Question

How did the people of Sind reach Bombay and Rajasthan?

Answer 1

The refugees from Sind moved into India through both sea and land routes after Partition in 1947. According to the textbook, “The Hindus of Sind fled to Bombay by boat, others crossed into Rajasthan.” This means that a large number of Sindhi Hindus boarded boats and ships from Karachi and other Sindhi ports and sailed across the Arabian Sea to Bombay (now Mumbai). Once they landed, many settled in Bombay city and nearby areas, starting new lives despite losing their ancestral homes and businesses.

At the same time, many others took the land route, crossing the Sind and Rajasthan borders into western India. These refugees entered districts of Rajasthan such as Barmer and Jodhpur, where camps were established to house them temporarily. Later, many Sindhi families spread out to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and other parts of India.

Thus, the influx of Sindhi refugees was marked by two distinct movements:

1. By sea to Bombay – bringing in traders, businessmen, and urban populations.
2. By land into Rajasthan – carrying rural families and communities across the desert border.

This dual route of migration highlights the difficult circumstances of Partition and the desperate attempts of Sindhi Hindus to save their lives and livelihoods by seeking refuge in India.