KHAIRPUR: In a resolution passed at the concluding session held on Wednesday of a three-day international seminar on ‘Sindh: history & culture’, scholars pledged to create awareness among the masses for the love and ownership of heritage.

According to a press release of Salu, they said there was a need of trained historians and cultural analysts to further explore and maintain cultural legacy and to promote tourism in Sindh. Some practical steps could enhance and improve the economy in the province to strengthen the tourism industry, they added.

On the final day, various scholars from across the country and abroad presented their research papers on culture, history, literature, languages, Sufism, freedom movement, economy, gender and politics.

Presiding over the concluding session, Salu Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Parveen Shah said Sindh was a very rich land culturally and historically, and ‘when we talk about its history, it goes back to around thousand years, from the Stone Age to the historical period’.

The conference was jointly organised by Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur and the National Institute of Historical & Cultural Re­­search, Center of Excellence, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission Islamabad.

She said Sindh was rich in natural resources, but still its people were living below the poverty line.

British archaeologist Bri­dget Allchin was able to find Stone Age factories and a bulk of stone stools from Rohri Hills. Apart from the Stone Age presence of human society in Sindh, emergence of the great Indus civilisation there was a remarkable feature which was adopted as starting point of the history of Sindh.

She said the mighty Indus swamped a vast area, from Ladakh Mansarovar to the Arabian Sea, like other all great civilisations which had been found either in the valleys or on the banks of rivers. All civilisations — Egyptian, Babylo­nian, Chinese and that of Indus valley — on the bank of the Indus River facilitated exchange of ideas and experiences, which helped in development of society and culture.

She remarked that the location of Sindh considerably influenced the evolution of society and culture as it had been on the cradle of civilisations. All historical periods witnessed here the crossing of different nations: the Greeks, Chinese, Aryans, Kushans, Sassanids, Par­t­hians, White Huns and Arabs. This land was ruled by Buddhists, Hindus, and Mus­lims and had remained under the influence of Sufi saints of various thoughts. That was why Sindhis were known as Sufis in nature, loving and peaceful. They believed in harmony and brotherhood, which was the true face of Sindh, she said.

Taking advantage of the conference, besides promotion of the historical heritage, ‘we should spread the message of peace and harmony’ which was the dire need of the entire world, she added.

Speaking as the chief guest, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Ghulam Asghar Channa expressed happiness to see the galaxy of scholars at Salu, Khairpur. Calling participants surgeons of history, he said history and social sciences were integral part of the development.

Citing the example of Moe­n­­­jodaro as a planned city, he said that though there was no planning commission at that time, the inhabitants of that civilisation were civilised.

He said scientific research on history might be conducted and it was the responsibility of men of letters to revisit the history. Preser­vation of heritage, culture and civilisation was the collective duty, he said, adding that Sindh was the land of diversity and peace.

He said the plight of the education in Sindh cast negative impacts on people and suggested that a conference on the Education of Sindh: Present and Past might be organised.

VC Parveen Shah decorated the guests with Sindhi traditional Ajraks and Khes. Shields were also distributed among them.

Prof Dr Syed Waqar Ali Shah (director of the National Institute of Historical & Cultural Research), Dr Himayatullah Yaqoobi, Dr Anjum Tahira, Dr Hajira Masroor, Dr Iqbal Chawla, Dr Humera Naz, Ms Savitri Shrestha (associate professor of Tribhuwan University, Kathmandu, Nepal), Syed Umar Hayat and other renowned scholars also spoke on the occasion. They appreciated the hospitality extended by Salu.

At the end, the resolution was passed by the scholars.

Prof Dr Asad Raza Abidi and a large number of teachers, academicians, researchers and administration officers attended the concluding ceremony.

Later on, the delegates paid a visit to Kot Diji Fort, Shrine of Sachal Sarmast and Moenjodaro.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2015