Sindhi Americans are Americans or residents of the United States who are of Sindhi descent.[α] They are a subgroup of Indian Americans and Pakistani Americans.[2]
US states with significant Sindhi populations, based on the 2000 Census.
Originating from the Sindh region of Pakistan, most Sindhi Americans are Muslim. Some belong to the Hindu faith, particularly those who migrated from India.[2] In the 2010 US Census, nearly 7,000 individuals reported Sindhi as their first language.[1] The total population of the Sindhi diaspora in the United States is estimated at over 50,000.[3] The community is spread out over various U.S. cities, with sizable populations on the eastern coast.[4]
Culture[]
Sindhi festivals such as Cheti Chand are celebrated each year with much fanfare.[5] The American Institute of Sindhulogy (AIS) is a non-profit institute of Sindhology in the U.S., dedicated to researching the history and cultural heritage of Sindh as well as its ancient Indus Valley Civilisation.[6]
Organizations and politics[]
Sindhi Americans are socially and politically active, having formed numerous community and political-oriented organizations. They maintain interest in domestic American politics, as well as Sindhi politics and the wider politics of Pakistan.[7] The Pakistan Peoples Party has a local chapter in the U.S., in which many Sindhis are involved.[8][9] The World Sindhi Institute is a human rights organization founded in 1997 and is based in Washington, D.C.[7] The World Sindhi Congress (WSC) has a U.S chapter which participates in human rights advocacy and the promotion of Sindhi political interests among the diaspora.[10] G. M. Syed Memorial Committee is a group based in Houston, which promotes the ideology of Sindhi nationalist leader G.M. Syed.[11][4] There are also Congress-focused lobbying groups such as the Sindhi American Political Action Committee (SAPAC),[12] and the Sindh Monitor.[2]
In addition, there are multiple community organizations and associations. The Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) is one of the largest societies of Sindhis residing in North America.[13][14] Other Sindhi associations include the American British Sindhi Medical Network (ABSMN),[15] and the Alliance of Sindhi Associations of Americas which consists of various state-based associations.[16]
^ ab"US Census 2010 (see row# 69)". U.S. Census Bureau. Table 1. Detailed Languages Spoken at Home and Ability to Speak English for the Population 5 Years and Over for the United States: 2006-2008
^ abcdChatterji, Joya; Washbrook, David (2014). Routledge Handbook of the South Asian Diaspora. Routledge. ISBN9781136018244.
^Alfonso, Carolin; Kokot, Waltraud; Tölölyan, Khachig (2004). Diaspora, Identity and Religion: New Directions in Theory and Research. Routledge. ISBN9781134390359.
^"Homepage (archived from Wayback)". SAPAC. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
Overseas Pakistanis
Non-resident Indians and people of Indian origin