Manoj Rathi, joint secretary of Pakistan Association of New Zealand who also manages the All Sindhi’s Association of New Zealand, shares his experiences with Gaurav Sharma

42-year-old Manoj Rathi, is from the Mithi city in the Tharkarpar district of the Sindh province in Pakistan. He has been in New Zealand for the past one-year, but have spent last few years in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. His city Mithi, is unique in a way, as it has over 80 percent of its population as Hindus. This percent for the entire Tharparkar is around 45. In fact, in the last general elections, three Hindus got elected on general seats, indicating voting across religious lines.

“In fact, Tharparkar is one of most backward rural area of Pakistan. It is the fifth lowest district as per Human Development Index of Pakistan (HDIP) 0.227. Despite that the literacy rate of our district is much better than other much developed districts of Pakistan,” he says.

In our discussions, he also shares how Hindus in Pakistan are playing an important part in every sector of the society. “More than 20 percent of our teachers are Hindus, and more than 15 percent of our doctors are Hindus as well. All these people are playing active roles in their profession, which I see as a positive sign for the future,” he said.

There are many holy places of worship for Hindus in Pakistan, which Rathi is hopeful will be opened for Hindus across the border one day. “Just like the Kartarpur corridor, I believe the Pakistan Government will grant access to Hinglaj Mata Mandir, Jhoole Lal Temple, and Shri Katas Raj Temples, among others,” he says.

On the question of minorities like Hindus facing persecution in Pakistan, he says, “ Yes we do face some problems but not as perceived by media. Prejudices are everywhere and Pakistan is no exception. Same issues are there in India, US and even in New Zealand. According to Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission, the biggest problem Hindu community in Pakistan is facing is of ‘forced conversion’ of women and girls to Islam. Many of whom are abducted before being married off to Muslim men. Apart from that we are happy to live in Pakistan and we have freedom to celebrate our religious festivals. I believe that in coming day’s situation will be better and Government will take action against culprits.”

On how the situation has changed after 9/11 or in last two decades, he notes, “Pakistan played a key role in war against terror as a front line state. Overall situation in bordering areas to Afghanistan were critical for few years, but not in our province Sindh, as it is far away from battle ground.”

Highlights of the conversion:

• Left Pakistan in 2014; have lived in Dubai and Saudi Arabia before moving to Auckland last year; works at the Manukau Institute of Technology

• Mithi is a unique place in Pakistan with Hindu majority; no one eats beef there; has over 15 temples; some elected Hindu representatives as well

• Pakistani Hindus are sometimes labelled as pro-India

• Hindus in Pakistan face the same problems as all minorities face in countries across the world

• Working to unite Pakistani Hindus from across 27 countries using social media; aids in immigration and employment issues

• Currently Pakistani Hindus (either they are on work visa, student visa or got immigration on their skills) are settled in more than 50 countries

• Am from the Maheshwari community and Maheshwaris from Pakistan are settled in more than 25 countries; have created a social media group of active community members, which are serving/providing guidance to our youngster for their education, job hunt in Pakistan as well abroad and give them immigration advise as well

• Sindhi Culture Day falls on December 1; the organisation celebrated it last year in Auckland; this year’s celebration will be even bigger, to be held in first week of February; want Indian Sindhis to be a part of it as well

• Glad and thankful to be a part of the Pakistan Association of New Zealand; it is non-religious and non-political organisation

• Am a patriotic Pakistani; my religion is not in any way related to my patriotism