Seeped In Indian Tradition, Sindhi Refugees Recite Hanuman Chalisa In Urdu | FP Image
Indore (Madhya Pradesh): In a heart-touching display of faith and resilience, Sindhi Hindu refugees in Indore are reciting the Hanuman Chalisa in Urdu — an emotional blend of devotion and identity shaped by theirdisplacement.
Fleeing religious violence and persecution in Pakistan, these families arrived in India years ago on short-term visas, and around 3,000 of them now reside across Indore and Bhopal.
Despite living here for decades, they are still waiting to be granted Indian citizenship. Many of these refugees, originally from Sindh near Karachi, struggle with Hindi and feel morecomfortable in Urdu. “Reading the Hanuman Chalisa in Urdu gives us peace,” shared one of them.
These families, while rooted in Indian spiritual traditions, are still adapting to life in India, both linguistically and culturally.
Recently, Indore MP Shankar Lalwani released a video message in Sindhi, assuring the community that they would not be deported and that their future in India was secure. He emphasised that the government was actively working to simplify the citizenship process under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
To assist them, a special citizenship help desk has been established in Indore. The refugees complete the documentation and take an oath to uphold the Indian Constitution.
District collectors in Indore and Bhopal now have the authority to grant citizenship, offering hope after years of uncertainty. Some families have been waiting for over 25 years. The Sindhi community continues to hold on to hope, prayer, and the dream of finally becoming Indian citizens.
