KARACHI, July 23: The vice-chancellor, University of Karachi, Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, has announced that the varsity will publish all unpublished works of renowned Sindhi writer and intellectual Jamal Abro , who passed away on June 30 last.

" The Sindhi department and Shah Abdul Latif chair of KU will also arrange the translation and publication of Jamal Abro's short stories into Urdu and English," he said, while speaking to a literary reference at a local hotel last night. The reference was jointly organised by the Sindhi department and Shah Abdul Latif chair to pay tributes to the late writer.

The demise of Jamal Abro is a great loss not only for Sindhi literature and Sindhi speaking people but to the whole literary world, as he was one of those few writers and intellectuals who played a leading role in progressive literary movement at the time of the creation of Pakistan, Dr Pirzada observed.

A large number of prominent writers and intellectuals including Sirajul Haq Memon, Mazharul Haq Siddiqui, VC, Sindh University, Ghulam Ali Allana, former senator Hussain Shah Rashdi advocate, Secretary Information, Sindh Mrs Mahtab Akbar Rashdi, Nooruddin Sarki advocate, Dr Qasim Bughio, chairman, Sindhi Language Authority Ghulam Nabi Mughal, Shaukat Hussain Shoro, Ms Shahnaz Shoro, Prof Afaq Siddiqui, Taj Baloch, Salim Memon, Agha Noor Muhammad Pathan, Anwar Pirzada, Badar Abro, the eldest son of late Jamal Abro also spoke.

The speakers highlighted the literary services of Jamal Abro, and spoke of the evolution of Sindhi short story writing, comparative study of contemporary literature and political, social and economic conditions that prevailed in Sindh at that time inspiring Jamal Abro to write.

The gathering was informed that late Jamal Abro had also been mentioned as the representative Sindhi writer in the Encyclopaedia of World Literature. Speakers said that Jamal Abro was one of the founders of Sindhi short stories, and though he wrote only 17, he enriched Sindhi literature because he targeted the real issues and wrote against exploitation.

Badar Abro, himself a noted writer and researcher and editor of the Oxford English-Sindhi dictionary, announced the compilation of all writings on Jamal Abro. He appealed to writers and friends to contribute photographs and writings for the same. - PPI