Hyder Bux Jatoi

Hyder Bux Jatoi was born on October 7, 1901 in Bakhodero village near Mohenjo-daro in Larkana District.[5] As his mother, Sahib Khatoon died soon after his birth, he was brought up by his father and aunts. Soon after, on completing his primary school, the young lad joined the Sindh Madarsah School at Larkana, where he topped the list of successful examinees every year. He topped the Sindh vernacular final examination in 1918 among candidates from all over Sindh and then won his first position in Sindh at the matriculation examination from the Bombay University in 1923.[6]

He studied at the D. J. Science College, Karachi, and remained a resident boarder in Metharam Hostel attached to the college. He graduated in 1927 with honours in literature and won distinction in Persian from the Bombay University. He served as editor of the college miscellany and won the annual award for writing a poem called "college kabootar" (the college pigeon). Throughout his student life at Larkana and Karachi, he was a scholarship holder.[7]

Hyder Bux Jatoi resigned from the post as deputy collector[8] in the British colonial government in 1945 to lead the Sindh peasants’ rights movement Hyder Bux Jatoi translation of the Quran in English.[4] in 1947 during conference of farmers to demand that they receive a half share of the yield. The Hari Conference in started in Judho on 22 June 1947. Mai Bakhtawar was murdered.[9]

He married his cousin Sammul at the age of 27. They had five sons, Mustafa, Mazhar Ali, Dadan, Hatim and Murtaza.[7]

The subhuman conditions of harees (farmers) and tillers of the land led him to resign from his job in 1945 and to join the Sindh Hari Party.[7]

He began his career in social service and politics as a member of the Indian National Congress.[7]

"We are now passing through the same stage in the history of our economic life through which the leading nations of Europe passed more than 400 years ago, this showed how backward we were, and have been kept where we are."[7]

Jatoi was arrested in June 1960 and taken to Quetta Jail, later moved to Machh Jail. He was released in August 1962, after two years. During his imprisonment, thousands of peasants participated in the protests for his release. He has written a book named: "Land Taxation in Sindh", where he rejected the one-unit formation.[10]

His poetry "Jeay Sindh aen jeay Sindh, Jam-e-Muhabat pieay Sindh"[11] was sung by Sindhi folk singer Zarina Baloch.[12]

He died on the 21st May 1970 at Hyder Manzil, Hyder chowk, Hyderabad. He had written his epitaph before his death, which was read at his funeral:[7]

"O death you have cooled every vein and vessel of mine, Be happy O friend without you rest in life is not possible."

His wife Mumtaz Hyder died five months later and was buried beside him.[7]

• Mai Bakhtawar