Twitter pays tribute to 'father of Sindh' Hyder Bux Jatoi

Various activists, writers, poets, students and academics paid Jatoi a tribute for his struggle

Twitterati on Thursday paid tribute to Hyder Bux Jatoi, a revolutionary peasant leader, on his 50 death anniversary.

Known as Baba-e-Sindh (father of Sindh), he resigned from the post of deputy collector and struggled for the rights of peasants before the creation of Pakistan and launched the Sindh Hari Committee.

"He was an unrivalled leader and looking at the inhuman condition of peasants and exploitation on the part of landlords, he dedicated his life for a cause. Because of his struggles, The Sindh Tenancy Act, 1950  was passed by the Sindh Assembly to legalise the relationship between landlords and farmers," Akhram Khaskheli, an activist who works for peasant rights said.

Jatoi was born in Bakhodero village near Mohenjo Daro in Larkana district in 1901 and got his primary education from a Madrasah in Larkana. He secured the first position in Sindh matriculation examinations and later enrolled in DJ College Karachi before graduating from Bombay University in 1927.

Jatoi then joined the Indian Civil Service and resigned from the post of deputy collector in 1945 to lead the peasant rights movement.

"His struggle was matchless. There is dire need to implement on the Sindh Tenancy Act. Even after 70 years, no government has enforced this law. Neither the sharecroppers are registered nor do they reap benefit from the act," said Taj Mari, a peasant leader.

"The Tenancy Act says that a farmer will not work extra for a landlord and his job will be confined to farming a particular land. He is not supposed to render services at the autaq of a landlord and look after his animals. But unfortunately, the PPP government in the name of amendment deleted this clause in 2013, converting farmers as bonded labour," Marri said.

Various activists, writers, poets, students and academics paid Jatoi a rich tribute on Twitter for his sustained struggle for the rights of peasants.

"What a multidimensional person! Hailed from a poor family, joined and left bureaucracy, challenged aristocracy and stood with poor peasants throughout life. His struggle would live long till all peasant's get basic rights to their lands and livelihoods," Sikandar Ali Hullio said.

Mehran Memon, an activist in his message said: "Important thing to understand in his activism is the question of peasants. This question of class is still missing in Sindh's nationalist politics which he tried to raise in the 1950's. Sindhi Hari Tehreek was a unique phenomenon in the subcontinent."