India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh triggered a strong political discussion on Sunday, 23rd November, when he spoke at an event organised by members of the Sindhi community.

During his address, he made a remark that went beyond present-day politics and touched on India’s long civilisational history. He said that even though Sindh is not within India’s borders right now, “civilisationally, Sindh will always be a part of India,” and added that national boundaries are not fixed and “may change in the future.”
His statement immediately drew a harsh reaction from Pakistan, which responded by calling the comment “delusional” and “dangerously revisionist.” Pakistani officials claimed his view ignored international borders and threatened regional stability.

Singh also referred to a line written by veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani, who had once described the emotional pain that Sindhi Hindus of his generation carried after losing Sindh during Partition. Singh explained that Sindhi communities have always had a deep cultural and emotional bond with the Indus River. For Hindus, the river has been sacred for thousands of years. He added that even many Muslims in Sindh used to regard the Indus waters with the same reverence as the “Aab-e-Zamzam in Mecca.”
He repeated his key message twice during the speech to highlight its importance: “Today, the land of Sindh may not be a part of India, but civilisationally it will always remain Indian. And as far as land is concerned, borders can change. Who knows, someday Sindh may return to India again.”
He further said that people who honour the Sindhu River are “our own,” and no matter where they live across the world, their connection with India remains strong.

Pakistan’s sharp response after Rajnath Singh’s comment

On Monday, 24th November, Pakistan reacted quickly through an official statement from its Foreign Ministry. Islamabad criticised Singh’s comments as “delusional,” accusing India of pushing an “expansionist Hindutva mindset” that could disturb peace in the region. Pakistan also argued that his words violated international legal principles, crossed diplomatic limits, and challenged agreed-upon borders.
The statement warned Indian leaders to avoid making remarks that could worsen tensions in an already sensitive atmosphere. It added that instead of giving such speeches, India should pay more attention to its internal matters and improve the safety of minority communities.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry used the moment to bring up other political criticisms. It claimed that India must act against those responsible for violence against minorities, and said India needed to correct what it called “faith-based prejudice” and “historical distortions.” Pakistan’s statement also mentioned issues related to northeastern states of India, saying that many groups there face “systematic marginalisation and identity-based persecution.”
Islamabad then connected the topic to the Kashmir issue, urging India to take “credible steps” to resolve the dispute according to United Nations resolutions. The Foreign Ministry ended by saying that Pakistan would continue to guard its security, sovereignty and national independence, and that it remains committed to peaceful conflict resolution, but only if it is based on justice and international law.

Sindh as a living part of India’s ancient cultural foundation

Sindh is not merely a province placed inside another country today. It has been one of the strongest pillars of India’s civilisational identity. The Indus River—known since ancient times as the Sindhu—flows through this region and shaped its earliest settlements, agriculture and cultural practices.

For thousands of years, people living along the Sindhu River built some of the world’s earliest organised cities. Many important elements of India’s spiritual ideas, cultural habits and historical stories took shape in the land that is now called Sindh.

India’s link with Sindh is not limited to geography alone. It is deeply rooted in language, culture, mythology and shared history. The region was once a central part of ancient Bharatvarsha, and its name appears in old Indian literature. Even today, the Indian national anthem includes the word “Sindh,” showing how strongly it remains tied to India’s cultural identity.

How the name Sindh emerged from the powerful Sindhu River

The word “Sindh” comes from the old Sanskrit word “Sindhu,” referring to the large and powerful river that flows across the plains. The Sindhu River has been one of the most influential rivers in Asian civilisation, giving rise to communities and cultures around its borders. It shaped the character of the region and, in a broader way, shaped the history of India itself.
It was along this river that the Indus Valley Civilisation grew. This civilisation remains one of the world’s oldest and most organised, with cities such as Harappa and Mohenjo-daro known for their planned neighbourhoods, advanced drainage systems and developed trade networks. People living along the Sindhu had connections with civilisations in Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia, making Sindh a major centre for trade and cultural exchange.
This is why the name “Sindh” is much more than the identity of a province. It represents the river that helped shape Indian civilisation right from its beginning.

How India got its global name from the Sindhu River

The naming of India also begins with the same ancient river. The original Sanskrit term “Sindhu” turned into “Hindu” in old Persian because Persian did not use the ‘s’ sound at the start of words. When Persians came into contact with people living east of the river, they called the land “Hindu” and its people “Hindus.”
Later, when the Greeks interacted with the Persians and the regions near the Indus, they changed the term again. Greek speech patterns often dropped the ‘h’ sound, so “Hindu” became “Indos,” which gradually transformed into the modern word “India.”
The older name “Bharat” existed from ancient times, but “India,” the name now used worldwide, has its roots in the Sindhu River and the Indus Valley. The Greek explorer Scylax of Caryanda, who travelled along the Indus River between 550 BCE and 450 BCE, played a major role in spreading information about this region to the West. As trade routes expanded and global knowledge increased, the names “Indos” and “India” became standard across the world.
Even the word “Hindustan” grew from the same root. “Sindhu” became “Hindu” in Persian, and Persian rulers referred to the land beyond the river as “Hindustan,” meaning the land of the Hindus. Over time, the word became widely used and shaped India’s cultural identity for centuries.

The Indus (Sindhu) River as a Lifeline

The Indus River, also known by its ancient name “Sindhu,” stretches for approximately 3,180 kilometres, making it one of the longest river systems in the world. It begins near Lake Mansarovar in Tibet at a place called the “Lion’s Mouth” or Sênggê Kanbab, flows through the Ladakh region of India into Gilgit-Baltistan, and then continues across Pakistan until it meets the Arabian Sea near Karachi.
This river has six major tributaries: the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej and the Indus itself. After Partition, the sharing of water was settled under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, where Pakistan received control of the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers, and India took charge of the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.
It was around this river that the Indus Valley Civilisation developed. Its people constructed some of the earliest known urban settlements, with organised drainage systems and long-distance trade links, showing how important the Sindhu River was in shaping early South Asian history.
Even today, the river holds great cultural and religious meaning. Ancient texts call the river a “protector” and treat its waters as holy in rituals, myths and traditions. The vast Indus River System stretches thousands of kilometres and supports millions of people alive today. The Jhelum begins at the Verinag spring in Jammu & Kashmir. The Chenab, the largest of the tributaries, is formed by the joining of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers in Himachal Pradesh. The Sutlej starts from Lake Rakshastal near Mansarovar. Together, all these rivers have shaped agriculture, trade and civilisation in northern South Asia.
It was on the banks of the Indus River that the Indus Valley Civilisation began more than 5,000 years ago, relying entirely on the Sindhu for life, city-planning, trade and culture. That is why the Indus or Sindhu continues to be an enduring feature of Indian history.

Sindh in the Ramayana and Mahabharata

The region of Sindh finds mention in India’s two great epics — the Ramayana and the Mahabharata — reflecting its place in ancient Indian culture.

Sindh in the Ramayana

In the Ramayana, Sindh formed a part of King Dasharatha’s kingdom. When Kaikeyi asked for her two boons, he replied that his realm extended “from Sindh and Sauvira to Anga, Vanga, Magadha, Kashi, and beyond.” This indicates that Sindh was seen as a vital region even in that era.
When Sita was abducted by Ravana, Rama dispatched search parties in all directions. One such group of vanaras (monkeys) headed toward Sindh, which was known for its “swimming horses.” Later, after the victory, Rama allotted the region of Sindhu-Sauvira to his brother Bharata. Bharata’s sons further expanded into Gandhara, establishing cities like Pushkalavati (modern Peshawar) and Takshasila (Taxila).

Sindh in the Mahabharata

In the Mahabharata, Sindh appears again in key sections. The region was ruled by King Jayadratha, who was married to Dushshala — the sister of the Kaurava prince Duryodhana. Jayadratha supported the Kauravas in the war and clashed with the Pandavas. In one dramatic episode, Jayadratha tried to misbehave with Draupadi during the Pandavas’ exile, and this led to a fierce confrontation involving Arjuna and Bhima. Later during the war, his role on the day of Abhimanyu’s death led Arjuna to vow to kill Jayadratha before sunset. The Mahabharata also describes the Sindhu River as powerful and protective. In the Anushasan Parva it states that bathing in the Sindhu leads the soul toward heaven. These references show how greatly the river and the region were revered in ancient Indian traditions.

Sindh honoured in India’s national anthem

Even today, India’s national anthem Jana Gana Mana mentions Sindh among the regions that makeup the Indian subcontinent. Written in 1911 by Rabindranath Tagore, the anthem reflects the geography of undivided India, long before Partition. At that time, Sindh played a major role in trade, culture, education and politics. Despite the 1947 division, the word “Sindh” remains in the anthem. Historians say its presence is a recognition of India’s civilisational identity and a nod to the shared heritage: Sindhi culture, literature, music, spiritual traditions have deeply contributed to India, and the word in the anthem serves as a reminder of that legacy.

Borders may change, but history remains

The Partition of 1947 divided India and Pakistan along political and religious lines. New borders were drawn, and millions of people were displaced overnight. Yet, political maps cannot erase thousands of years of civilisation, culture and shared history.
Sindh has always been bound to India via geography, culture, spirituality and ancient tradition. The Indus River, the epics, the ancient civilisation, and even our national anthem all point to the same truth: that Sindh has been an essential part of India’s identity.