Nihalchand Pabani

Seth Nihalchand was born to Deewan Ramchand Pabani. His father Deewan Ramchand Pabani lived in the city of Thatta from Thatta district. The name of his grandfather was Pabomal which led them to be called Pabani. Their surname was Popat and being in the region of Thatta they worshipped Pir Patho. The elder generation migrated to a village of Mao Akhiraj which is about 18 km away from Islamkot and further migrated to Islamkot where Seth Nihalchand was born in the year 1913. Deewan Ramchand had a son and two daughters as his children. Dewan Ramchand was the officer in the Revenue department, and he retired from the position of a Head Clerk (Assistant Mukhtiarkar).

Dewan Ramchand Pabani was a very intelligent and kind person who worked with great diligence for establishing the arena beside the ashram. Many people kept on receiving the benefits of health due to this. Deewan Ramchand has been named with great respect and honor from the gentlemen of the city. The name of Deewan Ramchand and being his only son greatly influenced Seth Nihalchand. Seth Nihalchand was able to be educated merely till Sindhi but his brain was greatly capable of assay everything. This quality earned him a high position. After the death of Deewan Ramchand in 1946, all the responsibilities came under the hands of Seth Nihalchand. Since then politics commenced in his life. Being intelligent, noble descent, and a moneylender along with his great hospitality after the inception of Pakistan in 1947, he was more among discussion of people. While flag hoisting ceremony on 14 August of 1947 the moral of Seth Nihalchand was high and which increased every year on Independence Day, he celebrated it with passion, spirit, and devotion. This highlighted the feeling of patriotism for his country. Moving ahead this way in 1952 he became the chairman of the Senate Committee and in 1960 for the first time with the vote of Hindu members along with the help of some Muslim members he was elected as Chairman of Union Council Islamkot further the name from this designation as 'Chairman Nihalchand' continued till his old age.

Welfare services

Welfare activities by Seth Nihalchand for the town includes the establishment of Secondary School in 1956. During the year 1962 in Islamkot with his efforts government Higher Secondary School was established. Hundreds of neem trees seen on Mithi-Islamkot, Islamkot-Chachro and Islamkot-Nagarparkar roads were planted during the chairmanship of Seth Nihalchand and under his care. For the same reason, Islamkot is also called “Town of Neem”.  Seth Nihalchand was a very sociable person. Keeping himself busy along with his workers serving Mir, Pir, Chaudhary, noble, rich, and others who used to sit the whole day in his guest room further engaging himself in playing the game of Chaupar with those respected denizens.

In 1968, a news editorial article in “Hamdard” newspaper referring Islamkot-The town of neem as “Islamkot or Nihalkot” the author wrote,” I believe it would be better to call the present Islamkot as Nihalkot since the famous destination of Seth Nihalchand was very high”.

Seth Nihalchand was a very brave person who never stepped back in any work. He had great political strength. Seth Nihalchand in reference to Pir Ghulam Rasool Shah Jillani said that Jillani is my Murshid (guide).  Considering him as Murid (one who seeks), Jilani greatly respected him. Several times senior officers, ministers going towards Nagarparkar used to visit him.

In 1953 Minister of Sindh, Syed Ghulam Haider Shah who was the father of the former Sindh Assembly speaker, Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, came to visit Seth Nihalchand at his guest room. In the year 1956 on the insistence of Seth Nihalchand to make a visit and meet the people, former Pir Pagara visited Seth Nihalchand at his guest room and further met the public. During the same year of 1956 when Rana Chandra Singh was Deputy Minister Irrigation Department of West Pakistan, visited Seth Nihalchand at his guest room. These things were evident in how much high was his height and how much far his approaches were reached. Due to contacts with Pir Saheb Jilani and officers he had access to Prime Minister of Pakistan and President of Pakistan. Apart from this, people who used to visit Thar from different countries went after meeting him and gave him the title of “Encyclopedia of Thar”. In 1976, Islamkot got the status of town committee further he was unanimously elected as a chairman of the town committee in 1977, and then in 1983, he was elected chairman again with a majority consensus. In 1987, he handed over the chairmanship to his grandson Mohan Lal Raja and started taking part in the higher-level politics, which continued till the end. During 1971 he played a vital role in helping the victims of war. People of town along with Seth Nihalchand on 15 September 1973 after the achievement of “Amar Padh” by Satguru Sant Shiromani Nenuram, officially took the responsibility of ashram and started the welfare services which also includes organizing an annual festival of Sant. Due to busy schedules, Seth Nihalchand attended Sant less frequently but after “Devloka Prasthan” of Sant, he came regularly and during his tenure, he built a hall in the form of “Bhandara” to feed existing poor ladies. Building interior bhojan hall of Bhagat Bhojraj hall, two rooms for Bhandara, rooms beside the well, room to keep fodder for cows, a shelter for cows, boundary walls for the ashram, are also included in the welfare activities of Seth Nihalchand. Even the “Niwasthan” was built under care of Seth Nihalchand during his tenure. Finally, in the year 1994, with support of people Seth Nihalchand built Sant Nenuram’s Samadhi, which was among his significant works. He also continued other small works in the ashram. Seth Nihalchand played a vital role in organizing the Festival of Sant. Most of the businessmen in town along with notable personalities were under his control, due to which he was termed as President of Pujya Hindu Panchayat. In any problem, coming forward and solving it rather than stepping backward was his ability as a legacy. This way Seth Nihalchand doing welfare activities and moving ahead with goodness passed away on 18 November 1997 in Islamkot, the town of Sant Nenuram.

Career Timeline
 in 1952 he became the chairman of the Senate Committee
Chairman of Union Council Islamkot in 1960