HYDERABAD: Speakers at an international literary conference emphasised the need for spreading the message of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai on national and international level to help establish peace and end terrorism, chaos and uncertainty in society.

It was the need of the hour that Bhitai’s message be spread throughout society, they said at the conference held in Bhitshah at the Excellence Centre on the second day of the 271st Urs celebrations of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai on Monday. The conference was organised by the Sindh culture department.

Acclaimed scholar and former vice chancellor of Sindh University Ghulam Ali Allana said that Bhitai’s message was universal in nature. Whenever someone read Shah’s poetry irrespective of his or her language he was surprise to find people of this region had so much depth in thinking, he said.

Syed Waqar Hussain Shah, who was the chief guest, said that Bhitai was a beacon light for everyone who focused on women. It was an irony that as a society “we consider women weak whereas Latif promotes them as symbol of courage”.

A writer Ahsan Shah from the Gilgit-Baltistan said that Sindh had direct linkage with his area through Indus river. Some words in the Balti language did not only resemble Sindhi words but there were also similarities between the cultures of two areas, he said.

He said that Bhitai’s poetry echoed in the hearts and minds of people of his area. “His poetry is for all times to come,” he added.

Rose Mary James, a scholar from the UK, observed that people nee­d­ed to understand aims of their life as it would enable them to acquire ability to do something for their people. She said this ability was clearly manifested in the poetry of Bhitai.

She said that it was time to understand each other. “It is equally important to understand as to who we are, where we belong and where do we intend to go,” she said.

She maintained that academic world was different from spiritual world where people came across emotions, sentiments, love, affection and goals to live for others.

She said that it did not matter which language Bhitai’s poetry was being translated into because that language would itself become language of Bhitai.

Noor Mohammad Khan Hussaini from Balochistan told the audience when there was bloodshed in society it was all the more important to understand Bhitai’s message beca­use he was a poet above all areas and language restrictions.

The vice-chancellor of the Federal Urdu University Karachi, Dr Zafar Iqbal, said that message of Bhitai had reached every nook and corner of the country and it was getting due appreciation at world level, for Bhitai was not only a poet but a thinker as well.

He said that even the Urdu language had accepted influence of Bhitai’s poetry and Shah Jo Kalam was available in 27 complete and inco­­m­plete Urdu manuscripts.

Phullo Meghwar presented his paper on social structure of Thar, mentioning that Bhitai loved simplicity and truthfulness of the people of Thar and that was why he made them part of his poetry. He said that character of Marvi clearly indicated that she refused all kinds of wealth for parents as she considered them her real asset.

Akhtar Raza Saleemi, Dr Makhmoor Bukhari, Aziz Kingrani, Agha Saleem and Taj Joyo said that more research was needed on some parts of Bhitai’s poetry.

Sindh secretary culture Ejaz Memon and DG culture Manzoor Ahmed Kanasro announced that Latif literary conference would be held on Dec 10 in Karachi as well.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2014