Jagdish Lachhani

“This is shameful and feeling stress of desire of dying while offering.” Certainly, many feel amazes to this opening line of a biography but actually this is English expression for a Sindhi book titled “Acchi-e-nde Lazz Marran” written by well-known Sindhi educationist and adorable personality from Sindhi literature Dr. Jagdish Lachhani. This might be the co incident that but amazing fact that when Sindhi Sahitya Academy announce Jagdish’s name for 2017 awards he become the 50 personality from Sindhi literature to receive it and till date number of his published book was also 50.

Born on 4th December 1939 at Pir-Jo-Goth a place now part of Sindh Pakistan as the son of Sobhraj Lachhani, Jagdish has enjoyed a bit more preschool childhood. As during the time especially after and around 1945 talks about freedom and partition of country were at higher point and people of Sindh were confused whether they will be allowed to remain in Sindh or will be forced to migrate and get settled in India? His schooling was started when he was of eight years and by this time his family has migrated to India.

This appears that education and literature are the two-driving force of life of Jagdish Lachhani as when in 2001 when Mumbai University announce his success for being awarded Ph.D., he was in seventh decade of his age. Dr Jagdish Lachhani has a long illustrated literary journey for more than five decades. His first book Khamosh Zindagi – a collection of short stories was published in 1957 and in 2017 he came out with Ram Panjwani Monograph in Hindi.

Dr. Jagdish has started his educational career way back in 1958 as school teacher and after completing Post Graduation went on to join S.D.T. Kalani college of Arts, Science and Commerce, Ulhasnagar and by the time of retirement reached to post of Principal. He had passed B.A(Hons)-University of Poona in 1963 and kept on his studies till getting Ph.D. [University of Mumbai in 2001] so we can say like an extended childhood Jagdish Lachhani have a much longer, spanning almost four-decade, student life.

If we think of literary preferences of Dr Jagdish Lachhani Child Literature, literary criticism, teleplays are appearing closer to his heart and mind though he covered a variety of subjects by his literary publications. Sindhi Folk stories are another subject with which his pen gets more excitement and enjoyment.

NCPSL has recognized his contribution on horizons of education, literature and over all upliftment of Sindhi community in India and abroad and felicitated him with Life Time Achievement Award [a cash of Rs. Five Lakh] in a grand function held at Mumbai on 3rd June 2018.

Presently working as Evaluator/Examiner for Ph.D. in Sindhi Dr Jagdish Lachhani has a long association with University of Mumbai & M.S. Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Pune as member of Board of Studies in Sindhi. He has also worked with  National Council for Promotion if Sindhi Language (HRD Min) New Delhi & Maharashtra state Sindhi Sahitya Academy, Mumbai in capacity of member.