Dr. Moti Prakash - Famous Sindhi Writer-Poet- Educationist

This is though a hard to digest, but unfortunately is truth that in India Sindhis didn't have a separate state alike the most other community holding a major share towards the G.D.P. of country but still on the bases of very strong cultural, social, economical and political heritage Sindhis have, Sindhu community has a song which holds status equivalent to national anthem of a country and recognized as the must sung song in any social gathering of Sindhis. The song goes like "Aandhi mein Jot Jagain Wara Sindhi Ain Khak Khe Sonu Banain Wara Sindhi" [Sindhi is one who dare to initiate flame even in storms and have skills and abilities to turn dust into Gold].

The song is considered as one of the great and most popular creation of famous Sindhi writer & poet Dr. Moti Prakash [ presently working with Indian Institute of Sindhology ] but to me this is much more than a literary creation as this is what Dr. Moti Prakash has experience and was able to generated after migrating to India in 1947 at the young age of just 16 years with other family members, this was highly painful for him to see younger brothers working for continuation of education. This economic struggle has inspired and generated a fire for doing something significant towards the education of Sindhi community. In 1951, he passed S. S. C Examination from S. S. C Board, Poona and immediately after that started is professional career as the teacher with Sindh Cosmopolitan High School, Chembur, Mumbai and kept continue his studies. He was such a dedicated person that within short span of just three years he was offered a job at K. J. Khilnani Group of Schools, where he worked till February 1977. After working for 14 years as the teacher, in the year 1968 Dr. Moti Prakash was appointed as the Principal of K. J. Khilnani High School Dadar, Mumbai.

Sindhis in the Gulf countries have started Indian High School, affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi, and looking for the safe hands for the growth and care of the institution. Their search ended with Dr. Moti Prakash, who joined the institution in February 1977 as the principal and was promoted to the post of Rector of the Institution in the year 2000. After retiring in April 2002 Dr. Moti Prakash returned back to homeland and become associated with Indian Institute of Sindhology and S. H. N. Academy, Adipur as a Member of their Boards & Trusty. During his long illustrated educational career this genus sindhi educationist hold various key positions in various organization other than his school. Some of significant posts held by him are

Dr. Moti Prakash's work As Writer & poet

'Aau Ta Choryoon Chung' (Let us play the fiddle), Poems, 1959.
'Andhero Ujalo' (Light & darkness), Novel, 1963.
'Gulran Ja Geet' (Songs for budding kids), Children's literature, 1963.'
Chininga Vich Choley' (Sparks in my lap), Poems 1983.
'Dithe Deenhan Thyam' (Have not seen you for a long), Character Sketches’ 1986.
'Se Sabh Sandhyum Saah Seen' (All are hidden in my heart), Travelogue, 1987.

Dr. Moti Prakash was also associated with All India Radio (from 1956 to 1977) and has produced more than 200 plays. He also wrote a few sindhi Drama like "Anja Ta Maan Nandhri Ahyan" (l am still a small kid) [1962] and "Raat Hik Toofan Ji "' (Stormy night) [1971]. Among the various literary awards of Dr. Moti Prakash, award for children literature in 1975 By NCERT, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India for his book "Gulran Ja Geet" and award given in the year 1989 by Sahitya Akademi, Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India for his book "Se Sabh Sandhyum Saah Seen" are quite close to his own heart. Dr. Moti Prakash is also recipient of Prof. Ram Panjwani Literary Award (1989) , Priyadarshni Literary Award (2004), Sahyog Foundation Award (2000), Uttam Award (2008) and Gaurav Puraskar awarded by the Government of Maharashtra.

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