Adiya Raj Das / NEW DELHI
Multani community, which has migrated to India during partition, has asked government to do something for preservation and promotion of their language and culture. Community has asked the Delhi Government to set up an academy on the line of the Sindhi Sahitya Academy to promote rich heritage of culture and literature of the Multani community
Multani culture has always occupied a very distinct place in the rich tapestry of India’s cultural history. Multani culture is as old as any other major Indian culture.
The Delhi Government should set up an academy on the line of the Sindhi Sahitya Academy to promote rich heritage of culture and literature of the Multani community, the Mayor of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Narendra Chawla has suggested.
“As we have Academies to promote culture and literature of Punjabi, Sindhi and Urdu, efforts must be made to set up an exclusive academy for the Multani language. We will make this recommendation to the Delhi government,” he said while addressing a cultural function organised by the Multan Kalyan Samaj Sanstha of Mehrauli here.
Chawla made this recommendation in response to a suggestion by the President, All India Tax Advocates Forum (AITAF) M K Gandhi, who has been spearheading a movement through the Manavata Abhiyan—a leading socio-cultural body—for promotion of the Multani language and culture.
At the time of partition in 1947 mostly Hindus from Multan and its surrounding areas migrated from West Pakistan and mostly settled down settled down in Delhi and adjoining areas.
He said since ancient times Multani culture has always occupied a very distinct place in the rich tapestry of India’s cultural history. Multani culture is as old as any other major Indian culture.
Chawla suggested “at the international level efforts should be made to preserve the Multani culture and literature. The origin of Sirayaki is in Pakistan. Therefore for preserving our cultural heritage, it is imperative that there be an exchange of cultural activities between Pakistan and India so that the message of brotherhood spreads all over.”
“We should encourage Multani people-to-people meeting on a common platform in India and in Pakistan so that we can revive our cultural heritage. This will help in reducing the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion the AITAF Chief M K Gandhi said since ancient times Multani culture has always occupied a very distinct place in the rich tapestry of India’s cultural history. Multani culture is as old as any other major Indian culture.
He said Multanis who migrated to India remained preoccupied in settling themselves economically while neglecting the cultural aspect of their life. It is a matter of sorrow that most Multanis have almost lost and forgotten not only their language but the preachings of the sufis and saints.
It is estimated currently there are nearly 15 to 20 lakhs Sirayaki Multanis. Now they painfully realise that that due to their indifference and lack of pride in their culture, their cultural heritage is threatened with extinction.
Gandhi said interestingly this feeling is not only in India. Over three crore Sirayaki Multanis in the existing Pakistan too have become restive and are demanding the preservation of their language and culture.
“It is high time all Multanis must unite and make all out efforts to revive and revitalise this rich heritage. The message of universal brotherhood, which is relevant even today, needs reorganisation of Sirayaki Multani-speaking people in and around Delhi, to begin with, and, at a later stage, throughout the country,” he said.