LARKANA: Researchers and the literati shed light on the lives and services of luminaries belonging to Larkana at the eighth seminar of the series held in the local press club on Saturday night.

The series of seminars tilted Wisaryan na wisran (those who cannot be forgotten) is organised by the Larkano District Historical Society to remember those luminaries from Larkana district who wrote history in various fields.

The seminar was presided over by Larkana Additional Commissioner-I Ahmed Sultan Khoso, who is also a poet and writer.

Speakers presented their papers to highlight the luminaries’ services in the fields of literature, art, politics, education, religion and mysticism. Dr Prih Sakina Gaad in her paper on Begum Nusrat Bhutto said that although she was not born in Larkana, she adopted Larkana as her abode for the rest of her life after marrying the Larkana-born politician and the first elected prime minster of Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Begum Bhutto shot to fame as a politician and served the masses after people of Larkana elected her as a member of the National Assembly four times — in 1988, 1990, 1993, and 1996. She was once elected on a seat reserved for women.

Dr Gaad recalled that Begum Bhutto came from a Kurd family of Iran and her father, Mohammed Abdul Latif Ispahani, was a business tycoon of Bombay (now Mumbai). She was born on March 23, 1929 in Bombay. She was a class-fellow of Mr Bhutto in Bombay in 1946. After the partition of the subcontinent, the Ispahani family shifted to Pakistan and settled in Karachi. In 1951, she was married to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the son of former prime minister of Junagadh state Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto.

The paper written by Prof Dr Ameer Ali Abro, a professor at Sindh University, on mystic poet Sufi Waryal Fakir was read out by Rizwan Gul.

Prof Abro states in his paper that the Qadria school of thought reached southern Sindh and Balochistan along with the teachings of Sulatun-ul-Aarfin Sultan Bahoo. In Larkana district, Sufi Waryal Fakir practised Sufism and followed the Qadria school of thought. He was born as Allah Rakhio Abro in the small village of Dital Abro but his spiritual leader changed the name to Sufi Waryal Fakir. An eminent mystic poet, he preached peace and love through his poetry. His birthplace, after bifurcation of Larkana district in 2006, became part of Qamber-Shahdakot district.

Writer Barkat Jeho presented his paper on prominent orator and religious teacher in Ratodero subdivision Maulvi Mohammad Ibrahim Mashori. He said Maulvi Mashori taught at the Government High School, Naudero, in 1965. He was also a religious scholar who wrote several books. Jeho called for publishing his unpublished works. Jeal Oad, the author of two books each on Sindh and Larkana history, presented his paper on Mohammed Ali Johar. He said Johar was pioneer of Sindhi mashairo in Larkana.

Dr Bashir Ahmed Shaad’s paper shed light on the life and works of Maulana Sanaullah Sanai, a great poet born in the Larkana district village of Dokri.

Ahmed Sultan Khoso in his paper on Mohammed Malook Abbasi, a prominent Sughar (folk storyteller) said that Malook’s contribution towards development of folk poetry in Sindh was immense. “His poetry is the epitome of wisdom,” he said, adding that Malook added four poetry books to Sindhi literature.

Prof Mukhtiar Ahmed Samo, the Larkano District Historical Society secretary, said that there had been innumerable personalities in the past and present who contributed tremendously to various fields but were yet to be known as researchers had not penned down their lives and works.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2015

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