ISLAMABAD: “Revolutionary writer Comrade Sobho Gianchandani would call himself a ‘three headed monster’ because he was a Hindu, a communist and a Sindhi at the same time.

He was someone who stood by his principles and never compromised until his last breath,” said National Party President Senator Mir Hasil Bizenjo at a condolence reference organised on Thursday in the memory of Mr Gianchandani who died on December 8.

The condolence reference was jointly organised by National Party and Mir Ghaus Bux Bizenjo Foundation at Safma Media Centre on Thursday.

Sobho Gianchandani was a social scientist and writer who was inclined towards socialism. He was member of the Communist Party of Pakistan and the first non-Muslim recipient of the Kamal-i-Funn Award, a top literary prize in Pakistan.

Speakers pay tributes to revolutionary writer Sobho Gianchandani in a reference

Senator Bizenjo said in 1947 a number of Hindus left Sindh and migrated to India but Mr Gianchandani stayed in Pakistan and played a major role in strengthening the Communist Party.

“Today politicians project themselves for spending a few days in jail but Mr Gianchandani spent 13 years in jail but never tried to draw attention to it,” he said.

Talking about the attack on a school in Peshawar Senator Bizenjo said that it was unfortunate that there was acceptance in society towards perpetrators of such acts.

“In seminaries of Balochistan children are taught about the sacrifices of Taliban. We have been saying since the 1980s that Afghanistan cannot become our fifth province and the idea of strategic depth must end,” he said.

“The good and bad Taliban theory has been proven wrong. States are destroyed when they form armed groups for their protection. We have to realise that no terrorists can be good,” he said.

National Party Balochistan President Dr Yaseen Baloch said Sobho Gianchandani’s ideas should be promoted.

“Quaid-i-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah in his address in 1947 said in Pakistan everyone is free to go to mosques or temples and the state has nothing to do with religion. We have to implement it in Pakistan,” he said.

Intellectual Dr Nazar Mehmood said that whenever the true history of Pakistan would be written Mr Gianchandani and people like him will feature as prominent names.

Human rights activist Naseer Memon said people stand against extremists because of the guidance and education of Mr Gianchandani.

A reference for Mr Gianchandani had also been organised by Sindh Graduates Association (SGA) recently where speakers said Mr Gianchandani was an undeterred believer in fundamental rights.

He not only participated in the struggle against British colonial rule but also raised his voice for the people of Pakistan all his life.

Speaking on the occasion, writer, poet and intellectual Ashfaq Saleem Mirza said the younger generations need to learn from the teachings of people like Gianchandani and should examine the realities of society.

Human rights activist Tahira Abdullah said Mr Gianchandani was a man of unprecedented qualities who not only led political movements but also contributed towards literature through his poetry, short stories and essays.

Professor Amanullah Memon said: “The comrade suffered troubles and losses in his personal life but never allowed his personal life to overcome his struggle for the people.”

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2014