Hyder Bux Jatoi
Hyder Bux Jatoi was a Pakistani revolutionary, leftist politician and progressive writer from Sindh. He served as the president of the Sindh Peasants Committee, a constituent member of the National Awami Party. He also composed Sindhi-language social poetry, and is known as "Baba-e-Sindh".
Early life and education
Hyder Bux Jatoi was born on 7 October 1901 in Bakhodero village near Mohenjo-daro in Larkana District. As his mother, Sahib Khatoon died soon after his birth, he was brought up by his father and aunts. Soon after, on completing his primary school, the young lad joined the Sindh Madarsah School at Larkana, where he topped the list of successful examinees every year. He topped the Sindh vernacular final examination in 1918 among candidates from all over Sindh and then won his first position in Sindh at the matriculation examination from the Bombay University in 1923. Hyder Bux Jatoi was an ethnic Baloch from Jatoi Tribe.He studied at the D. J. Science College, Karachi, and remained a resident boarder in Metharam Hostel attached to the college. He graduated in 1927 with honours in literature and won distinction in Persian from the Bombay University. He served as editor of the college miscellany and won the annual award for writing a poem called "college kabootar". Throughout his student life at Larkana and Karachi, he was a scholarship holder.
He married his cousin Sammul at the age of 27. They had five sons, Mustafa, Mazhar Ali, Dadan, Hatim, and Murtaza.
Civil service and resignation
After graduating from Bombay University in 1927, Hyder Bux Jatoi entered the Indian Civil Service and was appointed as a Deputy Collector in Sindh. His civil service career placed him in a prestigious position, where he became known for his honesty, efficiency, and literary interests. During this period, he also wrote poetry, including his first collection Tohfa-e-Sindh, reflecting his creative side even as he worked within the colonial administration. Although his government role offered security and influence, Jatoi grew increasingly disturbed by the system of agrarian exploitation he witnessed in Sindh. Tenant farmers lived in deep poverty, often bound in unfair contracts with powerful landlords. As Deputy Collector, he had direct exposure to cases of injustice and exploitation, which left a lasting impression on him. By the mid-1940s, Jatoi became convinced that the colonial bureaucracy and feudal system were inherently unjust and could not deliver fairness to Sindh’s peasantry. He came to believe that a civil servant’s role only maintained the status quo, while true service required direct struggle alongside the oppressed. In 1945, at the peak of his career, he made the historic decision to resign from the civil service. His resignation opened the way for him to lead the Sindh Hari Committee, transforming it into a mass movement of peasants demanding dignity, rights, and justice.[Sindh Hari Committee]
After resigning from the civil service in 1945, Comrade Hyder Bux Jatoi dedicated himself fully to the Sindh Hari Committee, which had been founded earlier in 1930 by leaders including Ghulam Muhammad Leghari. When Jatoi assumed leadership, he infused the movement with new energy, organization, and mass participation. Under his leadership, the Hari Committee was transformed from a small advocacy platform into a province-wide movement, mobilizing nearly 160,000 peasants by 1948 across Sindh. Jatoi organized rallies, conferences, and peasant marches demanding tenancy reforms, fair distribution of land, and protection of tenant rights. He also gave voice to broader political causes, such as opposing the One Unit scheme and advocating for the preservation of the Sindhi language. Jatoi’s ability to blend intellectual thought with grassroots activism made him the undisputed leader of Sindh’s peasants. His famous slogans and poetry, especially Jeay Sindh, became rallying cries of resistance and identity. His leadership not only gave the haris a political platform but also turned the Sindh Hari Committee into one of the most significant peasant movements in South Asia during the mid-20th century.Publications and poetry
Comrade Hyder Bux Jatoi was a prolific writer, poet, and political thinker. His works include books, poetry collections, pamphlets, essays, and a translation/analysis of the Quran, reflecting his dedication to Sindhi culture, peasant rights, and political activism. Comrade Hyder Bux Jatoi's poetry reflected his deep love for Sindh, advocacy for peasants, and resistance against oppression. His verses became anthems for Sindhi nationalism and continue to inspire generations.Quran Translation
The Substance of The Quran: Its Analysis and Arrangement on Historical Principles – a comprehensive analysis and translation of the Quran arranged on historical principles.Books and Poetry
Tohfa-e-Sindh – first poetry collection.Jeaye Sindh Jeaye Sindh – patriotic poem and Sindhi nationalist anthem.Sindh Pyaaree – poetry collection expressing love for Sindh.Azadee-e-Qoum – poetry on national independence.Harree Geet – songs for peasant struggle.Sindh Ji Awaz – essays and poems on peasant rights and culture.Pamphlets and Essays
One Unit and DemocracyDemocracy and Justice of the Chief JusticeShall Sindhi Language Stay in Karachi or Not?Hari Haqooq Jo Manifesto- ''Landlordism and Oppression in Sindh''
Notable Poems
جيئي سنڌ، جيئي سنڌ – A patriotic anthem and rallying cry for Sindhi nationalism.شڪايت – Expresses the grievances of the Sindhi people and pleads for justice.شاہ دريا – Tribute to the Indus River, personified as a king, highlighting its cultural importance.سلام سنڌ – Ode celebrating Sindh’s beauty, resilience, and people.سندھ پيارى – Expresses love and devotion to Sindh and its cultural richness.حيوان انسان – Philosophical reflection on humanity and societal values.بي انصافى جو بنياد – Critique of societal injustices and call for reform.جيئي سنڌ، جام محبت پئي سنڌ – Extended patriotic poem envisioning a united Sindh.Movements
As leader of the Sindh Hari Committee, Comrade Hyder Bux Jatoi played a central role in Sindh's social and political struggles.Hari Movement (Peasants’ Rights)
Jatoi’s primary struggle was the mobilization of Sindh’s tenant farmers against feudal exploitation.Opposition to One Unit (1955–1970)
Jatoi strongly opposed the One Unit policy and led protests, pamphlets, and imprisonment campaigns.Sindhi Language and Cultural Rights
Jatoi campaigned for the preservation of the Sindhi language, especially in Karachi.Imprisonment
Comrade Hyder Bux Jatoi faced repeated imprisonment under colonial and martial law authorities for his political activism.1947–1949: Arrested for organizing Hari conferences and mass peasant protests; jailed in Hyderabad and Nawabshah prisons.1954: Detained for publishing pamphlets critical of landlords and government policies; imprisoned in Karachi Jail.1955–1956: Jailed under martial law regulations for opposing the One Unit scheme; kept in Machh Jail and Campbellpur Jail.1960s: Frequently arrested for anti-One Unit and Sindhi language rights campaigns; imprisoned in Sukkur, Hyderabad, Karachi, and Lahore Jails.In total, Jatoi spent nearly 10 years of his life in different prisons across Pakistan for his political and peasant struggles.
Death
He died on 21 May 1970 at Hyder Manzil, Hyderabad.
"O death you have cooled every vein and vessel of mine,
Be happy O friend without you rest in life is not possible."
He was laid to rest at the tomb of mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro, Hyderabad.
His wife Mumtaz Hyder died five months later and was buried beside him.