THATTA: Eminent historian Dr Muhammad Ali Manjhi on Wednesday said that Thatta had remained the focus of many internationally acclaimed historians, researchers and scholars over decades as the region happened to be the centre of brisk academic activities for centuries.

He was speaking at the annual prize distribution ceremony of the Govt Degree College, Thatta.

He said researchers like Dr Annemarie Schimmel, Mir Alisher Qany, Pir Hussamuddin Rashdi, Taher Muhammad Nasyani, Sheikh Hammad Jamali, Makhdoom Moin Thattvi and many other such great people wrote the history of Sindh and its capital, Thatta, during their times and stayed here for their research works.

Unfortunately, Dr Manjhi observed, the standards and graph of education in this area registered a sharp decline though it continued to produce a few great scholars.

However, this tail-end area was now witnessing a remarkable improvement in the education sector.

He believed that the time was not far when it would be able to get its past glory restored.

Dr Manjhi appreciated the meritorious performance of many students of the college including Bilawal Samoon, Asad Rajput and Faizan Memon who won prizes in the academic, declamation, quiz show, games and other contests.

Director of Education (colleges) Mirza Imam Ali Baig was chief guest at the function where Prof Mumtaz Shams, Prof Piyaro Khan, Ramzan Memon, and others spoke.

Mr Baig recalled that Thatta was Sindh’s capital in 1699 and in that era it had around 400 universities and other academic institutions.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2018