LARKANA: An anthology in Sindhi Sojhrey ja sadd (Enlightenment’s clarion call) by Siddique Soomro was launched by Sindhi Adabi Sangat at Knowledge Centre the other day.

Dr Ahsan Danish, writer and poet who presided over the programme, said that Soomro’s poetry was romantic as well as revolutionary. He was deeply inclined to religion and mysticism earlier but had now embraced modern trends as well and his poetry reflected his new progressive outlook on life and society.

He commended the practice of book launches but advised it would have been better if review sessions of the published books had been held before their formal launch in public.

He said the poet had faced many difficulties and hard times in life but he had never lost heart and always used the trials as his strength.

He advised authors of Sindhi books to obtain ISBN number for their publications to project their works onto international literary scene.

Prof Mukhtiar Samoo, founder of Knowledge Centre who is also a writer and poet, said that Soomro’s poetry and life were epitomes of simplicity which was his big plus point because simplicity was a thing of utmost beauty.

He said that Soomro had invited people to ponder deeply to find out ways of leading a meaningful life through his poetic creations. “We have to keep pace with latest technological advancements and introduce our art and creative works to the world through information technology because it is the need of the time,” he said.

Former SAS secretary Essa Memon said that book launch was a commercially motivated exercise, which had been borrowed from the West. “What we need is a revival of book buying and reading habits. It is an irony that only a few hundred copies of new books are sold in the market.”

Soomro remarked: “When love and longing occupied my heart I was led into realm of poetry and literary gatherings held by SAS inspired me a lot to compose my own poetry”.

Ustad Gul Dayo, Samee Sajid Mirani, Mehmood Malgani and Attaul Hasnain Gorar also spoke.

Mach katchehri held

A traditional mach katchehri (conversation around bonfire) was held at Arts Council of Pakistan, Larkana, under the auspices of Sindh culture department late on Sunday night.

Saleem Solangi, deputy director of culture department who presided over the katchehri, said the mach katchehri tradition was fast disappearing and Sindhi language was facing distortion on social media, which had blemished its quality and standard.

He said the culture department had planned to hold similar programmes in different cities to give a boost to Sindhi language and revive genuine Sindhi culture for new generation.

Participants in the programme appreciated the culture department’s initiative and said the department should look after galaxy of folk poets and encourage them.

A large number of folk poets who had come from all over Sindh presented their works and singers Altaf Samoo and Saleem Raza Kumbhar enthralled audience with their performance.

Prominent among those who attended the programme were; Ahmed Sultan Khoso, additional deputy commissioner-I; Shams Kalhoro, assistant director of Sir Shahnawaz Memorial Library; Jawed Shaikh, president of Arts Council of Pakistan, Larkana; Ayoub Gaad, Ismail Jatoi, Saleh Abbasi, Aziz Qasmani, Nayab Sarkash, Ahmed Ali Sabir Chandio and Zulqarnain Siyal.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2021