Rasool Bux Palijo (Sindhi, Urdu: رسول بخش پليجو; 21 February 1930[1] – 7 June 2018) was a Pakistani leftist, Marxist leader, scholar and writer.
During his days as a lawyer, he became involved in the election campaign of Comrade Hyder Bux Jatoi, the leader of the Sindhi Hari Committee.
In the electoral battle of Qambar Shahdadkot, he witnessed a stark contrast: on one side was the powerful local feudal lord Nawab Ghaibi Khan Chandio, supported by landlords and nawabs from across Sindh; on the other side was Comrade Hyder Bux Jatoi, backed by peasants and laborers who campaigned with flags in hand, singing revolutionary songs.
However, when the Democratic Action Committee (DAC) alliance was formed, Jamaat-e-Islami conditioned their participation on abandoning the demand to dissolve the One Unit scheme.
He engaged with various writers, poets, and patriotic individuals, including Ibrahim Joyo, Sheikh Ayaz, Rasheed Bhatti, Hafeez Qureshi, Tanvir Abbasi, and Taj Abro.
Eventually, along with Ibrahim Joyo, Jeejee Zarina Baloch, Ibn Hayat Panhwar, and A. K. Sheikh, he founded the Music Lovers' Club, ostensibly a non-political organization.
[5] He was one of the outstanding speakers of the Sub-continent, top Constitutional and Criminal Lawyers of Pakistan Rasool Bux Palijo believed that the existing parties at the time were unable to address the fundamental national, class, democratic, cultural, social, and economic issues faced by the Sindhi people.
He saw the need for a new revolutionary organization in Sindh that would genuinely represent the people and be guided by the principles laid down by labor-friendly scholars, thinkers, and intellectuals from around the world.
In 1990, when ANP formed an alliance with the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Palijo strongly disagreed with this decision and resigned, subsequently re-establishing the Awami Tehrik.
In 1975, he served as the lawyer for Baloch and Pashtun leaders in the Hyderabad Conspiracy Case, which led to his imprisonment by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's government.
When General Zia-ul-Haq overthrew Bhutto's government and imposed martial law, Palijo vehemently opposed the regime, initiating a nationwide campaign.
He played an active role against illegal Army Operation in Bangladesh and Balochistan and in the Movement of Journalists against General Zia-ul-Haq On October 1979, a historic farmer's conference was held in Rahooki, which served as a referendum against martial law.
He organized long marches and a historic sit-in at the Sindh-Punjab border at Kamo Shaheed, which saw participation from national leaders, including Benazir Bhutto.
During the lawyers' movement for the restoration of judges, Awami Tehrik leader Nawaz Kanrani was martyred by terrorists while welcoming Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in Karachi on May 12, 2007.
Rasool Bux Palijo spent a significant portion of his life in prison due to his political activities and outspoken criticism of various regimes.
He has authored numerous books spanning political, social, literary, and scientific topics, demonstrating his versatile intellect and deep knowledge across disciplines.
His multilingual proficiency and diverse interests are reflected in his writings, which are available in languages including Sindhi, Urdu, Bengali, English, and Persian.
He has six children from his first wife Shareefan Palijo: 1) Jameel Ahmed Palejo[6] 2) Saleem Akhtar, 3) Masood Anwar, 4) Shehnaz (Adi Pado), 5) Ghulam Hyder, and 6) Noor Nabi.
Upon becoming president in 2009, Ayaz Latif Palijo led a significant 900 km long march on foot from Kandhkot to Karachi, demonstrating his dedication to the party's cause.
[2][6][10] Described as "the author of more than forty books on numerous subjects, ranging from literature to politics, prison dairies, philosophy, culture and poetry",[11] his bibliography includes:[12]