Hiranand Shaukiram Advani, popularly known as Sadhu Hiranand was a Sindhi languge prose writer, Journalist, Educationist and Social Reformer. He was founder of the Union Academy, a famous school in Hyderabad, Sindh, British India. He served as editor of monthly literary magazine Sarsoti and two daily newspapers Sindh Sudhar and Sindh Times.
Biography
He was born in Hyderabad Sindh then British India, now Sindh, Pakistan on 23 March 1863. He was third son of Deewan Shaukiram Advani and younger brother of Navalrai Advani. He got his early education from his hometown Hyderabad but went to receive his higher education from now Kolkata, Bengal. Where he met great people like Shri Keshab Chandra Sen and Swami Ramakrishna Paramhansa, which inspired him so much that when he returned home, he established an academy called Union Academy in Hyderabad along with his brother Sadhu Navalrai, the purpose of this academy was to raise awareness amongst young people and educate them about things happening in the world. Soon, they both launched awareness campaigns throughout the city to promote education; particularly for girls, it was quite uncommon for girls to go to school back then. As most of the parents were reluctant because they feared that their girls will become transgress. He also started a sindhi newspaper Sind Sudhar in 1886, where he remained as the chief editor for three years. He died at very young age but contributed too much during his short life. Rishi Dayaram Gidumal called him " Sindh Ji Aatma" or "Soul of Sindh". In 1890, he started a literary Sindhi language magazine "Sarsoti". This was the first magazine which was popular among Hindu as well as Muslim community of Sindh. Being editor of this magazine, Sadhu Hiranand regularly contributed essays, stories and literary articles in almost every issue of the magazine. Renowned scholar Bherumal Meharchand Advani compiled a book Hire Joon Kahaniyoon in 1926 containing selected writings of Hiranand published in various issues of this maazine.
