A day to explore our Sindhi origin

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only page.

Travelling and exploration is considered the most significant forms of self-education. In the olden days, the wisdom of a person was gauged by the number of places visited by him. Even for the sake of acquiring formal education, people of earlier times believed travelling to be a good omen.

In this century of technology and innovation, where, the places one wishes to visit can visit you, Badri High School believes educational excursions and trips to different places of historical and cultural significance as an inseparable part of teaching and learning.

One such extra ordinary signature trip of BHS is a trip to interior Sindh. This trip serves to be a window of experiential learning for the students of Grade IX as Sindhi language is one of the compulsory subjects. The content of Sindhi and English, in this particular grade, as per the Secondary Board of Education curriculum, highlights Sindh as a center of cultural heritage and ancestral values.

On 29^th September, 24 students of Grade IX offered morning prayers at Husami Masjid, where a bus waited for them. The air was filled with enthusiastic chatter when the students boarded the bus. Ajrak was draped around the shoulders of many as a symbol of their zest and zeal. Cries of Allah O Akbar and Long live Syedna Muffaddal Saifuddin filled the air as the bus left with the young explorers. Recitation of verses from the Holy Quran along with Ya Syeda and Fulkul Hussain provided the globetrotters with the barakat needed.

The first stop was Dhamthal where hot, delectable halwa puri waited for the students. After having the much-needed breakfast, the bus headed off to BhitShah. On the way to Bhit Shah, students visited the once small village, Hala Haveli, where the famous Sindhi Saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai was born to Syed Habib Shah. Now, it is a developing city of Sindh, which is also known to be the center of handicrafts and the famous gulkaari of the province. Students were taken to a pottery cottage industry where they saw how pots were made out of clay and how gulkaari was done. The students were mesmerized by the whole process.

Still fascinated by the flowered pots and pans of clay, the students were taken to the famous Hala bazaar where the eager bunch of buyers rushed to the shops selling ajraks, khaddar suits, pottery, sindhi topi, and handicrafts. The experience of shopping in the native language was a challenging task. The purpose of language as a communication tool was highlighted.

The next stop was the shrine of the famous saint of Sindh, Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, who was known for his services for bringing the non-Muslims to the fold of Islam. As the Urs of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai is in Safar, the shrine was packed with disciples and devotees, paying their respect to the Saint of Sindh. The students offered Zuhr prayers in the masjid in the vicinity of the shrine. A bunch of devotees were reciting the kalam from Shah Jo Risalo, written by the pious saint, on the melodious notes of tambooro, a musical instrument invented by Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai himself. The emanation of the shrine at the time of rendition displayed respect and love for each other, which was the message of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai.

A museum at Bhit Shah was visited by the students which had dioramas of Sindhi folk tales on display. It was a visual treat to see famous folklores such as Sassi punnu, Meer Mohaari, Marai and many more come alive.

By this time, the morning breakfast and the snacks provided in the bus had been digested. So the expedition group sat down to have their lunch in a local hotel on the highway where they sat on manjis like people in Sindh.

The next stop was the Sindh University, Jamshoro, where lies Ms. Elsa Kazi, the poetess of the Neem Tree and the German wife of Allam I.I. Qazi. The group boarded the bus cheerily and was greeted by a heavy downpour on the way to Jamshoro. The kotri barrage was a visual treat in thick, driving rain. The rain and the bus both stopped outside the Institute of Sindhology, the first Sindhi language based research department, operating at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro. The students went off on to the grave of the poetess. There were cries of amazement when the students saw that the grave is actually surrounded with lots of Neem Trees.

Could man be as bold as thou and rise,

Above the earth with the sheltering arm,

To save the protected ones from harm,

From sorrows, poverty and vice,

Through sacrifice!

The quiet surroundings were echoing with the message of love and affection for one`s brethren.

The students visited the grave of Allama I.I. Qazi, the vice chancellor of the University and husband of the poetess as well. The students boarded the bus once again to retreat to the city of lights with lots of memories and experiences that only travelling can teach. With tired feet and puffy eyes, the group reached home at 9:30 PM after a day well spent.