HYDERABAD: Speakers at a programme held here on Saturday evening to mark the 22nd death anniversary of Sindhi poet Syed Ahmed Shah Bukhari, popularly known as Ustad Bukhari, called for including his poetry in the college and university syllabi.The programme was held at the Teachers’ Club, University of Sindh, Jamshoro and attended by professors, poets, writers, students and a large number of Ustad Bukhari’s admirers.

The speakers said that Ustad Bukhari guided people through his poetry on various issues concerning Sindh including its culture and life style, and hardships and struggle of local people.

An assistant professor of the International Relations Department and writer, Inamullah Shaikh, said the poetry of Ustad Bukhari encouraged farmers, peasants and the working class of Sindh.

He said the poetry and prose of Ustad Bukhari had a unique diction. Therefore, he suggested, his poetry should be made part of the syllabi of colleges and universities of the province.

He said Ustad Bukhari loved Sindh University very much, especially its environment. He used to tell teachers that they should not demand a salary for teaching at this great institution. Mr Sheikh maintained that the late poet had created a new diction of Sindhi language; his poetry depicted Sindh’s pastoral life very well.

He said Ustad Bukhari also promoted Shah Latif’s school of thought as best as possible. He remarked that poet’s commitment with the masses was remarkable.

Known artist and director of Sindhology Prof Saeed Mangi said Ustad Bukhari had been a teacher and led a busy life in teaching and writing poetry. He used to love his people, Sindhi language and Sindh more than his life, said Mr Mangi, adding that the late poet did not stop composing couplets even during the dictatorship of Gen Ziaul Haq.

Associate Professor Dr Azhar Ali Shah of the SU Institute of Information Technology said Ustad Bukhari taught people how to live when faced with troubles.

He urged the government to publish all of his poetry and incorporate it in the Sindhi syllabus. He paid tributes to Ustad Bukhari for his poetry that was inspiration for many.

SU officer Syed Sajjad Hussain Shah said his poetry enriched Sindhi language and literature. “Such a poet is born in centuries,” he said, and noted that the late poet’s works were only for the people, language, literature and soil of Sindh.

He said Ustad Bukhari focused on the past, present and future of Sindh. People respected him because he was a non-controversial figure, he said.

Writer Mohammad Ali Ghanghro said the poetry of Ustad Bukhari was continuity of the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai and Shaikh Ayaz. Ustad Bukhari was not only a poet but also a scholar who guided the poor and destitute through his poetry.

A musical show was also organised in connection with the anniversary.

Khadim Sakhirani, Fahmida Sahar, Sarmad Ayaz, Mashooq Khokhar, Balak Sindhi, Waqar Mallah, Nasreen Naz and Sikander Burdi sang Ustad Bhukhari’s poetry to enthral his admirers.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2014