Vedhar: A village with same name in Sindh and Kutch

After 1971 India-Pak war, thousands of people migrated from Sindh in Pakistan to the Kutch in India. Among which one interesting story is about the village of Vedhar. The Rajputs of Vedhar migrated in Kutch and stayed in 2 different places and named them as a Vedhar, the same name as the village they left from in Sindh. Vedhar 1 is near to Village of Nirona and Vedhar 2 near to the Chhari & Fulay.
Village of Vedhar is another interesting story connecting Sindh and Kutch.

Another similarity: Sweetness in the behaviour: When a Kutchi met a Sindhi in Canada

Kutchi and Sindhi culture has another similarity and that is sweetness "mithas". Both culture has a special importance for the people and especially for the guests. We consider guest as almost equal to God.
I met a Sindhi person during my recent trip to Lake Louis,  Banff National Park in Canada. There was a family came to explore Banff from Saskatoon. I overheard them speaking in Kutchi or Sindhi. So, I approached them. I asked " are you Kutchi?" He said " no we are Sindhi". Then we started discussing several things about the Sindh and Kutch.
They were from the Larkano district of the Sindh province of Pakistan. The sweetness of the both cultures was evident during our conversation. Eventhough a different country, different religion but because of the Kutchi and Sindhi culture, it was a very sweet and warm discussion.
    

Similarities in Sindhi language and Kutchi dialect

"Sindhi" language having Arabic script is similar to the "Kutchi" dialect spoken in the Kutch. The words and the way they are spoken are almost similar. The difference I could find is the pronunciation.
The words like "lolo" used for the Indian hand made bread "roti" is similar in both Sindhi and Kutchi. "otto" or "ottak" is another word used by both languages means the place were people sit and discuss. "bha" for brother
"gehu" for wheat
"palak" for spinach
"kadhi" a kind of curry
"nalo" means name
"pe" means father
"sua" means dill seeds
"wadero" means chief

likewise there are many words which are exactly similar in "Kutchi" and "Sindhi". The only difference is "Kutchi" doesn't have officially script yet unlike "Sindhi".

"MORCHANG" Another musical instrument connecting Sindh and Kutch

"MORCHANG" is a special and unique musical instrument mainly originated from the Sindh and also used in Rajsthan and south India. It is having a metal structure and a tongue fork which is surrounded by a metal structure. The tongue fork is bend at the end. The instrument player holds the metal structure between the teeth and blows air in and out along with vibrating the bent end of the fork with the help of finger. It produces very interesting sound which is heart touching. During my recent visit to Kutch, India, my home town, a blacksmith and friend of my elder brother gifted me one "MORCHANG" and also taught me how to play it. I feel delighted whenever I play it.

The meaning of Morchang in Kutchi as well in Sindhi is "beak of Peacock". The shape of the instrument is like it's meaning in Kutchi and Sindhi".

I found some more information on wikipedia about the "MORCHANG" on following linki.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morsing

Picture of Morchang (Picture courtesy: http://www.musicinstruments.in/Morchang.html )

Video of a Rajsthani person playing Morchang (Courtesy: Youtube)

'Jodiya Pava' (Double Flute): Common musical instrument in Sindh and Kutch

November 28, 2017     Edmonton, Canada

Jodiya Pava is a unique musical instrument commonly played in the Kutch and Sindh. It includes two flutes played by one person. It is so sweet to listen and requires a specific training which some Sindhis and Kutchis have got by heredity. 

During my recent visit to India, I got a chance to meet Ismail, a man in his fifties who plays 'Jodiya Pava'. He lives in a small village called Zura. He learnt it in his childhood from his father who used to work as shepherd. They are called as 'Jat', a Muslim community in Kutch known for their Shepherd occupation, handicrafts and unique ornaments the females wear.

Sindhi folk songs generally has 'Jodiya pava' as a supportive musical instrument along with either dholak, an Indian drum and Manjira. I personally like Sindhi folk songs. 

Ismail Jat, playing 'Jodiya Pava' 

'Jodiya Pava' artist playing in a program organized near Hamirsar lake, Bhuj, Kutch

Indus Valley civilization: connecting Kutch and Sindh

November 28, 2017   Edmonton, Canada

Indus valley civilization is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. It is mainly developed on the banks of Sindhu river.

Mohen-jo-daro (mould of dead) is situated in Sindh province of Pakistan. It is declared as UNESCO world heritage site. Built around 2500 BCE, it is considered as one of the largest sites on the Indus valley civilization. It is evident from the architecture of the excavated city, that people lived a highly modern life that too 5500 years ago. Straight streets, well designed homes, wells, the great bath, etc made it so special. It is difficult to imagine such development at that time. How a city ended up in to the earth is still a mystery. But one thing is for clear that the people of Sindh and surroundings are the ancestors of people who made and lived in such a amazing city. We should have proud for that.

Dholavira is another indus valley civilization site, situated in the Kutch district of Gujarat state of India. It is sign of another harappan archeological monument which is built around the same time as Mohen-jo-daro. It's speciality is the water reservoirs. Since the area is drought prone, people at that time planned to reserve the rain fresh water. I got surprised when I saw the site first time and it made me so happy to think that, yes I belong to you, yes my ancestors have made such a great architecture.

One site is in today's Sindh and other in today's Kutch. Both are in different countries but have been developed at almost same time. This is one more evidence of the historical similarity between Kutch and Sindh.

1. Great bath of Mohen-jo-daro, 2. The bird eye view of the schematic city of Mohen-jo-daro

Source of pictures: Google images

Photographs of excavated site of Dholavira

Source of pictures: Google images

Idea of this Blog

November 26, 2017 Edmonton, Canada

Recently I visited my back home in India. I born and raised in a very small village edged to the Rann of Kutch with name NIRONA. I met a person with name Laljibhai, father of my school teacher. He narrated me full story about their migration from Sindh and about culture of Sindh.
I got interest in the Sindhi culture as there are so many similarities in the Sindhi culture and the Kutch: my own culture including the language. Kutchi and Sindhi are spoken by almost similar way except some words and the pronunciation.
It made me curious to know about Sindh and it's culture and it's comparison with Kutch. I ordered some books from Amazon and now I have started reading. As I am reading more, it is making me more interested. Throughout my blog posts I will be posting my knowledge and understanding about Sindhi culture, Post-partition experiences and about my own Kutch.

Source of Image: 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Bombay_Prov_north_1909.jpg/732px-Bombay_Prov_north_1909.jpg