ON a humid morning in 1939, a 19-year-old boy travelled from Larkana to Shantiniketan College, Rabindranath Tagore’s school in West Bengal, desirous of learning music. He had asked the principal for admission, but without a test, and had received a positive telegram. Three years later, when he left, he had become a Marxist communist desirous of working for the poor and waging a struggle for freedom. For the rest of his life, he remained a dedicated social worker, writer and lawyer who fought for the poor at his own expense. This was Sobho Gianchandani, who passed away on Monday in Larkana a few months before his 95th birthday. Also read: Veteran leftist leader Gianchandani passes away It is an uphill task to enfold a century in a few lines, the years of commitment and tireless struggle put in by Comrade Gianchandani, who believed in the constant struggle for justice. In a speech made on his 91st birthday in Larkana, he reiterated this: “I still see light at the end of the tunnel, I will never give up.” This steadfast crusader was, perhaps, amongst the last few of the students taught by Tagore. Seventy two years later, he asserted: “I am proud of being Tagore’s student; [at the college] I was infused with a new spirit and became focused on supporting the truth.” At Shantiniketan, he encountered several intellectuals and had long discourses with eminent communist leader Pannalal Dasgupta, who reinforced his ideas for launching the freedom struggle. Gianchandani stayed tenacious till the end, even though he suffered greatly for his convictions and spent 13 years in jail. Born on May 3, 1920, to a family of moderate business and farming interests in the small village Bandi near the archaeological site Moenjodaro, Gianchandani had his schooling in the village and opened a small shop thereafter. After his father’s death, his elder brother advised him to take up his studies seriously. As a student, Gianchandani was so keen that he had read the Janamsakhi, the revered Sikh book spanning over 37 volumes. During his school days; he was already writing short stories. He received higher education at Qambar, Larkana, the NJV High School, Karachi, and later DJ College, Karachi.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 11:54:11 +0000
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