Abstract: The rulers of Sindh, in common with the rulers of other states and regions of India, used Persian throughout for official correspondence, court orders and formal documents throughout what is called the medieval period of India. Later, during the interim period before the British conquered this region, the local dynasties of the Soomros, Kalhoros and Talpurs also continued with the same practices though they spoke and also promoted Sindhi literature. In fact, coins and children’s books from the 12 the century (Soomro period), show the use of Arabic, Persian and Sindhi in different scripts. Moreover, the mystics and scholars of Sindh wrote both in Persian and Sindhi. During British rule it was used as the vernacular language of Sindh which meant that it was used in the lower domains of power (courts, police stations, schools and other jobs). At the highest level of the bureaucracy and the military, of course, English was used for the same purposes. After the creation of Pakistan, Karachi was separated from Sindh despite the opposition of the legislative assembly of Sindh. Thus, Karachi became an Urdu-using enclave. Moreover, not only Karachi but other cities of Sindh became predominantly Urdu-speaking. This led to a feeling of alienation in Sindh and language became a symbol of ethnic identity. During the Urdu-Sindhi riots of 1972 during the PPP government of Z. A. Bhutto these feelings of frustration and deprivation were expressed through violence on both sides. After the riots were over it was clear that the real issue was whether Sindh would be ruled by the Mohajirs or the Sindhis. This situation expresses itself in changes forms, though not necessarily through the symbol of language alone, in Sindh even now. [The author’s book Language and Politics in Pakistan (Oxford University Press, 1996 and reprinted by Orient Longmans, Delhi has been reprinted by the Pluricentric Language Press, Graz and Berlin in 2022 and is available in Europe and online.

About scholar: Dr. Tariq Rahman is an eminent scholar and academic. He has authored books on the linguistic history of the Muslims of South Asia, namely Language and Politics in Pakistan (1996); Language, Ideology and Power: Language-learning among the Muslims of Pakistan and North India (2002); and From Hindi to Urdu: a Social and Political History (2011). The National Institute of Pakistan Studies at The Quaid-i-Azam University, where he served most of his life, made him a professor emeritus in 2010 and the Higher Education Commission conferred upon him the title of Distinguished National Professor in 2004. He has been conferred the Pride of Performance Award and the Sitara-i-Imtiaz.. He is presently working as Dean, School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and Acting Dean, School of Education, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore.