Sindhis in Indonesia

Indian presence in Indonesia dates back to 1870. British colonial rulers in India encouraged Indian entrepreneurs, especially Sindhis, to open shops in the British colony of Australia.

Some Sindhi are still engaged in retail business. Shops belonging to Indians do good business. A few are in import-export trade. The Indian community of Indonesia is well-to-do. They have cordial relationship with the local community as well as close connections with government officials and politicians.

Indonesia, has taken the place of pride for the contribution to the field of education. The school, which has about 1,500 children from over 29 countries, has changed the very composition of Sindhi community. Indonesia is the country in the South East Asia, where there are so many Sindhi doctors and engineers from the Sindhi community.

Naraindas Melwani	Ram Punjabi	Haru Mahatani	Ghansham Jivtram

SINDHI ASSOCIATIONS

Anand Ashram
Anand Krishna J1, sunter Mac Bmat II E,
Block H-10/No.1, Jakarta - 14350 6221-6508648

Bharat Ladies Group
J1, Sutan Syahrm, 6A, Jakarta - 10510, Indonesia.
Person to contact : H Vaswani 6221-337880

Gandhi Seva Loka
J1 Pasar Baru, Setatan No. 10, Jakarta - 10710

Sadhu Vaswani Centre
J1. Kemayoran, Ketapang No. 144 A, Jakarta Pusat 4209729

Sindhis' Education and Business in Indonesia

The activities of Gandhi school have attracted the attention of the Secretary General of UNO. GMIS is the only school managed by the Sindhi in the world to be designated by the Secretary General of UNO as a 'Peace Messenger'. The Sindhis have regular number of satsangs and prayers.
Another important institution is the Sindhu House. Engagements, marriages and other social functions take place here.

Every month Chand is celebrated by the community of the Sindhu House and Jhulelal prayers are offered. Sindhis have maintained the use of the Sindhi language and culture. There is Teooram Hall. Sindhis are making a move from trade to industry.

Some Sindhis, who have become Indonesian nationals are not only producing the films but are also opening new avenues of market overseas for Indonesian movies. Prominent among them are Rapi Films, Samtani Brothers; Parkit Films, Punjabi Brothers; Nusantara Films, Mr Haresh Nathani; Soraya Films, Mr Ram Lalchand, and Bola Dunia Films, Mr Jivatram.

Jyoti Daryanani, who is a Sindhi, living in Indonesia translated Panchatantra into Indonesian. Panchatantra was written in 22 BC and has been translated into over 50 languages of the world. Most probably Panchatantra was translated during the reign of King Airlangga in the 11th century into ancient Kawi languages. After that, her translation has been in modern times.
Sindhis of Indonesia are good hosts and very hospitable. One has to visit Jakarta to see Sindhis' achievements.