In 1997, I took a decisive step that changed the trajectory of my life—I joined the Jeay Sindh Student Federation (JSSF) while studying in college in occupied Sindh.

That decision was not born out of a moment’s emotion, but was shaped by the powerful words of Sain G.M. Syed, the pioneer of the Sindhudesh freedom movement.

Sain G.M. Syed laid the ideological foundation for a separate Sindhi state as early as 1971, inspired by the liberation of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan). His dream, and ultimately mine, was to break free from the theocratic and militarised state of Pakistan—a nation that has been consistently dominated by the Pakistan Army and manipulated by jihadi Islamist groups.

The freedom of Bangladesh was not just a geopolitical event; it was a torch of hope for us in Sindh. When I read about the sacrifices and courage of the Bangladeshi people, and about the leadership of Shaikh Mujibur Rahman, it stirred something deep within me. Mujib was not only the architect of Bangladesh’s independence, but also a friend of Sain G.M. Syed. He even visited Sindh on our leader’s invitation—a visit that symbolized the solidarity of two oppressed nations under the yoke of an unjust state.

It was Bangladesh’s liberation—with the vital support of India—that inspired me to engage in student politics. It wasn’t about power, popularity, or personal gain. It was about a cause larger than life: the right to self-determination, the dream of a secular, democratic, and peaceful Sindhudesh. For decades, I believed that Bangladesh was a successful example of that dream, proof that resistance could triumph against oppression.

Years later, I found myself in........

© News18