Report by Arjan Daswani Singapore (Updated on 31 December 2018)
In early 2006 when I consented to serve as voluntary Coordinator on 14th International Sindhi Sammelan of Alliance of Sindhi Associations of Americas Inc. (ASAA, now known as AGSA or Alliance of Global Sindhi Associations Inc.), hosted at Singapore in July 2007 by Sindhi Merchants' Association (SMA now known as SSA or Singapore Sindhi Association). Dada Govind L Chandiramani of Mumbai approached me seeking my support to give exposure to his version of Romanized Sindhi Script and get general acceptance by the Sindhi delegates from all over the world who would be attending the said Sammelan.
In that respect I called over phone Mr Kishore Lala, then the Vice President of the ASAA, who consented for same and assured me of ASAA's support.
I then requested for same to Mr Deepak gurnani, the chairman of the said Sammelan, who put me on to his official on Sindhi language Mr Chatru Vaswani. Mr Vaswani was kind, he heard me, and though he indicated doubt whether Roman Script could fit unique Sindhi word pronunciations, he donated his personal money, printed 300 copies of Dada Chandiramani's 13-paged Romanized Sindhi Script brochure and distributed the same to the visiting delegates. The results showed that Dada Chandiramani's version of script needed some improvements and also that we should produce audios to support the correct pronunciations of the unique Sindhi words. This was conveyed to Dada Chandiramani immediately after the said Sammelan.
In the year 2008 Dada Govind L Chandiramani approached me again, seeking my assistance to give exposure to his version of Romanized Sindhi Script and getting general approval of worldwide Sindhi delegates attending ASAA’s 16th internationals Sindhi Sammelan LA-2009. Knowing that the results achieved at Singapore Sindhi Sammelan 2007 suggested some improvements in Dada’s version of Script. I requested my friends Prof. Dr. Devendra Kodwani of UK and Col. (Ret'd) Ram Gulrajani of Chennai for their help. They obliged and joined me and together with Dada Govind Chandiramani, we formed into the "Founding LIFE Committee of FOUR” We then studied Romanized Sindhi Script of other developers which were floating on the Net, discussed with some of them, consulted some scholars of Sindhi language, important of whom were Prof. Dr. Baldev Matlani, then the Head of Sindhi Dept.of Mumbai University, who was introduced to me by a mutual friend late Dada Shyam Gianchandani of New Jersey USA, and Prof Dr. Satish Rohra of Indian Institute of Sindhology, Adipur, Kutch; whom I had met at Singapore Sindhi Sammelan 2007, and also my colleague Dr Devendra Kodwani knew him well. After several discussions, the Committee finally came to achieve Standardized version of Romanized Sindhi Script. That took us to early 2009.
I then called Dr Dayal Meshri, then ASAA President, over the phone, who was kind to have heard me what I had to say and upon being satisfied over the cause of Sindhi Community and Sindhi language, he asked me to prepare a resolution that includes full details of the Standardized version of Romanized Sindhi Script, which I did and sent him by Email. Simultaneously I called my friend Mr Mohan Dadlani of California, who was an official on the Organizing Committee of Sindhi Sammelan LA-2009. At my request he agreed to serve as Chairman on Romanized Sindhi Sub-Committee with Agenda to help present the Resolution. And Dr Meshri then assisted by Mr Mohan Dadlani, presented and moved the said Resolution through a large gathering of world wide Sindhi delegates attending the Sindhi Sammelan LA-2009 and with the grace of God it was approved with over whelming majority of the delegates present.
When I conveyed the results achieved at Sindhi Sammelan LA-2009 to my colleagues on Romanized Sindhi Founding Committee and the consultants and advisers, they were all very happy. Prof. Dr. Baldev Matlani then advised that in order to achieve broader approval of Standardized version of Romanized Sindhi Script, we should call for a Summit conference of Sindhi language experts of India and Sindh Pakistan. The Founding Committee liked the idea. Our Prof Dr Devendra Kodwani offered his services to organize the Conference. The Committee thanked Dr Kodwani for that. However, the Committee thought that due to Visa formalities between India and Pakistan, that would cause long delay and we should first call for the Conference of Sindhi language experts of India and call for another joint conference between the Sindhi language experts of India and Sindh Pakistan at more opportune time at a later date.
I then called over phone Mr Prem Lalvani, ASAA Chairman and told him the whole story. He was very cooperative and after consulting with ASAA President Dr Dayal Meshri, he agreed to sponsor the Conference. Romanized Sindhi Committee decided to go ahead with the Summit Conference. Prof Dr Baldev Matlani gave me names and phone numbers of several sindhi language professors, and linguists, to whom all I made phone calls, or visited them personally in India, explained to them the whole project and invited them to the Summit conference. My colleague Prof Dr Devendra Kodwani did his part very well, organized the Summit conference through his strong friendly relations with Dada Lakhmi Khilnani, Director of Indian Institute of Sindhology, Adipur, Kutchh,, India, and Dada Khilnani made excellent arrangement of Summit Conference including lodging and boarding of visiting Chief delegates at SINDHU BHAVAN, Ahmadabad, India on 28-29 March 2010
The Conference was declared open on 28 March 2010 as scheduled. The meeting started exactly at 9:30 AM. Dr Dayal Meshri chaired the meeting and Mr Prem Lalvani Co-chaired. Prof Dr Devendra Kodwani took charge and handled the Conference proceedings in a very professionall manner. Col. (Ret’d) Ram Gulrajani served as spokesman on behalf of Romanized Sindhi Committee during the entire proceedings. As Arabic Sindhi Script has 52 consonants and English or Roman Script has only 26 consonants, several aspects of combination of existing Roman Script were discussed and deliberated on. This went on for the whole day and at the end of day, with grace of God, with slight improvements made on the version of Standardized Romanized Sindhi Script that was approved at Sindhi Sammelan LA-2009, FINAL version was unanimously approved, adopted and recommended for Global Sindhi use by all present. That became the Historic day for the Sindhi language, pro partition of India.
Those who took active part in the discussions on the subject of Romanized Sindhi Script, appear in the photograph below, names of them are written just below the photograph. Invitation to attend the Summit Conference was extended to at least three other developers of Romanized Sindhi Script that floated at the Net, but each one of them insisted that he would come ONLY if his version of Romanized Sindhi Script is presented and not any other. They refused to compromise. We missed them.
There was a Press Release which was published on March 30, 2010. Newspaper clipping of which is reproduced below.
The version of Standardized Romanized Sindhi Script approved at the said Summit conference was further ratified at a gathering of several world wide Sindhi delegates who attended ASAA's Sindhi Sammelan, Jakarta July 2010.
The mantle I took from Dada Govind L Chandiramani, was thus successfully completed to his satisfaction. That also successfully concluded the role of Alliance of Sindhi Associations of Americas Inc, (ASAA now/AGSA) and the Indian Institute of Sindhology, Adipur, and with tremendous help from both Organizations, the Standardized version of Romanized Sindhi Script was approved, adopted, recommended for Global Sindhi use at the Summit Conference at Sindhu Bhavan, Ahmadabad, 28-29 March 2010 and further ratified at ASAA’s Sindhi Sammelan Jakarta, July 2010, And not only the Romanized Sindhi Founding Committee, but in fact the Global Sindhi Community should remain grateful to both these Organizations.
However, for the good of Sindhi language, there still remain some tasks that need help of these two Organizations. And they are: (1) to bring this Romanized Sindhi Script in the official Education system of India. That may arrest the closure of Sindhi teaching Schools and the decline in the use of Sindhi language in India. (2) Standardize Romanized Sindhi Script between India and Sindh Pakistan. And that may boost use of Sindhi language globally. Till that is done, the job is still half done. We seek their indulgence for help on this Sindhi language issue.
PRACTICAL USE OF STANDARDIZED VERSION OF ROMANIZED SINDHI SCRIPT.
Dada Gobind L Chandiramani was very happy on the achievement of Standardized version of Romanized Sindhi script for Global Sindhi use and used it in creating short stories and jokes which he uploaded on his website www.Chandiramani.com Dada's website is has also vast information on the music and musical instruments of India. His website has been appreciated by many in the world.
After Ahmadabad Summit conference, I realized that for practical purposes, it would be best to establish an ONLINE virtual school using the said approved version of Romanized Sindhi script, supported by audios for teaching correct pronunciations for unique Sindhi words. Out of my passion for Sindhi language, I took this task on me. I consulted with my colleagues on the Founding Committee who supported me whole heartedly.
However, in order that this virtual school goes on for long time ahead, it was preferred that it should be put under an ongoing non-profit Sindhi organization. As my first obligation lay to Dada Govind L Chandiramani because he was the original founder of the base version of Romanized Sindhi script, I requested him if he could establish such an ongoing non-profit Sindhi organization, so as I put the virtual school under that organization. Dada Chandiramani showed his inability to establish such an organization.
Upon his denial, I as Dada Chandiramani if I could try to put the project for long term care under the ASAA for which Dada raised no objection. I then consulted on this with Mr Prem Lalvani, ASAA Chairman who showed his willingness to cooperate. Mr Lalvani then requested ASAA Treasurer Mr Nand Belani to help organize a website for Romanized Sindhi project. As the approval and decision on the version of Romanized Sindhi Script achieved at Ahmadabad Summit Conference was yet to be ratified at a subsequent meeting, However, I created some base lessons which Mr Belani was kind to have uploaded at a website through a Sindhi IT guy based at NY city. This It guy was good and Sindhyat oriented, he was employed full time by another company, his time available for this project was too limited. Therefore, this site was temporary.
Knowing that the project of this nature would require the services of a full fledged IT company. I made enquiries and came to know that the most favourable prices, terms and services would be available from India. I consulted with two such companies in India and chose one whose quotation and the terms I considered as fairer. I informed of this to ASAA Chairman Mr Prem Lalvani over phone and again at ASAA’s Sindhi Sammelan Jakarta 9-11 July 2010.
But for this funds were needed. I am pleased to state that I could organize the funds for hosting this virtual school of Sindhi language supported by audios from a friend of mine who shared Hotel room with me at the said Jakarta Sammelan. I did introduce my that friend to Mr Prem Lalvani and ASAA President Dr Dayal Meshri during a lunch hour at the said Sammelan and later Mr Lalvani thanked my said friend over the mike from the stage.
After coming back to Singapore from Jakarta Sindhi Sammelan July 2010, I got busier; I got Kindergarten level lessons under the heading of Mithree Sindhi Boli by the kind courtesy of Dadi Sheela Sippy of Sadhu Vaswani Mission Pune, and Primary one lessons by the kind courtesy of Mr Deepak Keswani of Ulhasnagar. As they were written in Arabic Sindhi script, I got them re-written in approved version of Romanized Sindhi script. My colleague Dada Govind Chandiramani expanded Kindergarten lessons with more sentences. Earlier I had prepared Romanized Sindhi consonants and vowels chart, which I got audio recordings done in MP3s. My colleague Prof Dr Devendra Kodwani prepared audio visuals for Romanized Sindhi consonants and vowels with explanations. All the text in Romanized Sindhi in all the lessons were edited by me and all audios too were personally supervised by me. I heard them again and again, got them corrected and where the post partition born Sindhi adults in India could not pronounce them correctly I recorded them in my voice.
All that work took few months and I am pleased to write that the fully functional virtual school supported by audios was uploaded on 31 Dec 2010, much to the pleasure of my colleagues on Founding Committee, several Sindhi language professors who helped on the formation of the Script, and of course Mr Prem Lalvani, Dr Dayal Meshri and the Sindhi Community.
Following are the comments from Col (Ret’d) Ram Gulrajani
"Looking back, I remember Arjan once telling me to go to Chandiramani’s site and read the Romanized Sindhi he has used to write some articles and messages. I was impressed and told Arjan that though there is room for improvement, the first effort is certainly laudable. Arjan thereafter doggedly pursued the matter and worked on it with zeal unmatched at his age. He found many wayfarers from the net who put in their suggestions, but left when things became hot and serious. The scholars were apprehensive whether this approach of re-clothing Arbic Sindhi with Roman attire will really work. Many gave their opinions but most were meant to dissuade us than to encourage us. Arjan stood his ground and found two lieutenants in me and Devendra Kodwani to support him to the hilt. As it turned out, Ahmedabad conference on 29.30 Mar ’10 was an historical event when all important Sindhi scholars and academics of Sindhi community of India finally approved our efforts with negligible modifications."
— Col. (Retd) Ram Gulrajani Chennai.
Another (backbone) colleague Dr. Devendra Kodwani, PhD, UK, wrote as under:
"On this website, the new Romanized Sindhi script will be very easy to learn. To support the learning and use of the new script audio-visual lessons introducing the Sindhi sounds and corresponding Roman script are being launched which would be available free of charge for everyone to view. The website will also provide short articles, stories and poems written in the new script. The new script chart is also being uploaded here which will be available for download. The website will also start building up a depository of Sindhi words in Roman script with aim to associate each word the meaning in English and audio of the word. The website will have link where the users and well wishers would be able to provide feedback on any possible improvements on the script and/or the functions of this website."
– Devendra Kodwani UK (PhD).
My friend kept to his word and did fund for the hosting of this project.
I have thanked him somewhere at this site. At this site thanks are also given all others who helped or assisted on this project in one way or another.
In the year to 2011 I received Primary Two level Sindhi learning and Teaching book by the kind courtesy of Prof. Dr. Baldev Matlani, then the head of Sindhi Dept. of Mumbai University which too I got re-written in approved version of Romanized Sindhi Script and got audios recorded for the lessons, which too were uploaded at the said Online virtual school.
I continued to manage this project in consultation with and with support of the Founding Committee. However, sad point is that within one year of launch of this virtual school of Sindhi language, ASAA Chairman Mr Prem Lalvani told me over phone that he did not find anyone in ASAA Board who could captain this project effectively after I am gone. And he suggested that probably Indian Institute of Sindhology would be the right people to handle this project on long term basis. With his advice I approached Dada Lakhmi Khilnani, Director of Indian Institute of Sindhology, Adipur, Kutch and Dada Khilnani showed his willingness to take on to this project.
At ASAA’s Sindhi Sammelan Ahmadabad 16-18 Dec 2011 two things happened for this project.
ONE: www/RomanizedSindhi.Org was officially announced before the large gathering of the Sindhi delegates who came from all over the world. At same time Romanized Sindi consonants and vowels coloured Charts that were specially printed for the occasion were distributed among the delegates.
Please see newspaper clipping at this link:
http://romanizedsindhi.org/newsletter.aspx?nid=29
TWO: On behalf of ASAA Dr Dayal Meshri signed and handed and Dada Lakhmi Khilnani signed and accepted the project of Romanized Sindhi for management under Indian Institute of Sindhology in the presence of Mr Prem Lalvani, Dr Devendra Kodwani and Arjan Daswani. ASAA Treasurer Mr Nand Belani handed a small sum lying in the books of ASAA as balance from the donations Arjan Daswani had collected for project of Romanized Sindhi, to Dada Lakhmi Khilnani converted in cash in Indian Rupees.
Dada Govind L Chandiramani did not come to the Ahmadabad Sindhi Sammelan. However, when we returned to Mumbai after the Sammelan, he was pleased and gave us lunch at Radio Club, Colaba, Mumbai. Present were Dada Chandiramani him self, Prof. Dr Baldev Matlani, Mr Prem Lalvani, Arjan Daswani (my self), Mrs Kajal A Ramchandani, Mrs Poonam Malani, and Ms Padma Mansukhani. The lunch was well organized. The sad thing is that on 27th December, Kajal called me to Singapore over phone and told me the sad news that Dada Govind L Chandiramani had a fall and left for his heavenly abode on 26th December 2011. That was shocking news for me and all concerned because I saw him very jovial at the lunch meeting just few days ago. We lost our Hero. Please read a tribute given to Dada Chandiramani by one of his devotees, at http://romanizedsindhi.org/newsletter.aspx?nid=30
Before his demise, Dada Chandiramani had started to write 10,000 worded English to approved version of Romanized Sindhi Dictionary which he was keen to put up to a website www.Chandiramani.com Mrs. Kajal A Ramchandani (a Senior Sindhi language Teacher at Jai hind college Mumbai) was assisting Dada, as a volunteer, editing Romanized Sindhi spellings of meanings in Sindhi that Dada was typing in Romanized Sindhi Script.
I offered my help to Dada and he was pleased. However, I suggested to him that in order to go at a faster pace, we should get the type writing work done by some one for a small fee. Dada agreed to that.
Previously one Miss Rafia Sarwar Shaikh , a Gold Medallist in Computer Science from Hyderabad Sindh, had helped me type in translations in Romanized Sindhi from Arabic Sindhi, on the Sindhi learning lessons that are uploaded, supported by Audios at this website. I found her work was good.
I contacted her for Dictionary work but she told me that she was busy with other work at that time. At my request, she asked her friend for this work, whose quotation was fair. And the job of Dictionary was given her. At my advice Dada Chandiramani sent a book of Parmanand's English to Arabic Sindhi Dictionary by courier service. In that book Dada had ticked 10,000 English words with meanings in Arabic Sindhi. Work had of typing in on Excel sheet commenced at Hyderabad Sindh.
At ASAA’s Sindhi Sammelan Ahmadabad 2011, when Dr Dayal Meshri handed the project of Romanized Sindhi for management by Dada Lakhmi Khilnani under Indian Institute of Sindhology, I did mention to him of this Dictionary work. Dada Khilnani told me that the entire Dictionary work of typing 10,000 English words with their meanings in Sindhi in Arabic Scripts and including creation of 10,000 audios in MP3 format, was done under his care at Indian Institute of Sindhology Adipur. He was too keen on that. Therefore, work at Hyderabad Sindh was stopped. Excel sheets with 10,000 English with their meanings in Arabic Sindhi were already typed in. I called for those sheets which I received in email by an attachment. These half done sheets were sent by email to I.I. of Sindhology.
I paid the money to the girl in Hyderabad Sindh through Ms Rafia, for the work she did. It was paid from donations that I organized. Additionally I organized full payment of creating this entire Dictionary with 10,000 audios which amount went by wire transfer from Singapore directly into the Bank account of Indian Institute of Sindhology, Adipur, Kutch.
At the instructions of Dada Lakhmi Khilnani, one of his staff Mrs Rajni Valecha went on editing the work that was done at Hyderabad Sindh and typing in Sindhi translations of English words in Romanized Sindhi. For that she based her work on Romanized Sindhi chart that our Prof Dr Devendra Kodwani had sent her.
Dada Govind L Chandiramani had introduced to us Mrs Kajal Ramchandani in December 2011. She was co-opted to Romanized Sindhi Committee in January 2012. As Mrs Rajni went on typing sheets, she went on sending them to us which Kajal went on editing for spellings of Romanized Sindhi, and also, in consultation with Romanized Sindhi Committee, meanings in Sindhi of any doubtful words.
II of Sindhology took almost 18 months to deliver the type written Excel sheets which time was very much beyond schedule as the time projected for was only six months. But we came to know that Rajni was doing this work mostly after office hours and therefore her work is justified.
The sad part is that the gentleman who was supposed to have recorded 10,000 audios in his voice for the Sindhi meanings of the words in Dictionary, meanwhile got ill and subsequently passed away. In his life he had done lot of good work for Sindhi Community and Sindhi language. The Community lost this Hero. But the sad part of it again is that the 10,000 audio recordings were not delivered to us.
As we did not want to lose any more time, we preferred to wait no more but get the job of recordings done from the Sindhi recording specialists in Ulhasnagar. As money for recording of these 10,000 audio recordings was already paid to II of Sindhology, because II of Ssindhology does lot of good work for Sindhi language and Sindhi Community in general, and to maintain our good relations with them, we considered that money as our donation to them with good heart.
We gave this recording of 10,000 audios to two Sindhi audio recording specialists at Ulhasnagar.
For which payment was made from the fresh donations organized. However, these Sindhi recording Specialists are born post-partition of India and some words they were not pronouncing correctly. I was personally hearing and editing Each recorded audio and some words I got them re-recorded, some unique words which they could not pronounce correctly even after two trials, I recorded them in my voice. All 10,000 audios were thus completed.
After Kajal completed editing Dictionary on Excel sheets, I overviewed it and translated from Romanized Sindhi to Devanagari Sindhi through a convertor, and prepared and Excel sheet with meanings of English words in 3 Scripts, Arabic Sindhi, Romanized sindhi and Devanagari Sindhi. Dr Vijay Bhatia overviewed it again. And the completed Excel sheet together with 10,000 audios I sent to our Webmasters who uploaded the complete audio supported Dictionary on this website in September 2013. Subsequently we made some corrections on it after we got feedback from the viewers. The updated Dictionary may be viewed at this link: http://romanizedsindhi.org/audiodictionary.aspx
Further feedback is welcome please for any improvements.
I am sorry I could not complete this Dictionary work while Dada Chandiramani still lived but I am sure he is watching us from Heavens above and blessing his own project.
DISCLAIMER: As this Dictionary is prepared by amateurs, it is meant to give general guideline only and must not be used for any legal purposes.
When ASAA handed over the project of Romanized Sindhi to II of Sindhology in December 2011. I was very happy and thought the project found that non-profit Sindhi Organization who would manage it and look after it on an ongoing basis for long time ahead. I knew they and their Directors had a good track record of promotion of Sindhi language and Sindhi culture. They were all dedicated workers. However, within two years from December 2011 I found that they were too busy on their bigger projects and commitments and in fact they had no time for the project of Romanized Sindhi which remained completely ignored. As I had mothered this project for many years, I could not bear that. Consequently, in consultation with ASAA Chairman Mr Prem Lalvani and Romanized Sindhi founding Committee, I took back the management entirely on me and have been managing it ever since and also organizing and paying for Domain, Hosting, and maintenance costs of the IT people and paying by donations that I organized from the well wishers of Sindhi language.
I am grateful to all those who have helped keep this online virtual Sindhi learning school ongoing uninterrupted Mrs Kajal a Ramchandani who was co=opted as a Volunteer on Romanized Sindhi Committee has. Besides her official duties at Jai Hind College where she teaches Sindhi language, and doing edit work on the Dictionary, has further been promoting Sindhi language by conducting Workshops based on audio supported Tutorials at this site, at several locations and times. Important Workshops she did till today are Bangalore, Indore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Singapore and Toronto. At Bangalore she did in conjunction with Mr Raj kumar Kukereja, another ardent supporter of this project. Please view report on Workshop conducted at Bangalore by clicking here: http://romanizedsindhi.org/articledetails.aspx?id=11
Mrs Kajal continues to serve on this project diligently and her services are widely appreciated.
Dr Vijay Bhatia of Pennsylvania, PA USA joined us and was co-opted to Romanized Sindhi Committee in March 2012. He has helped the project in many fields and has great devotion doing this voluntary work. When I first sent Excel sheet of Dictionary for uploading, he did overview of same and some slight corrections were made before I sent for uploading. Later we issued the same Dictionary on DVD in the year 2015 on which too he has done re-edit which will be updated and next DVD edition would have the modifications. Dr Bhatia’s help and the work has been very useful and appreciated.
I first met Dada Kamal Mirchandani and his wife Manju, both of Fremont, Bay Area, California, at ASAA’s Sindhi Sammelan Ahmadabad December 2011 and was astonished at their devotion and work on Roman Sindhi Script. They have issued several books in roman Sindhi Script, as listed below:
Before we met in December 2011:
1. Roohani Choond Sindhi Kalaam Part 1 (Roman Script with Meaning) ...Yr 2008, reprinted April 2009... by Manju and Kamal Mirchandani Following after that, in improved and approved version of Romanized sindhi Script as used in Sindhi language Tutorials uploaded on this Online Virtual School of Sindhi language:
2. Roohani Choond Sindhi Kalaam Part 2 (Romanized Script with Meaning) ....Jan 2012.....by Manju and Kamal Mirchandani
3. Learn Sindhi - 1, Romanized Script A global Solution.....September 2013 .....by Kamal Mirchandani - Sindhu Academy USA.
4. Learn Sindhi - 2, Romanized Script A Global Solution.....July 2014......by Kamal Mirchandani - Sindhu Academy USA.
5. Sukhmani Sahib - with Meaning in Romanized Sindhi Script Guided by Kamal Mirchandani , by Dada Lachman of Dada Chellaram Publications, Released by Poojya Dada Jashan P. Vaswani Nov 25, 2016
Besides all that, since year 2012, Dada Kamal has been conducting Sindhi teaching sessions on Community level based on audio supported tutorials uploaded at this site, at Bay Area, San Francisco, CA, assisted by his like thinking colleagues, regularly on term to term basis. Please see one such example in a report, by clicking here:http://romanizedsindhi.org/articledetails.aspx?id=12
Additionally, Dada Kamal has also been conducting Workshops for promotion of Sindhi language, based on audio supported Tutorials uploaded at this website, important of which are in Kuala Lumpur year 2014, on Board the Cruise at Caribbean Seas year 2015, on Board the Cruise Singapore – Hong Kong year 2017 and at Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, California, year 2018, all of them on ASAA/AGSA’s Sindhi Sammelans. At Kuala Lumpur Dada’s Workshop was combined with Mrs Kajal Ramchandani.
In the year 2015, Prof Dr Devendra Kodwani, through help from his friends at Gandhidham, namely Dr. Tejash Pujara, Mr. Mehul Bhut, Mr. Viram Ahir got made a DVD of entire audio supported Dictionary that is uploaded at this website. The copies of the DVD were made which Dada Kamal Mirchandani distributed to world wide Sindhi delegates who attended ASAA/AGSA’s Sindhi Sammelan on Cruise 2015 against small donations. Some copies of the DVD were sent to Mrs Kajal Ramchandani at Mumbai who too distributed them against small donations. The proceeds realized were used towards this IT/Webmaster’s Hosting and Maintenance costs of this online virtual school. On this DVD some audio recordings were mixed up and used on similar words in the same DVD. Errors have since been rectified with great help of Dr Vijay Bhatia of PA USA, late Mr Roop Dadlani of Singapore, Mrs Hema Kripalani of Singapore, and three ladies from Hong Kong namely Mrs Jyoti Khemlani, Mrs Madhu Hardasani and Mrs. Devika Hotchandani. This devoted Community service of all of them is greatly appreciated. The rectified contents are ready for making DVD 02. However, the guy who did software for the DVD before is unavailable now and we are currently looking for another software maker and as soon as found, updated DVD would be re-issued. Anyone who has any software writer is requested to help and send us the contact at [email protected]
Currently following are the members of Romanized Sindhi Committee:
Prof. Dr Devendra Kodwani, UK. Woks full time at an Open University at UK. A "Life" Member of the Founding Committee. Has served as Technical Co-ordinator since A1day. He was instrumental in organizing Summit Conference of Sindhi Language Professors and Linguists at Ahmadabad in March 2010, which he handled very professionally/ Currently he serves as consultant and adviser but would help the project anytime to the best of his availability and ability,
Col (Ret'd) Ram Gulrajani, Chennai. A retired Colonel of Indian Army. A "Life" member of the Founding Committee. Has served this project actively from A1 day. Current he serves as Adviser but would help when possible.
Mrs. Kajal A Ramchandani - Works full time as a Senior Sindhi language teacher at Jai Hind College Mumbai. As served on this Committee since January 2012. She was the Chief who edited Romanized Sindhi spellings in the Sindhi meanings in Dictionary uploaded on this website. Promotes Sindhi language by conducting Workshops based on audio supported Tutorials uploaded on this website.
Dr Vijay Bhatia, Works full time at Pennsylvania, PA, USA. Has served on this Committee since March 2012/ Helps on many technical issues on this project.
Arjan Daswani, Singapore. A retired businessman. As “Life” member of the Founding Committee. He was the chief force that leads to achieving approved version of Romanized Sindhi Script for Global Sindhi use and creation of this Online Virtual School of learning and teaching of basic Sindhi language. He continues to manage this project in consultation and assistance of his colleagues on Romanized Sindhi committee.
Dada Kamal Mirchandani helps on this project independently as and when possible. He is a retired Engineers and lives at Fremont, Bay Area, CA. He is dedicated o promote Sindhi language and Sindhi cultural events. He is the right person to take on to manage this project as a relief to Arjan Daswani. Please view photographs of the chief helpers of the project of Romanized Sindhi Current Committee members here http://romanizedsindhi.org/Pioneers.aspx?id=SalelessHelpers
Some years ago I received a phone call from some one in Sindh Pakistan who objected to removal of consonant Q from our Romanized Sindhi Script. I told her that was the decision made by several Sindhi language Professors and Linguist of India at a Summit conference specially called for the Romanized Sindhi Script that we use and any changes should be discussed and decide upon on Sindhi language authority level of two countries, India and Sindh Pakistan. However, for several months now I see that Sindhi language authority of Sindh Pakistan have exhibited Romanized Sindhi Script chart at their official website, and the consonants shown are almost 99% same as he ones we have used on our Script.
To compare please view the two charts, both of them have the supporting audios, at following to website links:
I language authority of Sindh Pakistan: http://www.sindhila.org/sindhilearning/subpage.php?Dflt=Alphabet
Our project Romanized Sindhi Org Chart http://romanizedsindhi.org/audiochart.aspx
The Romanized Sindhi Committe and infact the entire Global Sindhi community should be grateful to Alliance of Global Sindhi Associations Inc (AGSA. Formerly ASAA) and Indian Institute of Sindhology for their tremendous help in achieving the approval of the Romanized Sindhi Script for global Sindhi use. The AGSA has further helped in the promotion of Sindhi language through Workshops conducted at their Sindhi Sammelans. The Romanized Sindhi Committee prays for support of these two Organizations for all future for the benefit of Sindhi language and Sindhi Community.
This project was created by individual volunteers, and paid for totally through the donations from the well wishers of the Sindhi language and the from A1 day till today.
This project is also grateful to ASAA/AGSA for receiving some donations for Romanized Sindhi into their Bank account and paying out from that amount, for expenses on the said project, promptly, as and when needed.
All members of Romanized Sindhi committee are individual volunteers and work on honorary basis out of their passion for Sindi language and the Sindhi Community. They are not obligated to or governed by any Organizations. However, they respect each Organization that helps on this project And seek their cooperation and assistance at all times.
JAI JHOOLELAAL!
Arjan Daswani Singapore
Feedback and enquiries to
[email protected]
Current Romanized Sindhi working team :
