Mohammad Ibrahim Joyo: Who Preached Secular Nationalism

Muhammad Ibrahim Joyo,13th August  (1915),thought guru of Sindh , the great scholar, the teacher of Sindh and an enlightened intellectual, is the most extra-ordinary personality of contemporary Sindhi society, who laid down the lasting foundation of modern thinking- humanism, patriotism,secularism and nationalism in Sindh, his homeland, he loves with; which is the center of his learned gravity and unshakable commitment.

His contributions through his scholarly writings, extensively spread out to the fields of language, pure literature, education and political philosophy/ history and elegant, relevant and thought provoking translations, are undoubtedly and unquestionably incredible, conspicuous and highly qualitative in terms of transforming Sindh into a rational, progressive, dynamic and secular society, wherein be no place for any vices and evils like fatalism, defeatism and obscurantism- the traditional tools historically used for exploitation, slavery and suppression of human-being.

He has been the great promoter of the most dignified social values like liberty, fraternity and equality. He has fought a long pen-battle against the forces of retrogression in favor of progressiveness, and for this purpose, he has suffered a lot as well. Ostensibly, he is the Thought-Guru among generations of contemporary Sindh, but at the same while he has worth to be counted at par to the great thinkers and scholars of the world, today we live in. He throughout his life has kept in hand preaching a noble cause of goodness, beauty and truth.

Joyo Sahib was inspired by 18th Century European enlightenment. He was less inspired by 19th century democratic and socialist movements and personalities. In inspiration and studies he totally bypassed Lenin and October Revolution and instead accepted the influence of Anarchism of Bakunin via M.N Roy. India was a great bowl of accepting and changing ideas at global level just before partition. 

Interestingly Nietzsche was an ‘icon’ to the be copied both by novelist Maxim Gorky and poet Dr. Iqbal at the same time. Young mathematician Mushriqi trained at German Institutions brought back the the ideas and practice of Fascism. G m Syed  Ali Ahmed and Rasul bucksh Talpur patronized the fellow and organized the parades of Khaksar Tehrik. These were amazing movements of foreign origin but given a local tilt “ khaki shalwar Qamees” and all the members like Saeen G M Syed and Mir Sahban carrying along with them selves a Belcho 24 hrs a day. 

It is important to see Joyo Sahib through the books he brought to Sindhi readership. That will be the first and foremost aspect apart from the Institutions he built with the support of G M Syed. Like all intellectuals everywhere else he was inspired and smitten by the powerful ideas and later on attempted to digest them or put them aside. As intellectuals live side by side to the politicians and they often acquire a ‘few’ habits from them. One is so-called self-righteousness. But Joyo Sahib is amazing he did not suffer from any of these weakening.