Gujarat man gets posthumous award from Pakistan

Four decades after his migration to India and 14 years after his death, a man who fought for the rights of Meghaval community in Pakistan has got recognition for his efforts. The recognition from Pakistan has just reached the family of Sagalchand Satramdas Aanjhani Makwana in Mundra of Kutch district.

The story of Sagalchand is interesting. Sagalchand was born in 1914 at Aadhi village in Sindh province of Pakistan as a weaver. He left his government job for the community and fought battles for three decades with jagirdars and jamindars for ensuring equal rights and justice for Meghaval (community of weavers and Harijans).

This award is being presented for outstanding community services by an individual. "My father, Amar Vir Ladharam, lost his life while working for the community. I have decided to recognise such services in the community by presenting this award since 2006," says Arjun Das, an advocate and president of Soofi Dariya Khan Adabi Conference, a community organisation of Meghaval Samaj in Pakistan, which has given the award to Sagalchand.

Till 1951, Sagalchand was working as a deputy mamlatdar in Sindh province government but resigned from service to challenge Rana Chandrasinh in the assembly elections. He could not win the elections but managed to prove his point that in democracy, each individual has got equal rights. He then moved to do social service for his community and managed to get elected unanimously as head of District Local Board (known as District Panchayat in India) of Sindh. He continued his fight against inequality, untouchability and equal rights till the time he migrated to India during 1971 war with Pakistan.

During the war, many weavers had migrated from Sindh to Gujarat and Sagalchand was one of them. Initially, he settled in Pragpar in Banaskantha district and then he settled near Mundra in Kutch.

"We respect his leadership and his services. We have built a new village in his memory known as Pragpar-2, about 65 km from Bhuj," says Vinjraj Makwana, a nephew of Sagalchand.

"Sagalchand is an inspiration for us," says Das. "During those days, our community was treated as untouchable. Our boys were made to sit outside the classroom in schools. It was time of suppression against us. In those days, Sagalchand raised his voice and devoted his life for the uplift of the community," he said.

According to a rough estimate, the total population of Meghaval Samaj in Pakistan is around 13 lakh and  of this 11 lakh people live in Sindh province. "Sagalchand's efforts have brought fruits for the future of our community. Members of the community could not attend school in those days, but today many of them are now architects, doctors and regularly attend college without any hesitation," says Das.

The award reached Sagalchand's family on December 2 through one of the migrated families who visited Pakistan from Banaskantha.