Saraiki Language

serious research on cultural and regional inequalities, a strong desire in certain political tendencies to play the nationalist card as a short cut to power and dominance of desperation and rhetoric in our political culture. Due to these factors we have emotionally charged and substantially weak and unpopular expression of nationalist politics in Pakistan.

Saraikies like other nationalist constituencies have also been approached on the basis of nationalist rhetoric to fall in line behind “nationalist parties. However, nationalist politics in Seraiki area has been moving in circle and not moved forward at all. Part of the reason for this failure is lack of a deeper understanding of Saraiki question. Describing the unique identity of Saraiki people in contemporary Pakistan is a larger than life enterprise. Despite an intense desire among Saraikies to find an expression for their unique position in contemporary Pakistan little research and discussion has taken place in this regard. The purpose of this paper is to describe some unique social, cultural and historic characteristics of Saraikies and try to assess their position in relation to a despotic or pluralistic political discourse.

Saraikies have many unique features which separate them from all other language, geography and ethnicity based "nationalities" in Pakistan. In the first place Saraikies are the only group who live inside the borders of contemporary Pakistan. All other major national groups are spread across the border between Pakistan and its neighboring countries. Secondly, Saraikies constitute second largest linguistic group in each province of Pakistan. Unlike other nationalities they are spread all over Pakistan. Saraiki is spoken by people living along the river valleys of Indus and its tributaries and occupy centre stage in what can be called cradle of Indus Civilization. Saraiki towns and urban centers have a good mix of Saraiki and non Seraiki speaking people and non Saraikies living in Saraiki areas are accepted as Saraikies by local people. Seraiki land lords are among the biggest land holding land lords in Pakistan and have been important share holders of power under various political dispensations. Major Saraiki towns are home to Sufi shrines, universities, colleges, radio stations, seats of power, trading centers and cultural heritage.

Religious Seraiki religious leaders, zakirs and khatibs are spread all over Pakistan. Saraiki poetry and music is popular among non-Seraiki speaking as well. Saraiki have found respectable representation in civil and armed services of Pakistan and small and corporate business sector.

All these characteristics set Saraikies apart from all other nationalities in Pakistan. Their interests like their national identity are not strengthened by politics of separation and creating a Seraiki province but by forging unity among its people inhabiting the entire landscape of contemporary Pakistan. Saraikies are the true descendents of Indus Valley Civilization and a connecting thread to contemporary Pakistan. Their identity is destined to be linked with rediscovery of deeper inner unity among various linguistic, ethnic and cultural groups in Pakistan. It should not be reduced to fit in with narrowly defined political interests based on ignorance of Seraiki history and culture.

When Urdu was declared national language, thus resulted in the resulted in resentment against this status of Urdu. Inview of these developments the Saraikies scholars and nationalist have released to promote and protect and promote Saraiki language and culture. They relished that they have distinct a language of their own. They also have a geographical habitat which is different from much of the rest of Punjab. Its Rohi, Thal, Damaan have been celebrated with deep love by poets from Khwaja Fareed to Dilshad Kulanchvi and evoke feelings not shared by their Punjabi neighbors. While jhummar is a popular folk dance in Saraiki area, Punjabis are enthused by altogether different steps and movements of bhangra and ludhi. Unlike Punjabis who comfortably settled in Canada and parts of the US as early as in late 19th century and joined the British Army to fight wars in far off lands around the same period, the Saraikies have led till a few decades back a somewhat sedentary life. The tendency is described in the proverb: Safar-e-Multani ta ba Eidgah i.e, the Multani hardly travels beyond the Eidgah, constructed by a governor of the later Mughal era in 18th century on what in those days comprised the boundary of the city.

The living culture of the communities carries influences of the inherited ancient civilizations and historical past which flourished in this region and has permeated their present day culture and its expressions. Cultural zones of the Saraiki Wasaib within these two districts are discernable which have