Hindu Singh Sodha

Hindu Singh Sodha, (born 2 May 1956) is a well known activist for the cause of Pakistani Refugees in India.

He resides in Jodhpur Rajasthan but travels for most of the time meeting refugees.

Thakur Laxman Singhji Sodha also migrated to India before the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

The family of Hindu Singh Sodha migrated to India before 10 months of the 1971 Indo-Pak war i.e. on 8 February 1971.

During same time the 1971 settlers were still looking for proper rehabilitation.

Bharat Bandh (1981): In the 'Bharat Bandh' agitation of 1981 called on the motion of Trade unions of India Sodha was the first one to get arrested in Jodhpur and the agitation though remained peaceful was successful.

Darbi Strike: Sodha was the convener of Trade union movement in western Rajasthan and due to his efforts all major Trade Unions participated in the Darbi Strike which was the longest strike in the agitation history of western Rajasthan.

Publication of 'Jan Pataaka' fortnightly (1986): Sodha was the sole person behind publication of a fortnightly titled 'Jan Pataaka' (Peoples Flag).

Participation in Social movements: Sodha also participated in various social movements including the movement relating to the Right to Information in Rajasthan.

Sodha demanded the delegation of the powers of granting citizenship to District Collectors as was the position till 1986 after which the powers were centralised.

Then C.M. Mr. Ashok Gehlot invited him for talks & a Review Committee was formed by the State Government under the Chairmanship of Principal Secretary Home.

Urmul (1991):

In 1991 for the first time he formally joined an NGO known as Urmul which was functioning in Bikaner area.

The founder of Urmul Late Sh.Sanjoy Ghosh wanted Mr.Sodha to work in the Bikaner area.

Unfortunately Sh.

Ghosh was later killed by ULFA militants while working for backwards in Majuli Islands.

Mr. Sodha agreed to work with the NGO only on the condition that he would that he being permitted to work exclusively for refugees from Pakistan living in Bikaner area of Rajasthan.

Working for Pakistani Refugees/Migrants:

After a stint with Urmul he left the NGO to work for the cause dearest to his heart on his own.

On the other hand, situation in Pakistan started becoming worse due to aftermath of Babri mosque demolition on 6 December 1992.

Minority Hindus were attacked & persecuted in various manners.

Hindu Singh Sodha decided to work exclusively for the cause of refugees and since then which is more than 21 years from then, he still making efforts to help the refugees most of them are Meghwals(SCs) and Bhils (STs) from Pakistan.

Dharna Outside Rajasthan Assembly (1998):

He made constant trips throughout border in the refugee settlements in Rajasthan.

In 1998 he staged a Dharna in front of Rajasthan state assembly.

The then Chief Minister Sh.

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat assured on the floor of house to take the cause of the Pakistani refugees made him to finish the dharna.

He is the founder of Pak Vishthapit Sangh (1999), Seemant Lok Sangathan (2005) and Universal Just Action Society – UJAS (2008).

Hindu Singh's family belongs to Chachro in Tharparkar, within Sindh province of Pakistan.

His father was a Pakistani, while his mother was an Indian from Rajasthan.

At the time of his birth his family was living in Pakistan but he was born at maternal home in India.

His cousin Late Thakur Laxman Singhji Sodha was the only minority cabinet member in erstwhile West Pakistan government under Gen. Ayub Khan.

'Pak Visthapit Sangh' (पाक विस्थापित संघ) (1999):

In 1999 Sodha founded the Pak Visthapit Sangh and as founder President of Pak Vishthapit Sangh he continued to demand to resolve the issue of migrants.

Till then the Citizenship issue became relevant as around 13,000 refugees from Pakistan were eligible to get Indian citizenship but they were not considered by the Government.

Till Class Class 10th Hindu Singh Sodha studied in a school in Chachro, Pakistan, after migration to India he completed the schooling from Chopasani School, Jodhpur, Later he completed Graduation and L.L.B. from Jai Narayan Vyas University, Jodhpur University,

College days: He was renowned student leader of his time who himself floated a student organisation & was founder President of student body organisation called the Chhatra Sangharash Samiti.

Student politics during the time was volatile and due to his intervention the campus became a platform for debates on relevant issues.

He is given credit of motivating students to evolve from the mindset of caste based politics to politics based on ideology.

Chaatra Sangharsh Samiti is still active in Student Politics of Jodhpur though Sodha is not actively associated with it.