HYDERABAD: Speakers at a literary session of the festival, ‘Shaikh Ayaz Melo’, on Saturday — the second day of the five-day festival at the Sindh Museum — shared memories of Shaikh Ayaz and Fahmida Riaz with reference to their poetic and revolutionary thoughts.

Noted women’s rights activist Anis Haroon speaking at the session titled Halqa meri zanjeer ka — Ayaz aur Fahmida Riaz said that Riaz was an asset of Sindh.

Ms Haroon said she was the only friend Riaz had talked to before her death. She said she and Riaz had spent great time together, adding that Shaikh Ayaz’s famous revolutionary couplet for this land, Sindh dais ji dharti tau they pahunjo sees nivayan touched her heart.

Ms Haroon said Riaz also produced similar poetry. She observed that tragedy for Urdu-speakers was that they never enjoyed Sindhi poetry, and said that Riaz had collected Ayaz’s poetry beautifully. “Both the figures come from same literary clan,” she said, adding that Riaz was deeply involved in Ayaz’s poetry.

Atiya Dawood told the audience that Shaikh Ayaz and Fahmida Riaz loved food and were chain-smokers. Despite having a rural background, she [Atiya] herself used to learn appropriate Sindhi words from Riaz. She said that they both were voracious readers.

Madad Ali Sindhi, a noted writer, said that it were Sindhi literary books alone that faced bans, recalling that books of G.M. Syed and Shaikh Ayaz were banned.

He said that Urdu was first choice of Ayaz for poetry and that was why his collection of poetry was published in Urdu and marketed. He said that Ayaz was disturbed at the time of partition as he used to say that who would read his works published in Sindhi. Then Mohammad Ibrahim Joyo persuaded him to opt for Sindhi in poetry and the day was not far when Sindhis would eulogise him as a big Sindhi poet. He said that Fahmida Riaz nicely inserted Sindhi words in Urdu translation of Ayaz’s works.

Haseen Musarrat Shah also spoke at the session, moderated by Shabnam Gul.

Speaking at another session, Ayaz ja musavir, artist Khuda Bux Abro said that Sindh University would never get a vice chancellor like Shaikh Ayaz. He said that it was Ayaz who had gathered writers in the university but today one couldn’t find such a practice.

Saeed Mangi urged youth to study Ayaz and understand him. Artist Hussain Samdani, Prof Nazir Qasmi also spoke.

Yet another session was held on Russian literature.

Prof Abdul Majeed Chandio speaking on the subject observed that influence of Russian literature on Ayaz was reflected in his writings. He said Russian literature had five Nobel laureates.

Zafar Junejo said Ayaz spent days of his adulthood in Karachi which witnessed socialist movement. His prose indicated an element of influence of the left, World War II and Nazi camps. After Bhitai, he said, Ayaz had discussed history of Sindh, folk wisdom and modern period as well.

Zulfikar Hussain, Mazhar Ali, Deeba Sahar, Agha Sanaullah, Sanam Marvi and others presented songs during the musical night that followed.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2018