LARKANA: A Jashan-i-Latif was held to pay homage to great Sindh’s Sufi saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai.

The Qamber Shahdakot District Historical Society organised the event the other day, presided over by Larkana Commissioner Akber Leghari.

Sindhi Adabi Sangat former secretary Adal Soomro, Qambar-Shadadkot Deputy Commissioner Fayyaz Alam Solangi and Dr Bashir Ahmed Shaad were chief guests on the occasion. Guests of the honour were Archaeologist and Moenjodaro Conservation Cell (MCC) former director Sayed Hakim Ali Shah Bukhari and well-known literary figures Prof Mukhtiar Samo, Ahsan Danish, Fayyaz Latif, Azad Anwer Kandhiro and Gulnar Naz Tabsum of the Shirkat Gah.

A large number of women were among the audience who had gathered to listen to the speakers highlighting works and life of Shah Bhitai. The Jashan featured four segments — speeches, a mushaira, an award ceremony and musical evening.

Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner Leghari said the message of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai presented in his poetry was that of universal peace, prosperity and respect for humanity, including wellbeing of his own people and his native land. He said Bhittai deemed the grievance of one individual anywhere as the grievance of all humanity in the world and urged for its redressal without any discrimination and purely on the humanitarian grounds.

Adal Soomro, who has authored many books in Sindhi for children, said Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai was not only traditional Sufi or peer as many non-native people and some misled locals also believed but he was a great scholar also who was the identification of Sindh. He said great poets of the world always represented their culture, served their language and sang their national heroes so had done Bhittai in his poetry.

Syed Hakim Ali Shah Bukhari, an author of books on archeology and basics of Sindhi music, said the poetry of Bhittai should be read frequently and with full concentration as it contained the great lesson within itself. Bhittai had attached great importance to even minor things by mentioning them in his poetry, he added.

Dr Bashir Ahmed Shaad said Shah Latif was the poet of love and resistance as well. He welcomed the good and resisted the bad. Shah was an epitome of simplicity, but had high quality of character and integrity.

Prof Mukhtiar Samo said that every chapter of the Shah jorisalo (poetic collection of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai) was full with wisdom. His poetry was a bacon light which led one to his true destination. Shah Abdul Latif was the poet of life who in his entire poetry elaborated high values of dignified life and enjoined upon the people to shun those practices which caused degradation and humiliation for them.

Gulnar Naz Tabsum said Bhittai was truly the poet of marginalised people because he had represented in his poetry the downtrodden and labour class. The other who spoke on the poetry and life of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai included Ahsan Danish, Fayaz Latif, Anwar Azad Kandhiro and Dr Nazir Shaikh.

The first session of speeches was followed by the mushaira in which many prominent poets of Sindhi language presented their poetry and received a great applause from the audience. The poets who recited their poetry included Sarmad Chandio, Jawad Jaffery, Ali Zahid, Rizwan Gul, Riazat Buriro, Ahmed Ali Sabir Chandio, Yasir Mangi and Wafa Buriro.

On this occasion many people belonging to various fields of life were given life achievement awards for their selfless services. Those included Imdad Abro, Zahid Shaikh, Ayaz Gul, Mukhtiar Malik, Fayaz Latif, Khalid Chandio, Baby Baagri, Bhao Dur Mohammad Buriro, Ali Zahid, Mumtaz Lohar and Rizwan Gul.

Speaking on the occasion, Qamber-Shadadkot Deputy Commissioner and Kambar Shahdadkot District Historical Society patron Fayaz Aalm Solangi said such kind of events were very essential because they spread enlightenment, love and peace. He promised his support for all the positive works, educational, historical, cultural and literary activities in the district.

Earlier Bao Dur Mohammad Burio, chairman of the society, welcomed people in Jashan-i-Latif and thanked the district administration for its support in holding the event.

The last segment of the Jashan was the music programme in which prominent Sufi and modern singers paid tribute to Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and entertained the audience. The singers included Rahmat Mirali, Shazia Sorath, Zahid Shaikh and Barkat Gopang.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2016