About

Thakur  Chawla : Cultural Ambassador

Mr Thakur Chawla was born on 18th Feb, 1931 at Sindh. He takes great pride  in  saying  that  he  belongs  to Darazaa, the land  of  saints  and  fakirs. In contrast  to  Paru’s  family  Thakur  belonged  to  a rich  Zamindar  family  who  rolled  into  money  in those  days. He lost  both  his  parents  in his  early childhood, probably that is one of  the  reasons  why  he  gives so  much importance to family life and adores his  children, grand children their  families and his great grandchild. In Sindh, he owned a building which was named ”Thakur  Niwas” where milk, honey and  lassi flowed  like  water  and  many  poor  families  were fed  by  his  rich  family every day.

He was a pampered child, pampered by the worldly riches surrounding him in those days he used to own 150 shirts and 25 pairs of shoes at any given time.

His formal education was up to matriculation only as in his youth he  had to go through  the  trauma  of  the  partition and had  to flee from sindh in 1948  empty handed. He  had  never  imagined  that  he  would not go back  there.It was a  shock for him here, new  place, new  people, struggle  on empty  stomach. So  gradually he started his life from scratch  in India. During  this  period  he  married Paru(1954) who  happened  to  be his  lady luck (like  King  Midas) and who  supported  him through thick and  thin  in  his  frustrating, struggling  years.

While Paru  continued with  her  job  in  the railways, they  laid  the  foundation  of  Thakurs’s business  of  manufacturing  leather  watch  straps. But his  love for  Sindh, Sindhi  language  and  Sindhi  culture did not allow his creative side  to remain inactive. He  had  an  eye  for  beauty  hence  the  1st magazine that  he edited in Sindhi  was called ”Suhini”.

Over  the  years Thakur  has  become  a renowned  writer, mainly  short stories but  each one  hard hitting which compel the reader  to think.his  stories  are always  based  on day  to  day  life or incidents  which he observes and puts them into  words and expressions in his beloved language. The titles of his books are worth mentioning because they create a curiosity in the reader to pick up and read.

1. ”Shaadi a jee Pahini  Raat:
2. ”Toon  Sindh  Mein rahi Pav”
3. ”Aju Jee Kahaniyoon”
4. ”Sindhi Nandhiyoon Kahaniyoon”

Presently he is the editor of the famous Sindhi Magazine “Sipoon” which is well liked by all.

Thakur also like Paru was and still is a great admirer of Dada Panjwani and used to attend his Sufi Chownkis in dada’s house on every Monday for years together.

He was dada’s silent support system when Dada Panjwani conceived  the  idea  of  building  a cultural centre  for  the Sindhis.Thakur  helped  dada Panjwani in realizing  the dream of building such a centre ,”Seeta  Sindhu  Bhavan”. The foundation of Sindhi Kallams, Chownkis and Sangeet which  was laid  by dada Panjwani  is  being  carried out by  Thakur and Paru selflessly  for  last  20 years. every fortnight (Sunday) a Sindhi  musical Program of Dance, Drama, Sangeet  is held at SSB where artist  from all over the  world  get  a  platform here to perform. Thakur  is  one  of  the  trustees   of

1. Ram  Panjwani  Charitable  Trust
2. Writers and Artist welfare foundation trust
3. ”Paru Thakur Chawla Family Trust” which has formed by Paru and Thakur from their personal savings towards the upliftment of needy for medical and educational purpose.