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For the
last 3 centuries, Sindhis have been travelling
all over the world. Amils are mostly interested
in the government jobs, medical practice, education
field; where as the Bhaibunds have never been
seriously interested in the pursuit of intellect.
During the time of Mirs, the Bhaibund had establised
banking houses, using the system of Hundies in
far away places, reaching Afghanistan and Russia
in this pursuit of the business. When the British
arrived, the Sindhi Bhaibandh found that he was
not of much use to the new rulers (Who were themselves
expert shopkeepers), he was forced to go out of
the country in search of work and concerned himself
mainly with trade. He perfected the art of salesmanship
with expertise. Money become his chief obsession,
for the more diamonds a Bhaibubd could load on
his woman the more successful he was considered
to be. From a very tender age he wandered off,
alone or to join arelative in a distant land,
to start a new life from scratch. An exellent
example of this could be that of the millionaireHarileelaof
Hong Kong, who is always happy to recall reminscences
of his early difficult years. There is a theory
that there is no country in the world where the
sindhi businessman, popularly known as the sindhworki
has not ventured. Once he found the congenial
corner, however insignificant, he would settled
there (Gradually capturing the market with his
shrewd bargaining instincts)picking up a smattering
of the language of the country and very often
marrying a local woman to establish his roots
in the new surroundings.
Art sindhis
are known for their daring. They would risk everything,
even their life, and go to the farthest end of
the world to achieve their object. Sindhis are
famous for their business accumen. They are enterprising
and hard working. They will explore every avenue
to reach their goal. Suez Canalopened for transport
in 1869. This expanded the ambition their trade.
Sindhis in the days of yore, traded in cloth,
foodgrains and horses with the neighbouring countries,
but they had not crossed the seas and oceans.
Opening of the Suez Canal opened the way for them
to step in to the Western countries like Gilbratar,
Malta, Cairo for trading purposes. In the begining,
sindhi merchants traded in good manufactured in
sindh. There were certain indigenious items in
which sindwork merchants traded in the begining.
Hala, a small town in Hyderabad district, was
renowed for its Lacquer work on wooden articles.
Every item of the finished goods that left Hala
bore the testimony of the skill of sinhi workmanship.
Toys and other items of daily use, such as UKHRI
(Mortar) and MUHRI (Pestle), PINGHO (Cradle) found
a ready and roaring market in foreign lands. Hala
was not only the place in sindh known for its
lacqer work but there was a village of Lukman
near Khairpur Mirs which also excelled in lacquer
work. Wooden goods in laqurer work of this place
found their way to western countries.
Mutak Bochini,
a bridegroom's overall apparel, was another item
of export. This Bochini was a printed, embroidered
piece of cloth in beautiful designs. This was
worn by the bridegroom at the time of his marraige.
After reaching the bride's house, it changed hands.
It became the head dress CHUNNI for the bride.
KASHI WORK:
This is painting work of beautiful designs on
pucca bricks, flower vessels jugs and jars. This
item of Hala was also in great demand in countries
beyond the Suez. Nausharo Feroz, a village in
Nawabshah district, also dealt in kashi work though
on a smaller scale. Kashi work of sind was generally
presented as curios of sind.
There are other
items of export from sind which the traders specialised.
LUNGIS (a silk cloth) of Thatta fine in texture,
susis and Garbis of Rohiri, AJRAK, quit cover
(Dyed cloth) of Bubak and Arazi in Dadu district
were famous. Embroidery work on small round glass
peices in ladies garments of Nawabshah, KHATHA
(Woolen blanket) of Thar Parker, KHES of Nasarpur
were the other items in cloth known for their
beauty and quality that went out of sind for sale.
Brass and Kansa
work of Larkana was another item which the sind
work merchants exported foreig countries. Satarachhi
or panjaranchhi (seven or five bowls assembled
in one cup) was a speciality of Kansa work. Kansa
itself is an alloy of some metals. The art of
making utensils from thes alloy was practsed by
the artists in this work from generation . It
passed on from father to son. Engraving on brass
and kansa articles was their speciality . Flower
pots, trays, thals, glasses, and cups which were
touched by their artistic hand spoke of their
art.
ORIGINAL
SINDWORK ARTICLES
GUDHIYOUN
: Handmade toys, dolls, carpets, pillow-covers
and cushions were mostly the decorative pices
which the sindhis as well as foreigners loved
to possess. Where ladies do the various designs
and syles of the mirror work. Cloth borders in
round and square shapes were in great demand and
are still good Art. Now, of course, new patterns
and work has come in to vogue But sindwork was
matchless.
Sind was the main
producing centre for these matchless articles
executed in attractive designs and brightest of
colours. The highly glazed lacquer paints lasted
a life time on these articles, which included
small jewellery boxes, teapoy tables, chairs,
bed steads and cradles. called PINGHO was an essential
article of furniture in every well-to-do sindhi
home. Sind work articles were in demand in Malta,
Gibralter and Western European countries. Ancient
sind workies were hars workers and enterpreneures
trading in enamel work, lungies, ajraks, multak,
bochinis and many other articles which were carried
in big wooden boats BERRAS. They sailed to Singapore,
Hong Kong, Manila, Jawa, Indonesia, ect. and earned
Millions of rupees.
It must be said
to the credit of the sindhi trader thet he was
very ambitious to such an extent that he did not
rest content with whatever field he was engaged
in. When sindhi traders first went to foreign
countries,they carried goods produced in sind.
Looking around, they investigated the possibilities
of sending to siind or India whatever was locally
produced in places where they had settled with
a concern set up at Hydrabad (sind), the place
from where the sindworkis started, they establised
a two way link which ensured the elimination of
brokers and intermidiaries like shipping agents
and sold goods at competitive rates.With a branch
established in a third country, a concern could
even established in a third country, a concerncould
even established throughout the world. The end
of world war two and the subsequent grant of independence
to India brought forth unprecedented oportunities
for the growth of trade, commerce and industry
in India.
Leather work especially
sapato, Juti and Mojiris were manufactured in
sind.
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