KHAIRPUR: A literary conference and poetry recital (Mushaira) marked the end of the 194th Sachal Sarmat Urs celebration at Daraza Sharif here on Saturday night.

Speaking at the conference, poet and writer Taj Joyo described Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, Shah Inayat Shaheed and Sachal Sarmast as “the identity of Sindh” and stressed the need for more research on Sachal Saen’s poetry.

He said that Sachal never considered caste, colour, creed or religion in his poetry, which contained the message of human independence, rights, love and peace. It also has lesson for us to follow the teachings of sufi saints in order to save humanity and to build a peaceful atmosphere in difficult times.

Awais Karni said kings and other rulers came and left but none of them was being remembered with reverence in Sindh, called the land of Sufis because of the poet saints and their teachings. Hundreds of years on, there are millions of people across the world who were following their teachings, he observed.

The conference was presided over by renowned poet and writer Nawaz Ali Shauq. The Khairpur deputy commissioner was the chief guest.

Akhtar Dargahi, Manik Kangrani, Prof Nag Paal, Rakhyal Morai and others read out their research papers on the life of Sachal Sarmast and his philosophy of Sufism, brotherhood, peace and love.

Sufi singer Mohan Bhagat, Samina Kanwal and other singers presented poetry of Sachal Sarmast.

Later, the Sufi Sarmast a publication of the culture department and Taj Joyo’s book Daraza Jhoomi Rahi Aahi, a publication of the Sachal Chair at the Shah Abdul Latif University, were launched.

The mushaira that followed was presided over by poet Abdul Ghaffar Tabbasum. Mir Abdul Rasool Mir was the chief guest.

Rakhyal Morai, Sami Sajid Junejo, Sajjad Mirani, Bakhshal Baaghi, Waseem Soomro, Mor Mugheri, Mushtaque Phul, Jam Mohabbat Sahito, Fayyaz Chand Kaleri, Sabir Chandio, Aajiz Ghulam Rasool Abro, Sufi Shaukat, Gohar Sindhi, Amar Iqbal and others presented their poetic tributes to Sachal Sarmast.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2015

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