MITHI: Speakers at a book launch ceremony held in Ambha Poto village near here on Sunday night showered praise on the book’s author Ram Singh Sodho for highlighting social issues of the desert region and rendering great services for the betterment of Tharis.

PPP MPA Arbab Lutfullah said that Mr Sodho was a man of lofty principles, who had been serving people of Thar before he migrated to India due to some reasons a few years ago. Mr Sodho had struggled throughout his life against outdated traditions, social taboos and evils prevalent in society at large and within his own community in particular, he said.

He expressed the hope that he would continue the good work in future as well. Nobody would be allowed to spoil exemplary communal harmony in Thar, he warned.

Mr Sodho and his late father Arbab Ameer Hassan had provided protection to people regardless of their caste and creed when large parts of Thar had come under occupation of India during the 1971 war, he said.

The author, who was also a former member of Sindh Assembly, said that he was indebted for the love and affection he had received from people during his ongoing tour of the desert region.

He was busy these days in forming an organisation to bring Muslims and Hindus closer in certain areas of India and forging communal harmony between them for the sake of coming generations.

He said that he was also working on his next book on the glorious past and downfall of Rajputs, who once ruled a vast region and served people like “true leaders and invincible defenders” of their motherland.

He said that he had penned down his memories and the humble service he had rendered for the people of Thar and his community throughout his life. He would continue to visit Thar in future since he had roots in the desert dunes, he said.

Noted poet and literary critic Taj Joyo said that Mr Sodho depicted social issues as well as evils plaguing peaceful atmosphere of Thar in a very clear and vivid manner. The book was replete with information on Thar and lifestyle of Sodhas living on both sides of the border, he said.

He said that that Rajputs had played an important role in the defence of their motherland from all invading forces.

Revolutionary poet Haleem Baghi said that history of Sindh would be incomplete without the mention of bravery of Sodhas.

Writer Arbab Nek Mohammad said that Sodhas had always laid down supreme sacrifices for their motherland and believed the book would prove to be a repository of knowledge about Thar and the rest of the region for the coming generations.

Rasool Bux Dars, Hafiz Nizamani, Dr Sono Mal, Partab Shivani, Khadim Talpur, Mir Buledi, Bharumal Amrani, Ali Akbar Rahimoon, Mohammad Moosa Jokhio, Zahid Otho, Asif Nizamani, Piyaro Shivani, Hanif Bajeer, Khatau Jani and others spoke at the ceremony in which a large number of members of Rajput community living in Umerkot and other parts of the province also took part. Popular Thari singers also performed at the ceremony.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2019