Rasool Bux Palijo


Rasool Bux Palijo was a Pakistani leftist, Marxist leader, scholar and writer. He was a leading human-rights lawyer and the leader and founder of Awami Tahreek, a progressive and leftist party.
FB rbpalijo

Early life and education

Rasool Bux Palijo was born in the village Mungar Khan Palijo, Jungshahi, Sindh on 21 February 1930, to Sindhi parents Ali Mohammad Palijo and Laadee Bai. He received his early education at his village and the secondary education at Sindh Madressatul Islam in Karachi. Palijo did his law graduation from Sindh Law College Karachi. He was fluent in Sindhi, Urdu, and English, and later became conversant in Hindi, Arabic, Balochi, Bengali, Punjabi and Persian.

Legal career

Palijo served as a Supreme Court lawyer.

Political career

In October 1979, a historic farmers' conference was held in Rahooki, which served as a referendum against martial law. Following this event, the military regime had Awami Tehrik workers whipped in Badin and arrested Palijo. Palijo was instrumental in establishing the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy, where his parties, Awami Tehrik and Sindhiani Tehrik, played a significant role. Hundreds of activists were arrested and subjected to corporal punishment. Due to his involvement in the pro-democracy movement, Palijo spent over six and a half years in various prisons, including Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail, and was declared a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.

Personal life

He has six children from his first wife Shareefan Palijo and two children from his second wife Ruqaya. Later on, he was married to Sindhi singer, activist, and author Zarina Baloch until her death on 25 October 2006. The union yielded a son Ayaz Latif Palijo. Lastly, he was married to the educationist and Sindhi-language writer, Naseem Thebo. The union yielded two children.

Death

On 7 June 2018, he died at a hospital in Karachi. Prior to his death, he was hospitalised for a long time for cardiac and respiratory complications. On 8 June 2018, he was buried in his native village, Mungar Khan Palijo, in Thatta district.

Books

Described as "the author of more than forty books on numerous subjects, ranging from literature to politics, prison dairies, philosophy, culture and poetry", his bibliography includes:

Sindhi

  • Lat̤īfu shināsī. Lectures on the works of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.
  • D̤oraju d̤īʼo hathu kare. Lectures chiefly on Sindhi literature.
  • Māʼūze Tūng. Biography of Mao Zedong.
  • Chā Sindhiyuni lāʼi mulkī siyāsata ḥarāmu āhe?. Analytical study of anti-Pakistan movements by Sindhi nationalists; a plea for the Sindhis to take an active part in the affairs of Pakistan.

Urdu