LARKANA: The progressive literary movement in Pakistan virtually died down after the breakup of the USSR in 1989 and it has now been replaced by the movement of social realism in literature.

The resistance, which was a fort of literature under the influence of progressive trends of those days, was usually against the capitalism, but now the world has grown unipolar and here in the country no such trend exists in the literature of the present days.

This was stated by noted Sindhi fiction-writer, critic of Sindhi literature and Larkana Divisional Commissioner Akber Laghar while presiding over the launching ceremony of three books written and translated by Dr Badar Ujjan, former secretary of the government of Sindh. The event was held at the Arts Council of Pakistan here on Wednesday.

Stressing that literary organisations had to play their role to serve language, literature, culture and civilisation, he eulogised the literary services of Badar Ujjan.

The three books in Sindhi language launched here by the Anjaman Tareeqi Pasand Musanafeen included compiled articles Faiz Ahmed Faiz, translation of the letters of Alesa Faiz Dear Heart and Sartre ji wjoodiyat aen insan dostee. Akber legahri further said nowadays literature was created for the sake of literature.

Researcher and noted writer Badaar Abro said the translation of English books into Sindhi done by Badar was qualitative.

Usually it was not easy to translate even a single line of any language to another because translation did not mean changing words only, but it was tantamount to transforming cultural, conceptual and linguistics treasure into another language.

Rahat Saeed, secretary of Anjuman, said progressive writers all over Sindh had their representation in Anjamun and they served the literature on this platform.

He announced that a series of lectures on various topics of literature would be initiated in Larkana under the title of ‘Sobho Gianchandani lecture series’.

Kalpna Devi, chairperson of the Larkana district Hindu Panchayat, said Dr Badar Ujjan besides being a progressive writer was a good administrator.

While serving in Larkana as deputy commissioner, district coordination officer and later on as divisional commissioner, he served Larkana and its people honestly and dedicatedly.

She said his big contribution was “Gomi Bai Ladies Club” which he got freed from land grabbers and restored it for social, cultural and educational activities of the women of Larkana.

The writer and translator of the books said: “I am dedicatedly trying to bring good readings of other languages in the hands of Sindh readers through translation.”

Other speakers on the occasion included Hussain Bakhsh Narejo, Saleem Korai, Mohammad Ali Pathan, Jam Jamali, Jahangir Abbasi, Dr Khadim Mangi, Asif Razzaq Mahar, Mazhar Ujjan, Ali Raza Gaad, Qasim Daud, koral Qurbdar and Muhammed Usman Tunio.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2015