A Life in Letters
The complete story of Vali Ram Vallabh — from a small town in Thar to becoming one of Sindhi literature's greatest translators and scholars.
Born in the Heart of Tharparkar
Vali Ram Vallabh was born on 18 August 1941 (official records: 16 March 1941) in Mithi, Tharparkar District, Sindh, Pakistan — a city that would later be known as a centre of learning and literature — at the home of Kewal Ram Lohana.
He was admitted to Government Primary School Mithi in Class 1 on 6 May 1947. During his school years, he developed a deep interest in books — the school reading room and library were under his care. Headmaster Lachman Das Parwani taught him English grammar and composition.
Beyond academics, he studied Hindi in Devanagari script from Pandit Punam Chand Sarmadi Brahman at the Pushkarana Brahman Pathshala, and learned Sanskrit from Pandit Sarngram Sharma. He also played cricket and football — winning first prize in the 1956 speech competition on "Duties of Students."
Around 1956 he came into contact with Bhagat Khem Chand Asnani, a social reformer of Mithi. Vali Ram was elected Chairman of the Shiva Mandali and Library — a youth organization with 80 members and 350 books. He married Hari, daughter of Isardas Lekhraj Pardhwanani, in Mithi in 1957.
Academic Excellence — First Class, Every Time
Admitted Class 1
Government Primary School, Mithi
Primary School Certificate (Sindhi Vernacular Final)
Pushkarana Brahman Pathshala, Mithi
Matriculation
Local Board High School, Mithi
Inter-grade Drawing Examination
B.A. (Graduation)
Sachal Sarmast College, Hyderabad
M.A. Urdu Literature — First Class First
Sindh University, Jamshoro
Law Degree (LLB)
Jinnah Law College, Hyderabad
M.A. Sociology — First Class First
Sindh University, Jamshoro
M.A. Mass Communication — First Class First
Sindh University, Jamshoro
Languages Mastered (11)
Six Decades of Dedicated Service
Vali Ram Vallabh worked in the Forest Department from 1959 to 1968. For about twenty years (1969–1988) he served as Branch Manager of the Hyderabad branch of a Karachi advertising company.
On 1 April 1988, he founded Blue Angels Eden School in Hussainabad, Hyderabad — providing quality education from Kindergarten to Class 8.
In April 1988 he joined the Institute of Sindhology at Sindh University, Jamshoro. He was promoted to Deputy Director, Anthropological Centre (Museum) and retired on 15 March 2001.
Bridging the World to Sindhi Readers
His first translation — "Behisht Aeen Dozakh" from Gujarati — was published in the quarterly Mehran magazine in 1960. This began a literary journey spanning over 60 years.
Among his most celebrated translations: Ghadar by Krishan Chander (4 editions), Dhariyo — Sindhi translation of Albert Camus' "The Outsider" (1993, won the Mirza Qalich Baig Award), and works of Amrita Pritam, Qurratulain Hyder, Leo Tolstoy and many others.
He also compiled landmark anthologies: Kota Phulwari (112 poets from 26 languages of 19 countries), Morchal (Indian poetry collection), and the five-volume Arsi Publication (1983–1986) co-edited with Zafar Hassan Wats.
Life at a Glance
Born on 18 August in Mithi, Tharparkar, Sindh
Admitted to Government Primary School, Mithi (Class 1 — 6 May 1947)
Won first prize in speech competition "Duties of Students". Elected Chairman of Shiva Mandali and Library.
Primary School Leaving Certificate (Sindhi Vernacular Final). Married Hari, daughter of Isardas Lekhraj Pardhwanani.
Matriculation from Local Board High School, Mithi. Joined Forest Department, Government of Sindh.
First translation published in Mehran magazine — "Behisht Aeen Dozakh" from Gujarati.
Passed Inter-grade Drawing Examination.
Graduated from Sachal Sarmast College, Hyderabad.
M.A. Urdu Literature — First Class First — Sindh University, Jamshoro.
First major translation published: Krishan Chander's "Ghadar" in Sindhi. Left Forest Department.
Law Degree (LLB) from Jinnah Law College, Hyderabad. Joined advertising company as Business Executive.
M.A. Sociology — First Class First — Sindh University. Co-edited Monthly Suhni magazine.
Co-edited Aalami Adab literary anthology with Zafar Hassan. Published Band Darwaza (Amrita Pritam translation).
Launched Arsi Publication (literary magazine) — 5 volumes over 4 years with Zafar Hassan.
Published Sada Sawapan — literary interviews. Also Bara Sindhi Ka-in (28 stories).
Joined Institute of Sindhology, Sindh University (April). Founded Blue Angels Eden School in Hussainabad, Hyderabad (1 April).
Sindhi Adabi Sangat Award. Ghaffar-Qalij Award. Became Editor of bi-annual journal Sindhi Adab.
M.A. Mass Communication — First Class First — Sindh University. National Cultural Award for Minorities in Literature (Rs. 50,000).
Published Dhariyo — Sindhi translation of Albert Camus' "The Outsider". Mirza Qalich Baig Award.
Shaheed Muhammad Fazil Rahu Award from Yaran Soormin Sath.
Alhando Shah Yadgar Shield. Sojhro Award. National Cultural Award for Minorities in Literature (2nd time, Rs. 50,000).
Retired from Institute of Sindhology (15 March) as Deputy Director, Anthropological Centre.
Pride of Performance Award — Government of Pakistan — highest civilian honour for literature.
Published Kota-Phulwari — 112 poets, 26 languages, 19 countries. Dr. Muhabbat Barraro Award for translation.
Josh Malihabadi Award — Dept. of Culture & Tourism, Government of Sindh, for translation.
Multiple awards: Sindh Adeed Award, Shrimati Pushpa Devi Rijhwani Award (Jaipur), Appreciation Memento (New Delhi), Been-Kahani Conference Trophy.
Published Pardhihi Kahanioon. First Prize, Sindhi Language Authority (Rs. 75,000). Mirza Qalich Beg Award (2nd time).
Sadairati Award Barae Husn-e-Karkardagi — President of Pakistan (Rs. 5,000,000). Jagat Adwani Lifetime Achievement Award.
Published Morchal — Indian poetry anthology. Adabi Award 2016 — Sindhi Language Authority.
Appreciation Memento — National Council for Promotion of Sindhi Language, Government of India, New Delhi (April 25).
Passed away on 29 October in Karachi. Last rites performed at Hussainabad, Hyderabad. Tributes poured in from across Pakistan and India.
His Family
Hari Vallabh
Wife
née Pardhwanani, daughter of Isardas Lekhraj Pardhwanani
Dr. Kamleshwer Lohana
Son
Associate Professor, Mehran University. PhD Social Sciences, Sindh Univ. Masters, Queensland Univ, Australia.
Anita Kamleshwer
Daughter-in-law
Principal, Blue Angels Eden School. Masters: Pharmacy, Business Administration, Rural Development.
Dr. Pushpa Vallabh
Daughter
Associate Professor, Dow Medical University, Karachi.
Dr. Murli Dhar Chhabria
Son-in-law
Professor, SIUT (Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation), Karachi.
Gauri Vallabh (Gauri Leelaram)
Daughter
Asst. Professor, Physics Dept., Government Women's College, Karachi.
Lilaram Lohana
Son-in-law
US-AID
Rahul Chhabria
Grandson
Pushpa's son
Sameer Rai Chhabria
Grandson
Pushpa's son
Akash Chhabria
Grandson
Pushpa's son
Aarti
Granddaughter
Gauri's daughter
Rohit
Grandson
Gauri's son
Bhavna
Granddaughter
Kamleshwer's daughter
Tanya
Granddaughter
Kamleshwer's daughter
Jatan
Grandson
Kamleshwer's son
Laksh
Grandson
Kamleshwer's son
29 October 2023
Vali Ram Vallabh passed away in a Karachi hospital on 29 October 2023, aged 82, after suffering from diabetes, kidney failure, and cardiac complications. His last rites were performed at Jethaniyan Shamshan Ghat, Hussainabad, Hyderabad.
"As long as stories are told and thoughts take flight, your legacy will live on in every heart you touched."