscious psyche. In five volumes of Adab ain Adeeb in addition to his personal life , Gobind Malhi (1921 - 2001) has presented political and social background of his times. Hari Motwani’s (1929 - 2006) Aakhri Pa n na records narration of his life that shuttled between India and Sindh. Laxman Bhatia Komal’s (1936 - 2014) Vahee Khate jaa Panna published in Sindh in three volumes (2006, 2008, and 2011 ) and then translated into Hindi and Marathi is episodic narration of his association with Sindhi and non Sindhi litterateurs and also his love life. It can be called social document of Sind his’ life after Partition. Kirat Babani’s (1922 - 2015) Kujhu Budhayam, Kujhu Likayum in four volumes; Motilal Jotwani’s Aatm

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Katha je Naale mein (1994); Narayan Bharati’s (1932 - 2017) Sarau jaa Pana (Leaves of Autumn - 1995); Rita Shahani’s (1934 - 2013) Ghindu Jaanu Vago (1994) and Bipahiria jaa ba Pala (1996) and Ratna Godiya’s (b.1939) Maan ee Maan (2005) also give glimpses of respective writer ’ s life. Narayan Bharati (1932 - 2017) has published several books on folk literature. He has more than half a do zen books on varied subjects of folklore to his credit. Parso Gidwani (1937 - 2004) and Jetho Lalwani continued the trend and have extensively worked on Folklore of Banni, Kutch. Lilaram Ruchandani (1924 - 2002) and Jagdish Shahdadpuri (b.1961) started a serie s of books on Folk literature which published many books on folk literature like Kathputli (May - June 1999), Roopbasant (Sept, 1999), Tamasha (2000), Bhagat (2000) etc. Kamal Pyasi (1929 - 2015), Gobind Malhi , Jayant Relwani (1936 - 2010) and Pritam Varyani ( b. 1930 ) have substantially contributed to folk literature. Murlidhar Jetley, Raviprakash Tekchandani ( b. 1968 ), Lekhraj Aziz (1897 - 1971) and Santdas Punhunmal Kishnani (1902 - 1991) have compiled books of Idioms and Proverbs that are their important contribut ion to the language. There are many dictionaries that are important part of Sindhi language and literature viz. Lachhman Hardwani’s (b.1942) Marathi - Sindhi Dictionary (1991); Kanaiyalal Lekhwani’s - Concise Dictionaries - Buniyadi Sindhi - Hindi (1995), Buniyadi Sindhi - Angrezi - Hindi (1996), Buniyadi Sindi - Angrezi (2001), Sindhi - Hindi - Angrezi Tasveeri Dictionary (2001); Krishinchandra Jetley’s - Sindhi Shabd Mahran - synonyms - manuscript) - his son Murlidhar Jetley published it (1999) and recently Satish Rohra’ s trilingual Sindhi - Hindi - English dictionary (2011). Leaving aside dictionaries, there are some grammar books too that appeared for the benefit of learners of the language. Among them Satramdas Sayal’s (1914 - 2015) Naon Sindhi Vyakaran (New Sindhi Grammar - 1980 & 1981) in two volumes; Leelaram Ruchandani’s - Sindhi Vyakaran - 1980, wherein Pers i o - Arabic defining words are used to explain the basics of grammatical terms ; Dayaram Vasanmal Mirchandani ’s - Sindhi Vyakaran in two volumes (1963 & 1964), in these volumes defining grammatical words are from Hindi and Sanskrit; and also Murlidhar Jetley’s (b.1930) grammar books are important and he has contributed a lot in this field . Some grammar books have appeared in Devnagri script too for example Usha Sarswat’s (b. 1943) Nutan Sindhi Vyakaran . Sindhi prose under nonfiction genres covers expansively wide area.

Bibliography: Sindhi Sahity jo Mukhtsar Itihas (2016) by Kanaiyalal Lekhwani, Azadia khanpoi Sindhi Sahit jo Itihas (1994) by Lilaram Ruchandani, History of Sindhi Literture (1984) by Popati Hiranandani , Azadia khanpoi Ghairafsanvi Sindhi Adab (Post Independence Nonfiction Sindhi Literature - 2013) edited by Vasdev Mohi. Va. Mo.

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