Karachi: Sindh, a province with a history of resisting feudalism and anti-people policies by the Centre, is witnessing a renewed and vocal opposition to the feudal and Pir systems. Whether in response to the Fatima Furiro case or the recent killing of journalist, Nasrullah Gadani, the outcry against feudalism has intensified. People are shedding their fear and chanting slogans against it, with “Sardar, My Foot” becoming a rallying cry.
The Rise News has spoken with those who initiated the slogan “Sardar, My Foot” on the walls. A profusion of young Sindhis have refused to surrender their fear, boldly chalking this slogan across walls to voice their resistance.
Sardar, My Foot on Walls: A Message of Hatred towards Feudal Lords
Nadir Sindhi, 22, a self-employed-worker, living in Sehwan city, uploaded his pictures of himself chalking walls with a slogan, “Sardar, My Foot.” It quickly caught the attention of people on social media and a larger number praised his initiative.
Nadir, along with others participating in the movement across the Sindh province, believed that they already held anger against feudalism, particularly after the murder of journalist Nasrullah Gadani, who had chanted the same slogan. This led Nadir to the idea of expressing his frustration by chalking the slogan on the city walls. He spent 300 Pakistani Rupees to purchase the necessary materials.
“When I was chalking a slogan on walls, I was indeed expressing my anger against the system that supports feudalism and feudal lords,” said Nadir. “Nasrullah’s slogan represents the feelings of every Sindhi in the province.”
Another, young Sindhi, Atahar Panhwar, 24, from Mehr City, also wrote a slogan on the walls. He expressed that people already held strong sentiments against feudalism, but Gadani’s murder had further fueled their anger against feudal lords. His intention in chalking walls with slogans was to “educate people that feudalism is killing our society.”
Panhwar focused on educational buildings and places where people gathered in large numbers. “I cannot change senior people, but when the younger generation reads a slogan, their minds may change, and they may start questioning the controlled system,” he explained.
He further added that if they had held a protest with placards, then the protest would disappear in a couple of hours. However, he noted that wall chalking would not vanish quickly; it would persist. Whenever feudal lords passed by, it would signal to them the dislike of the people.
When asked if they had been warned by locals, Nadir and Panhwar responded that some people had approached them and advised against writing such slogans on the walls. They explained that people were already facing dire circumstances and questioned how long they would continue to receive dead bodies. They emphasized that someone had to speak up against it.
Read: Journalist Nasrullah Gadani: Who Killed Him?
Can a Slogan Turn into A movement?
Sindhoo Nawaz Ghanghro, an activist, shared that she had visited Gadani’s home to offer condolences. She was surprised to see that every wall was chalked with a slogan and little kids were chanting a slogan against feudalism. “Our people have been fighting against it. But, this time, this slogan has played a significant role in the movement,” she remarked.
Panhwar urged that this movement must continue until Gadani’s killer is arrested. “When we chant a slogan against feudalism, it means we are alive and rejecting a feudal system.”
Slogans Are Not Enough, Sindh Needs a Strong Political Party
Sindh needs a political party that can be the voice of the people, says Majid Gabol, a lawyer. He is from Mirpur Mathelo, the city where Nasrullah Gadani lived. Gabol knew Gadani through his father and brother, as his father shared the same views as Nasrullah. Additionally, his father spent time in jail for resisting the corrupt system.
When asked if a slogan can lead a movement, Gabol responded that slogans play an essential role in rising movements. He pointed out that if one looked around Sindh, there were many cases where such movements initially gained traction but eventually disappeared. For instance, in the Fatima Furiro case, Sindh remarkably resisted, but in the end, nothing happened. Noted that while this current slogan had not been around for many days, it was already losing momentum and would likely disappear within a few more days.
Gabol mentioned that existing political parties are afraid of being abducted or killed, which prevents them from highlighting issues, as they should. He emphasized that only a political party that addresses all issues from Kashmore to Karachi can provide a unified voice. According to him, a political party can lead movements; otherwise, they would continue to find themselves facing one issue after another.
“An impressive number of people participated in Gadani’s funeral, but when his mother went to register First Information Report (FIR), only a few people accompanied her,” Gabol says. “We need a commitment to support our people, and that is only possible when we have a strong political platform.”
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