Tando Soomro, a small town located some 15 kilometers from the Tando Allahyar city of Sindh, is a versatile and model village which is the abode of different qualities and a magnificent beauty.
‘Tando’ is a prefix used in the names of many cities and towns of Sindh, for example, Tando Muhammad Khan, and Tando Allahyar. Historically, there has been a lot of debate; some researchers believe that the word has been derived from Sindhi word ‘taando’ that means ‘ash’, while others believe that ‘tando(s)’ were the cantonments of Talpur rulers.
As I stepped in the village, I witnessed a large boundary wall of some 10-feet in height covering a vast area. “Our village is secured by a boundary wall from two sides with private security check posts at the entrance of the village and one needs to confirm his identity and the purpose of his visit before entering,” my host and resident of the village Ghulam Akbar Rojhani explained.
We followed our friend’s vehicle through the wide, clean and cemented streets of the village. One of the things that amazed me was that most of the sewerage system was underground and had a grill on it.
Thanks to the education and unity among villagers and most of the affairs of the village are run by the committee. Many of the residents are well-known agriculturists and some are even serving on important posts in Pakistan as well as abroad. These villagers are encouraged to make voluntary contributions in the village committee fund for the provision of facilities in village-like spending on education, health unit, streets, playgrounds, and sewerage.
The committee appointed by villagers is further divided into different sub-committees for education, health, sports, and security. These sub-committees look after the domain. To ensure transparency, an annual meeting of the committee is held where progress report is shared with villagers along with a record of collections and spending.
While visiting different streets, one can see small homes of laborers and farmers, as well as the bungalows of landlords. They are all availing the same basic facilities. Though a majority of the village population belongs to Nizamani community, it is also home to many other castes and tribes. There is peace among Muslims and Hindus without any discrimination. This village is united and multicultural at the same time.
Literacy ratio of the village is better than many other villages and towns of rural Pakistan. Many youngsters of the area are serving in the private as well as government sector after completing their basic education from this very village and higher education from some of the top universities of Pakistan.
A playground is available for all kinds of sports and activities. A cricket match was being played between two domestic teams there while we were visiting. Some youngsters were showing their skills and others were applauding them.
Electrical poles are covered with wooden boxes to avoid electrocution while dustbins are placed in most of streets and homes. Tando Soomro is an example to the rest of towns in Pakistan, well-committed and dedicated residents of the village can change the fate and face of their villages. It is a dilemma that many of us blame the government for anything going bad, without realizing our own responsibilities as a citizen.
We traveled to the Asim agriculture farm which is at a distance of some two kilometers from the village and filled with banana, mango, and many vegetable plants. Asim agriculture farm is owned by one of Zamindar (landlord) of Tando Soomro Imdad Nizamani. The farm is among some of the top ones in Pakistan and has been developed with efforts of Mr. Nizamani and his father.
This is among the few agriculture farms of Sindh, where agriculture researchers are employed to look after the progress of products of the farm. Agriculture lands and orchards in the farm can be accessed by Kacha yet wide roads. Farmlands are cultivated through some of the most modern agro-techniques of the world today.
Nizamani believes, the real developers of this modern agricultural farm are the farmers. Almost all farmers belong to scheduled Hindu castes, a farmers colony has been established where farmers and their families are given homes to live. On return, our host made us visit the office block of Asim farm.
Office block consisting of offices of the manager, other employees besides a portion For bank for the provision of small loans to farmers seemed no less than an office block of some multinational corporate organization. On return, our friend gifted us ‘Pairhas’ a famous local sweet of Tando Soomro as we said goodbye to the wonderful people and village of Tando Soomro.
Published in Daily Times, September 18th 2018.