ISLAMABAD: The literati gathered at Pakistan Academy of Letter (PAL) on Monday to observe 92nd birth day of Shaikh Ayaz and 43rd death anniversary of Nasir Kazmi.

Addressing on the gathering, researcher Ahmed Saleem said poet Nasir Kazmi underwent the sufferings of migration in 1947 which were reflected in his poetry.

He said Shaikh Ayaz was one of the prominent Sindhi poets of Pakistan in general and Sindh in particular.

He was born on March 2, 1923 in Shikarpur and died on December 28, 1997 in Karachi. He wrote several books on poetry, biographies, plays and short-stories in both Sindhi and Urdu languages.

Syed Nasir Kazmi is a renowned Urdu poet. He was born on December 8, 1925 at Ambala, East Punjab and died on March 2, 1972 in Lahore.

Mr Saleem said that people could not understand Sheikh Ayaz without understanding Sindh.

G. M. Syed was political teacher of Sheikh Ayaz and he (Ayaz) grew under the supervision of Sobho Gianchandani. And he was a true follower of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.

“Sheikh Ayaz believed in internationalism instead of globalisation. He was against one unit because he wanted to be called Sindhi and could not tolerate the word ‘former Sindh’,” he said.

“Mr Ayaz was a lawyer and also academician. He supported Awami League due to which he was sent to jail twice in 1965 and 1971,” he said.

Poet Manzar Naqvi while speaking about Nasir Kazmi said, “He not only did poetry about migration to Pakistan but also about the migration of Holly Prophet and Hazrat Imam Hussain.”

“However, Kazmi’s most famous poetry was published after his death. He also did essay writing and said people should have courage to criticise themselves,” he said.

Mr Manzar said that although Urdu was considered alien language in Pakistan, poets like Nasir Kazmi filled colour in the language through poetry. The PAL chairman, Qasim Bogio, said Nasir Kazmi felt the emotions of the people and then translated them into his poetry. While talking about Sheikh Ayaz he said he and his work would never be forgotten.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2015

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