HYDERABAD, May 30: The Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and Mysticism Award Committee of the academy of letters has selected a book by Agha Saleem, “Melody of Clouds”, for the cash award for the year. The decision was taken at a meeting of the committee held on Monday under the chairmanship of University of Sindh Vice-Chancellor Mazharul Haq Siddiqui.

The meeting was attended by the secretary of the committee, Agha Noor Mohammad Pathan, its members and writers Imdad Hussaini, Shaukat Hussain Shoro.

The meeting held detailed discussions on books, published in 2003, received by the academy for the award of the cash prize of Rs25,000, and unanimously selected the book by Mr Saleem for the award.

The committee also took strong notice of inordinate delay in increasing the prize from Rs25,000 to Rs50,000 as recommended and decided to send a communication to the academy in this regard.

It was also recommended that the Institute of Sindhology and the Sindhi Adabi Board should establish separate sections about “Latifiat” for the study of Shah Latif.

The meeting decided that to encourage scholars and writers, the Institute of Sindhology and the Sindhi Adabi Board should announce attractive remunerations for writing books in Sindhi on various aspects of the poetry of Shah Latif.

It also deliberated over the issue of audio recording of the poetry of Shah Latif for record in the Institute of Sindhology.

It was also recommended that the Sindhi Adabi Board and the Institute of Sindhology should publish the catalogue of available manuscripts.