Shankarlal Lalwani M.P. and cause of Pakistani Hindu Sharnarthis
Introduction: The Oath in Sindhi
The hallowed halls of the Lok Sabha have witnessed countless oaths, but on a historic day, the words resonated with a profound cultural echo. Shri Shankarlal Lalwani, taking his oath as a Member of Parliament in the melodic cadence of Sindhi, did more than fulfill a constitutional formality. He sent a clarion call of solidarity to a scattered community. For the thousands of Pakistani Hindu sharnarthis (asylum seekers) living in the shadows of uncertainty across India, that moment was a beacon. It announced the arrival of a dedicated swayamsevak in the highest forum of the nation—a man who would transform from a respected Indore administrator into the most pivotal bridge between a persecuted diaspora and the promise of dignified rehabilitation in their ancestral homeland. A Migrant Elder in Jodhpur Camp:
“We heard the oath in Sindhi on a small radio. We looked at each other and said,
‘Our aasra (refuge) has finally found a awaaz (voice).’”
The Man and The Mandate – From Indore’s Development to India’s Conscience
Long before his parliamentary tenure, Lalwani’s reputation for effective, empathetic governance was forged as the Chairman of the Indore Development Authority. He was known as a problem-solver, a man whose door was always open. This trait expanded from city to state, as people from across Madhya Pradesh sought his counsel. His re-election to the Lok Sabha in 2024 was not merely a political victory; it was an event that ignited soaring expectations among the Pakistani Hindu migrant community. They saw in him not just an MP, but their sabha-pati in the true sense—a representative of their assembly of suffering and hope.
This sentiment was powerfully expressed when a delegation of Pak Hindu migrants, representing the very grassroots of the community, met with him to offer their congratulations and profound thanks. The delegation comprised Shri Rajesh Maheshwari, President of the Sindh Minority Migrants Association, Ahmedabad; Dr. Om Parkash of the Migrant Pak Hindu Forum; Dr. Manoj Kumar of the Migrant Hindu Pediatric Alliance; and Dr. Dayaram Kachhi of the All Migrant Kachhi Samaj. They gathered to honour the man who has tirelessly championed their cause, acknowledging his great efforts which have translated policy into palpable relief for thousands. As Rajesh Maheshwari, President, Sindh Minority Migrants Association told :
“Before Lalwani Sahib, our files were numbers. Now, they are stories the Parliament listens to.”
The Concrete Battles: LTV, Citizenship, and Midnight Interventions
Lalwani’s advocacy is defined by urgent, tangible action. When the critical issue of pending Long Term Visas (LTV)—a lifeline for migrants—was stuck in bureaucratic limbo at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), he raised it with force and focus. Resolution came within a week, altering the fate of thousands.
His role became instrumental during the pivotal meetings of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) with religiously persecuted Pakistani Hindus. In Indore and Bhopal, he facilitated platforms where heart-wrenching narratives of atrocity reached the ears of dignitaries like Honourable Chairman JCCAB Dr. Satya Pal Singh. These testimonies underscored the moral imperative behind the CAA, a law that has since granted the sanctity of Indian citizenship to thousands of migrants in Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and beyond.
Perhaps the most dramatic illustration of his commitment is “Operation Sindoor.” When families, divided by international borders, found their brides and relatives stranded for days at the Pakistani border on Return Visas, a humanitarian crisis loomed. Lalwani orchestrated midnight coordination with authorities, turning an “impossible” situation into a triumphant return, reuniting families against all odds. Dr. Om Parkash, Migrant Pak Hindu Forum described :
“His midnight calls during Operation Sindoor saved families.
He operates not on office hours, but on humanity’s clock.”
The Cultural Architect: Sashakt Bharat, Samarth Samaj
In November 2025, Lalwani’s vision expanded into a grand cultural and acknowledgment paradigm. The conference “Sashakt Bharat, Samarth Samaj,” under the banner of the Vishwa Sindhi Hindu Foundation Association (VSHFA), was a masterstroke. It served dual purposes: it was a global sammelan for Sindhi Hindus to reconnect with their roots, and a formal, national stage to express gratitude. Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah were thanked for the CAA framework.
The presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla, who applauded the Sindhi community’s contribution and hailed Lalwani as the essential “bridge,” and Union Culture Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who eloquently tied Sindhu sabhita (civilization) to the very bedrock of Indian culture, elevated the discourse. Shekhawat’s call to preserve and document Sindhi heritage was a directive that placed community identity within the national conservation project.
The Persistent Voice: Ongoing Struggles and Future Horizons
The work is perennial. Recently, Lalwani has taken up the delicate and crucial issue of securing Indian visas for over 300 Pakistani Hindu Sindhi girls and their families, enabling marriages that unite communities and offer sanctuary. Each case is a future secured.
Delegations continuously meet him not just with problems, but with gratitude. They represent a community that sees in him their one and only unwavering voice in the corridors of power. For all Sindhis residing in India or any other part of the world, Shankarlal Lalwani is the Honourable MP who took his oath in their mother tongue, a symbol of cultural pride and political agency.
Conclusion: The Keeper of the Promise
Shri Shankarlal Lalwani’s contribution transcends political representation. It is a dharma performed with relentless compassion and strategic acumen. He has moved the machinery of the state to act with urgency for the most vulnerable. He has validated their suffering, celebrated their culture, and fought for their dignity—from the granular details of a single visa to the grand architecture of citizenship laws.
Source: World Hindu News