Several hundred followers of Rasool Bux Palijo's political ideology from across Sindh, supporters of Awami Tehreek, and a large number of people belonging to different walks of life gathered in village Mungar Khan Palijo near Jungshahi town of district Thatta to attend the mega event to mark his 5th death anniversary on Wednesday.
Born in the village of Mughar Khan Palijo near Jungshahi, a small town close to Thatta, on 21 February 1930, Rasool Bux Palijo was an iconic figure of Sindhi nationalist politics who remained deeply concerned about the issues confronted by the poor masses of Sindh. He received his early education from Sindh Madrassatul Islam, one of the most prestigious institutes of the subcontinent's history, and completed his LL.B. from Sindh Muslim Law College, Karachi. As a young lawyer, Palijo started taking an interest in cases related to human rights, and worked at creating awareness among the people of Sindh about their rights and their emancipation.
Convoys of Awami Tehreek - a party formed by Rasool Bux Palijo - and its workers converged at the mausoleum of Palijo to lay floral wreaths and traditional ajraks on his grave, and paid him homage by singing revolutionary songs in Sindhi language. Earlier a motorbike rally of women belonging to Sindhiyani Tahreek - a party of women formed by Rasool Bux Palijo - reached at his final resting place to pay tribute to their leader in their own distinct way.
Motorcycle rally of women belonging to the Sindhiyani Tahreek, founded by Rasool Bux Palijo.
His son Ayaz Latif Palijo spoke to reporters on the occasion, and said that his father initiated new trends in national politics and instilled courage among the deprived classes of the country. He added that Rasool Bux Palijo was one of the foremost supporters of women's rights, and understood the complex socio-political ideologies of South Asia since he had vast knowledge of politics and various related subjects.
Rasool Bux Palijo played an active role in the elimination of the One Unit scheme, as well as the Movement for Restoration of Democracy (MRD). He is also credited with giving a prominent role to women in Sindh politics. Palijo spent almost 11 years of his life incarcerated in different jails. During his imprisonment in Kot Lakhpat Jail, he wrote his diary, which was later published in the Sindhi language and was critically acclaimed.
The National Awami Party was formed with the persistent struggle of Mr Palijo along with other active political leaders of that era. Sheikh Ayaz, Hyder Bux Jatoi, Fazil Rahu, and Jammal Abro were amongst his allies who backed him during different political movements. When voter lists were published in Urdu he launched a province-wide movement for publication of voter lists in Sindhi. Palijo also launched the Anti-Kalabagh Dam movement, considering it a serious threat to Sindh's rights as a lower riparian.
Breaking the barriers of norms and traditions, the coffin of Rasool Bux Palijo was shouldered by women belonging to Sindhiyani Tahreek, which is still considered as the most unique tribute given to any political leader in the history of the subcontinent. The mega event to mark Palijo's death anniversary was ongoing as of the filing of this report.
