Notable persons from Pakistan And Hindu Community

Notable persons from Pakistan And Hindu Community, Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world after Christianity and Islam. Our country Pakistan is a part of the region where Hinduism originated, having many sacred Hindu worship sites. Hindu community is also an active part of our society in various fields. Before partition in 1947, there was a sizable Hindu community in current areas of Punjab, but almost all of them migrated to India following the communal riots of 1947. Before 1947, Hindu community was in majority in the city of Karachi, Sindh.

After partition, Pakistani Hindu community was mostly concentrated in the provinces of East Pakistan (East Bangal) and Sindh. Following the communal riots of 1949/50 (Barisal riots) millions of Hindus from East Bangal migrated to West Bangal India. As per the first population consensus of Pakistan held in 1951 Hindus constitute about 23% of the population of Pakistan (East Pakistan 22.5%, West Pakistan 1.6%). The percentage of Hindu community fell to about 20% in the 1961 consensus (East Pakistan 18.6%, West Pakistan 1.6%). East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) separated from the rest of Pakistan in 1971, so now Sindh is now the only province of Pakistan with a considerable Hindu community.

Currently Hindus constitute about 1.5% of the Pakistan total population. In Sindh, Hindu community is in sizable numbers in various districts like Tharparker where they constitute 35% of the population. So it is no surprise that the notable persons from Pakistani Hindu community are from these two provinces.

Many Hindus migrated to India from Sindh and Punjab before and after 1947 served at key positions in India. Inder Kumar (IK) Gujaral the former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of India was born in Jhelum, Punjab and migrated to India in 1947. Lal Krishna Advani the former Home minister of India is from Karachi.

The constitution of Pakistan grants equal rights to all the Pakistanis regardless of their religion. However the same constitution restricts non-muslims for the post of President, Prime Minister, Governor and Chief Minister. Apart from these posts there is no such restriction like Chief Justice of Pakistan can be a non-muslim.

Hindu community is known for their patronage of arts and culture, but ironically in Pakistan very few from them are prominent in the field of arts and showbiz. On the occasion of Diwali, lets acknowledge some notable persons from Hindu Community who have been prominent in various fields.

Jogendra Nath Mandal (جوگندر ناتھ منڈل): Jogendra Nath Mandal is a famous political figure who actively supported the Pakistan indpendence movement and later served on key positions in Pakistan. Jogendra Nath Mandal was from Bangal Lower Caste Hindu Community commonly referred as Dalit (دلت). Being a leader of Dalits, Jogendranath had made common cause with the Muslim League in their demand for Pakistan, hoping that the Dalits would be benefited from Pakistan.

He was the first law minister of Pakistan after independance in 1947. He also served as the chairman of first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. After the death of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in 1948, Jogendra Nath Mandal gradually lost faith in the policies of the Pakistani government towards Dalits and Hindus. Despite this on the request of then prime minister Liaqut Ali Khan, Jogendra Nath Mandal supported the Objective Resolution in 1949 despite facing criticism from his own community. Following the Barisal Riots of East Bangal in 1950 and prevailing anti-hindu sentiments across the country he resigned from the cabinet. He wrote a detailed resignation to Prime Minister Liaqut Ali Khan in which he expressed his discontent with the policies of the Federal Government and the East Bangal government towards his community.

He eventually left Pakistan and migrated to Calcutta, West Bangal, India. In India he led a relatively low profile life and passed away in 1968. Though the first law minister of Pakistan and a prominent non-muslim name who supported the Pakistan movement, he is not much remembered in Pakistan.

Jagdesh Chand Anand (Late) (جگدیش چندر آنند): JC Annad was a prominent film producer/distributor from Karachi. Being a Karachiite,he opted to live in Karachi, and invested his wealth for promotion of Pakistani film industry. He made many famous films like ‘Sassi’ the first silver jubilee Pakistani film. His production house was named ‘Everready pictures’. He produced many remarkable films including some films on Muslim history as well. One such film was ‘Noor-e-Islam’, featuring the famous Naat ‘SHAAH-E-MADINAAH’. JC Anand is also a relative of Indian artist Juhi Chawla. JC Anand passed away in 1977. To this day his production house Everready Pictures is a prominent production house of Pakistan producing films as well as dramas.

Subhash Dutta (سبھاش دتہ): Subhash Dutta is a filmmaker and actor from East Bangal (or East Pakistan). He worked for many Bangali and Urdu films produced in East Pakistan in various roles. In 1971, East Pakistan gained independence and became a separate country Bangladesh. Subhash Dutta continued his film career in Bangladesh and passed away in 2012 aged 82.

Working in East Pakistan he was part of the first Bangali film there named A Desh Tomar Amar in 1959. Similarly he also contributed towards the first Urdu film produced in East Pakistan named Chanda in 1964.

Satish Anand (ستیش آنند): Satish Anand is the son of JC Anand. Like his father he continued the business of film production and distribution from their production house Everready Productions. After decline of films in mid 1990’s, Satish Anand also produced television dramas. Janay Anajanay in mid 1990’s was the first major drama serial of Everready productions, in which Nadia Jameel was introduced. Satish Anand lives in Karachi and his family is an active part of social life the city.