KARACHI, May 19: The message of peace, equality, love and tolerance given by Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai is much relevant to our times.

Said scholars and literary figures of the country gathered to observe Shah Latif’s 298th death anniversary in a meeting organised by Pakistan Academy of Letters, here on Sunday.

Dr Fehmida Hussein, director Shah Latif Chair, Karachi University, explained how the great sufi poet supported women and highlighted their inborn, strong personality traits through his poetry.

She regretted that despite tall claims of holding in high esteem the great poet and his work, the very message of his was being ignored as deplorable practices like Karo Kari and other injustices continued to prevail.

Fehmida Hussen was strongly supported by Dr Mohammad Ali Siddiqui who said the work based in the 18th century continued to remain very strong as Shah Latif, like any other great poet, did not draw any line between present and future.

“He, through his poetry, attempted a meaningful social change based on equality between man and woman and among all segments of society,” Dr Siddiqui said

The chief guest on the occasion and an authority on Shah Latif, Dr Nabi Baksh Baloch, who collected and compiled the original text of Shah Latif in 10 volumes launched during the ceremony, underscored the need for its translation in Urdu prose.

“A standardised work has been made available, but much more is yet to be done to compile the remaining work of Shah Latif which is scattered and also mingled with verses of his other contemporaries.”

He also underscored the need to preserve the form of music founded by Shah Abdul Latif, adding that the makers of the five- string instrument “Tamboor” introduced by Shah Latif were on verge of extinction.

Chairman Pakistan Academy of Letters said Shah Latif’s work has been translated in almost all the provincial languages and in many other UN languages.

Dr Afaq Siddiqui and Agha Saleem referred to different aspects of Shah Latif’s poetry and music. The programme was conducted by Marham Kazmi.—APP