The successful launch of Hyderabad Literature Festival’s first edition at a time when a literature festival was taking place in Islamabad dispelled the notion that ‘these are elite festivals and largely irrelevant to the masses’. Organised by a local literary academy, this three-day event pulled hundreds of people from across the province to the sizzling southern city of Hyderabad.

Though it was predominantly a festival of Sindhi literature, but people like Ajmal Kamal and Afzal Ahmed Syed were also spotted. In fact, this festival tried to bridge the gulf between Sindhi and Urdu writers; a fact evident from the sentimental speech given by Ishrat Ali Khan, who has written a book on Hyderabad. Another feature which made the event successful was that it provided ample opportunity to those voices which rarely get the chance of being heard.

Khalil Kunbhar is a young poet from Thar who stole the session ‘Poets and Poetry’ through his mesmerising verses. One rarely finds such a powerful expression of poetic justice in contemporary poetry as in his verses.

The festival also offered space for discussion on the topics of a regional nature which never find time and space in major literature festivals.

In his keynote speech prominent writer Amar Jalil criticised the wrongdoers of the post-Partition era and praised the native Hindu Hyderabadis who developed this historical city. He urged Sindhis to shun their victimhood and make their representatives accountable as most of the ills they face are self-inflicted.

In the session entitled ‘Political Literature: Today and Yesterday’ panellists Sikander Ali Hulio, Naseer Memon and Jami Chandio discussed the rise and fall of this genre of literature in Sindhi. Once enriched by authors like G.M. Syed, Shaikh Ayaz, Rasool Bux Palijo and Rasheed Bhatti now there is no substantial matter being written as most writers today only focus on writing for newspapers. They concluded that the reason why there is no voice of dissent in present-day Sindhi literature is because we have lost our political values.

Speaking in the session ‘Sindh During the British Period’ Dr Hameeda Khuhro noted that Sindh’s separation from Bombay presidency was a watershed moment for Hindu-Muslim unity, which paved the way for subsequent riots.

While discussing the increasing number of madressahs in Tharparkar, prominent writer Arbab Nek Muhammad said poverty in Thar creates a vacuum which is filled by religious outfits. Sessions on Sindhi cinema, short stories, children’s literature, and emerging poets of Sindhi were also well-attended. The festival also gave impetus to Sindhi theatre as numerous stage plays were performed during the three days.

After the Mother Lan­guages Literature Festival held earlier this year in Islamabad, Hyder­abad Litera­ture Festival is the first regional-language literary festival which brought to the fore some fascinating local writers and indigenous talent.