KHAIRPUR: Speakers at a programme held to mark the 15th death anniversary of eminent poet and scholar Dr Tanveer Abbasi at Shah Abdul Latif University said that Dr Abbasi was a follower of Hazrat Sachal Sarmast and Mansoor Hallaj who had dedicated his life to struggle for the promotion of truth and tolerance.

Dr Abbasi was a poet of great stature who rendered unparalleled services for the promotion of literature and was greatly instrumental in the establishment of Radio Pakistan Khairpur, Sachal Academy and Sachal Yadgar Committee, they said at the programme held on the campus a day before.

Prof Dr Mohammad Yousuf Khushk, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences & Arts, Dr Ghulam Nabi Sadayo, Prof Shah Mohammad Luhrani, Prof Monis Ayaz Shaikh, Prof Ayaz Gul, Ustad Rahi and other speakers said that Dr Abbasi was a poet of beauty and truth who believed in enlightenment.

They said that Dr Abbasi helped create an environment in Khairpur conducive for literature. He was a great intellectual and scholar who was inspired by the personalities of Ibn e Arabi, Shams Tabrez and Sachal Sarmast.

He was against extremism and a genuine philosopher who possessed an impressive grip on philosophy of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai after G.M. Syed, they said.

Dr Abbasi dedicated his life to the promotion of truth and tolerance. A follower of Hazrat Sachal Sarmast and Mansoor Hallaj, Dr Abbasi believed in democratic norms and values in politics, they said.

They said that Dr Abbasi made untiring efforts for the establishment of Sachal Chair in SALU and other institutions and worked for the promotion of peace and tolerance in society.

They said that Dr Abbasi promoted the essence of nationalism and created awareness among people about social issues. He was a humanist and a brave person who believed in universalism, they said.

They said that Dr Abbasi’s literary and research work was a marvelous contribution to Sindhi literature as he introduced Hyko, a Japanese genre, and many new trends in research. He was rightly called William Wordsworth of Sindh who donated his eyes to a blind girl, a further proof to his love for humanity, they said.

They said that Dr Abbasi was well versed in both Sufi and classical music. He was a poet of modernity whose knowledge of scientific thought and Sufism was matchless.

Dr Abbasi belonged to progressive circle and fought against social disparities. A multidimensional personality, he was a pioneer member of the Sachal Yadgar Committee and a role model for youth.

They said that Dr Abbasi had introduced many new trends in poetry and he had to his credit more than 103 Hykos.

The programme concluded with a Sufi musical event in which Abdul Ghafoor Soomro, Sharif Abbasi, Rajab Faqeer and his group sang Sufi kalams and poetry of Dr Abbasi.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2014