HYDERABAD, Dec 7: Tributes were paid to legendary classical singer of Sindh late Ustad Manzoor Ali Khan for the promotion of classical Sindhi music in and outside the country.

Addressing the launching ceremony of a book on his life and music at the Sindhi Language Authority auditorium here on Monday evening, speakers said he was the identity of Sindh. Broadcaster Kousar Buriro has compiled the book.

Writers, intellectuals and broadcasters said that Ustad Manzoor had introduced Sindhi culture throughout the world through his classical music. They said that with the death of artiste like Ustad Manzoor Ali Khan, the tradition of Sindhi classical music had almost vanished.

Sindh Minister for Culture Ms Sassui Palijo said that late Ustad Manzoor Ali Khan was the symbol and identity of Sindhi classical music.

She said the culture department would publish books on Sindhi artistes and singers, and soon letters written to singer-cum-political activist Zarina Baloch by different personalities would be published in a book form.Short story writer Hameed Sindhi said that Manzoor Ali Khan considered Raag as worship.

Broadcaster Khwaja Imdad said that the late maestro never demanded money to perform, although he was not a rich man. It was a tragedy that the great artistes were not paid adequate compensation which they deserved, he said.

He criticised the existing trends in Sindhi music and added that Sindhi classical music and Ghazal singing had not received proper recognition. Late Ustad was a great asset of the Sindhi nation, he said and added that more research should be conducted on his life and art.

Professor Taj Joyo urged the government to establish a classical musical school at Tando Adam, the hometown of Ustad Manzoor Ali Khan.

SLA chairperson Dr Fehmida Hussain, Mohammad Qasim Maka, Parwano Bhatti, singers Zulfiqar Ali and Mazhar Ali and Naseer Mirza also spoke on the occasion.

EXHIBITION: The University of Sindh's Institute of Art and Design in collaboration with Sindhi Adabi Board is organising a one-day seminar on art and artists and an exhibition of art work of different artists on Dec 22.

Interested artists have been advised to provide their work to the Institute of Art and Design for display in exhibition latest by Dec 20.

LAST DATE: The University of Sindh announced on Tuesday that last date for the payment of admission fee by successful candidates for admissions to bachelor degree programme has been fixed for Dec 10.

The candidates have been advised to obtain bank challans for admission fee from counters of the directorate of admissions and deposit admission fee at the Jamshoro branch of Habib Bank Limited.