THATTA: Scholars, historians, literati and other intellectuals from across the country attended the sixth seminar held here on Saturday to highlight the contributions of Dr N.A. Baloch to knowledge and literature in the realms of anthropology, history and languages, as well as on the poetic works of great Sufi saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai.

The seminar titled ‘A memorial on Dr Baloch’ was organised by the Dr N.A. Baloch Institute of Heritage and Research in Noori Jam Tamachi Hall of the Qadir Bux Bhutto Trust. The family members and relatives of Dr Baloch were among the people from all walks of life who attended it in a large number.

Allama Iqbal Academy chairman Dr Shahzad Qaiser, who is also the author of many books mainly on mysticism, presided over the seminar. Archaeologist Dr Kaleemullah Lashari was the chief guest while Zubair Ahmed Gulzari was the guest of honour.

In his speech, Dr Qaiser said that Dr N.A. Baloch proved himself to be an all-time institution within his person by educating and assisting scholars and learners who keenly sought knowledge of the fields he excelled in.

He said he himself, being inspired by the works of Dr Baloch, greatly benefited from his research and translation of the works of Khwaja Ghulam Farid and Baba Fariduddin Ganj Shakar and other holy men.

Madad Ali Sindhi said that Dr Baloch explored the enormous treasure of literature and research on Sindhi language and multidimensional poetry of Shah Bhitai.

Researcher Zubair Ahmed Gulzari from Lahore observed that the volume of quality research done by Dr Baloch was bigger than the combined works of many researchers. He said the great scholar had put in untiring efforts to explore literature of different disciplines and subjects.

Dr Nawaz Ali Shauq, Naseer Mirza and Taj Joyo said Dr Baloch’s literary work was of international standards. They thanked and appreciated Dr Mohammad Ali Manjhi for fully activating the institute, named after Dr Baloch, after becoming its director. They noted that two books on Dr Baloch had been published within a short span of time due to relentless efforts on the part of Dr Manjhi.

Researcher Dr Rashid Shaikh and Qadir Bux Bhutto called for getting compilation of Dr Baloch’s unpublished works published and said that dissemination of the knowledge penned down by the late scholar would greatly help generation after generations.

Speaking to the audience, Dr Baloch’s son, Sharif Baloch, said his father spent most of his time in study and research. “In his last days when he had been unable to continue his works due to poor health, my father appeared desperate to complete his half-done works,” said Sharif Baloch.

Archaeologist Dr Kaleemullah Lashari read his paper on ‘The epigraphy of Makli’ and said Dr Baloch was the source of inspiration and information behind collection of the chronological data and statistics about historical mausoleums, graves, tombs, canopies, monuments present at the Makli necropolis.

Dr Manjhi said that he himself and all those associated with the institution would continue to strive hard towards accomplishment of Dr N.A. Baloch’s research works, including the one on folklore, and would expedite the process. The two books launched at the seminar are titled Dr Baloch joon Taqreroon (Speeches of Dr Baloch) and Dr Baloch ja maqala (Dr Baloch’s research papers).

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2019