Sarsabz Kahani screens the gun battle between Nazo Dharejo and her land grabbers in rural Sindh in a short film – have you watched yet?
“I learned a very long time ago that some things are only solved with guns, it is the only language some people understand,”
Nazo Dharejo
Meet Nazo Dharejo, a young brave Pakistani hero from Sindh who’s been an inspiration for many of us. She is now a Pakistani activist and politicia, but when at one time, she was a lone woman defending and safeguarding her family’s lands in rural Sindh. Since the past two decades, she has battled dacoits and has personally fought off several attempts to grab her agricultural land — (armed with just a single Kalashnikov)
She is also managing to raise four children and ensuring that her lands remain productive and profitable.
Nazo’s Story
Nazo Dharejo was the first of three daughters born to Haji Khuda Buksh Khan Dharejo and his second wife, Waderi Jamzadi, in a haveli in Dedhan village, Qazi Ahmed. According to village culture, Nazo was only allowed to study till the second grade. She was also learning to read the Holy Quran in a mosque on the insistence of her mother.
“My mother didn’t know how to read properly, but she stressed that I should read the Holy Quran.”
Nazo
Inspiration For All Of Us!
While women of her age are less encouraged to study, she always wanted to gain better education and explore the world.
“I didn’t care for village life and really wanted to study,”
“I wanted to tour other countries and to learn about the world.”
She spoke proudly in an interview that her sister in law used to teach her Urdu. Moreover, when Nazo’s sisters attended school, she decided to learn English after mastering Urdu. Nazo asked her father for permission to acquire a tutor — who schooled her younger sisters — to teach her as well. Haji Khuda Baksh, who was certainly not the stereotypical chauvinist, agreed to her request and proudly allowed her to move forward with her education.
Nazo explained how her father offered his daughters not just the opportunity to gain education but also a chance to live a life as equal citizens of society. She explained that her father was never favored among his family and that they were used to of fighting over lands.
He gave a lot of respect to his children. When he came back from the field, he wouldn’t let me touch or pick up his shoes
“We were allowed to go to Nawabshah for shopping,” she says, recalling her life with her younger sisters. When the girls requested that they wanted to see a film in the cinema, he would book a box just for them.
Nazo’s father also taught her how to use guns. Little did she know, she would have to put these lessons to practical use.
Nazo Dharejo -Pakistan’s toughest woman!
Nazo has been fighting robberies, water blockages and illegal encroachments over her land since many years. In 2005, Nazo Dharejo led the armed defense against an army of 200 dacoits (from her male relatives), firing her Kalashnikov rifle when they tried to approach the buildings.
Nazo Dharejo has been active in politics as Mukhtiar Nazo Dharejo. She is happily married to Zulfiqar Dharejo who was with her when she fought the crucial battle from the roof of her house to protect herself and her family’s rightful heritage.
Just recently, Sarsabz Kahani has screened a short film about her life, especially the day and night long face off she had with dacoits who wanted to take over her land. Know more about her life here:
Information for this article has been sourced from The Express Tribune
