HOUSTON, TX: January 24, 2015. (PCP) Hundreds of Sindhi-Americans gathered in Houston, Texas this Saturday, January 17, 2015 to commemorate the 111th birthday of Mr. Saeen G. M. Syed, a national leader of the Sindhi people who waged a nonviolent struggle against Islamic fundamentalism in advocacy of Sindhi freedom. Sindh is home to the ancient Indus Valley civilization and is now a province in Pakistan. A vibrant Sindhi-American community, numbering in the tens of thousands, exists in various cities across the country, as well as in Canada and the UK. More than 30 million Sindhis live in Sindh today. Sindhis are supportive of democracy and secularism, and thus have been marginalized by Pakistan’s military dictatorship and its Islamist ideology. The Houston event was put on by The G. M. Syed Memorial Committee, a Houston-based educational group, and World Sindhi Congress (WSC), a US, Canada, and UK human rights advocacy organization. For the last 15 years, they have been collaborating to arrange similar community events in Houston. Professor Snehal Shingavi of the University of Texas at Austin said that, “Syed legacy to non-violence, separation of the state and religion, and peace in region, is even more relevant today.” Peace in South Asia today would help billions of people rise out of poverty because resources currently spent on Military and Defense could be diverted to development and wellbeing of the citizens. Mr. Illahi Bux Bikak, leader of the Jeay Sindhi Quomi Mahaz, gave an eloquent speech highlighting the ongoing trend in Sindh of Government land redesignation, in which the government sells land in Sindh to retired military people under the names of “housing schemes” to change the demographics of Sindh. Dr. Suresh Bhavanai of the University of Texas showed a multi-media presentation about the Sindh’s history, especially the legendary ‘Mukhi House’ in Hyderabad, Sindh. Dr. Lakhu Luhano, Chairman of the World Sindhi Congress, concluded the night saying that we must follow Syed’s legacy of non-violent struggle and support the legitimate struggle of the peoples of Sindh. He further said, “Mr. Syed’s message of non-violence, tolerance, and peace has universal appeal, and the core principles of non-violence and conflict resolution are applicable to all the struggles for self-determination at individual, communal, or national levels.” He further said that WSC is committed to the Unity of all the Sindhi Diaspora Organziations around the world, and this event is organized to create a global awareness about the plight of Sindh and Sindhis. Others who spoke in the event included, from WSC: Umed Laghari, Ms. Paras Syed, Khushal Kalani, Dr. Saghir Shaikh, Mansoor Samo, Rehman Kakepoto and Zubair Bhambhro; of Sindhi Association of North America: Jamil Daudi; and of Jeay Sindh Tehreek: Pariwish Abbasi and Sahrif Bhambhro. The meeting concluded that the Pakistani government has been systematically violating the human rights of the secular-minded people of Sindh. The meeting categorically denounced the recent killings of Sindhi’s political activists, and strongly condemned the persecution of Sindhi Hindus, including forced conversion of Sindhi Hindu girls. The current government has completely failed in yielding any equity, fairness, or parity for the Sindh and other oppressed nations of Pakistan. The military still remains the de-facto ruler of Pakistan; thus policies of systematic demographic changes, including gerrymandering, unfair allocation of Sindhi lands to retired military personnel, construction of a mega-city Zulfiqarabad, forced disappearances of democratic and human right activists, and the persecution of Sindhi Hindus and Christians, still continue in this militaristic state. The birth anniversary ceremony included the recital of the Sindhi National Anthem by Zubair Bhambro, a cake cutting ceremony, a delicious dinner, and concluded with a Sindhi Soul Music session. Similar events were organized in Toronto, Canada and Bradford, UK. In Toronto, several dozens of Sindhi and Baloch political and human rights activists participated in the Birth Anniversary event. Speakers at the event included the Hajan Kalhoro, Aijaz Shaikh, Azam Bhatto, Jam Muir, Liaqat Jatoi, Dileep Ratnani, Shahid Behrani and Mumtaz Khan, who all paid tributes to the life, work and sacrifices of Saeen GM Syed. Hajin Kalhoro said that back in the 1950’s, Saeen was able to foresee the rise of fundamentalism in Pakistan and its devastating effects for regional and global peace. Zaffar Baloch, president of Baloch Human Rights Council Canada(BHRCC), said that currently we Baloch and Sindhis are passing through a difficult time, but that such times are part of all national struggles, and we should continue our struggle wisely. In Bradford, UK, Britishers of Sindhi and Baloch origin gathered to pay tribute to Saeen G M Syed. “Syed gave us the concept of modern Nationhood and explained the meaning of freedom and peace,” said Mr. Shahzado Wadhayo, Secretary General of Sindhi Sangat, UK. Prof. Nazir Tabasum. Coordinator of South Asia Forum said, “It was Syed who first advocated the freedom of Sindh, for he suffered a lot from the Pakistani Authorities.” “Syed spent more than 30 years in custody and even died in custody of the Pakistani Government. Amnesty International nominated him as a ‘Prisoner of Conscience,’” said Dr. Hidyat Bhutto, Organizer of WSC UK/EU. Dr. Naseer Dashti, a Baloch intellectual and writer, called Syed “not only a leader of Sindhis but also of Balochs.” Others who spoke included Dr. Rubina Shaikh of WSC, Samad Baloch of BHRC UK, Faqeer Mohammad Lashari, and Abdul Sattar Soomro. The Bradford event also included a Cake Cutting Ceremony and National Anthem Recital. The G. M. Syed Memorial Committee is a Houston, TX-based educational group organized to promote G. M. Syed’s message of non-violence, democracy, secularism, and the right to self-determination for Sindhis and other oppressed nations within the international community.