HYDERABAD: Literati and other scholars paid homage to short story writer Hameed Sindhi at a condolence reference organised at Sindh Museum by the culture department in collaboration with the Bazm-i-Rooh Rehan on Sunday evening.

Speaking to the audience, poet Imdad Hussaini said that magazine Rooh Rehan was Sindhi’s love but when it was closed nobody came forward to help Sindhi. The late writer’s work is immortal; the poets, writers and politicians who have rendered their services like Hameed Sindhi did will always remain alive.

Short story writer and author Madad Ali Sindhi said that literary figures from Sindh never lagged behind in literary resistance. He called for publishing all editions of Rooh Rehan. He also suggested that the Wadhu Wah road be named after Hameed Sindhi as well as the Naushahro Feroze Degree College. Besides, he added, a Sindhology Corner be established in that college.

Dr Sehar Imdad said that publication of her letter in the late Sindhi’s magazine gave her exposure and identity. She said that Hameed Sindhi’s 60 years of professional life were glorious. She said he had a multidimensional personality and held all positions on merit.

Dr Sehar felt that services of literary figures were not acknowledged by society, and stressed that such services should be acknowledged within their life. A similar treatment was meted out to Hameed Sindhi and he had felt this pain as well, she added.

Shoukat Hussain Shoro, a story writer, said that Sindhi was one of the big names in story-writing who also held an important position in Sindh’s national movement. He called for preserving Hameed Sindhi’s memoirs, and said the late writer would remain alive through his writing.

Dr Qazi Khadim said that practical steps were always needed to promote any author’s works. It was not enough to remember them on one occasion, he added. He described Sindhi’s magazine as ‘a history’, and said that not only Rooh Rehan but the magazines like Naee Zindagi and Suhni should be preserved.

Prof Aijaz Qureshi said that Hameed Sindhi promoted literary resistance through his magazine. His works should be highlighted and the culture department should get his selected editorials published, he added.

Taj Joyo said that Hameed Sindhi was a writer who protected civilised values. His every story is a story of Sindh and he never supported oppression in his life as he was a humble man, he said.

Culture secretary Akbar Leghari told the audience that Hameed Sindhi’s selected stories were being published in English. He suggested that the archives department should be merged with the culture department. He said that the late writer’s magazines would be preserved and their selected issues would be published.

He said publishers should publish Hameed Sindhi’s six books of stories.

Nazeer Naz, a poet and publisher, described Hameed Sindhi’s death as an enormous loss and said she was beholden to him. She recalled that she had once got his book published within a short span of time on his request.

The late writer’s brother, Shams Memon, said that when Hameed started using the suffix ‘Sindhi’ with his name, his family faced great problems.

He said the editorials of his brother’s magazine were of quality.

Broadcaster and poet Naseer Mirza said that Hameed Sindhi always served departments well but the latter did not reciprocate.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2020