HYDERABAD: Speakers have urged the Sindh government to establish a bureau of translation so that work can be done for the survival of Sindhi language.

They were speaking at the launching of a book titled Sey sabh sandhium sah seen (All that I preserved in my heart) of Zulfiqar Halepoto at a local hotel here recently, presided over by short story writer Ghulam Nabi Mughal.

The book is a compilation of obituaries and profile of Asma Jehangir, Khushwant Singh, Tahira Mazhar Ali, Musadiq Sanwal etc.

Speaking on the occasion noted novelist Ghulam Nabi Mughal said that the author was the Miskeen Jahan Khan Khoso of modern era who was working for the betterment of society and literature.

He said that since there was no editor today to check books and authors, mistakes in writings went unnoticed. Sindhi language was absorbing English words and that was why Sindhi vocabulary was not found at the time of writing.

Calling for efforts for Sindhi language, he said Sindh lacked leadership because educated lot of Sindh was still following waderas and jagirdars.

Describing the author as unique, former culture department secretary Mahtab Akbar Rashdi said there was thinking behind his writings. She concurred with Mughal about lack of leadership in Sindh and said Zulfiqar Halepoto had given identity to Sindh.

She said that despite passage of Bureau of Translation Bill by Sindh Assembly, the institution had not been established and urged the government to establish it as soon as possible so that world’s literature could be translated into Sindhi language to enlighten Sindhi youths.

Zulfikar Halepoto said the purpose of writing and launching of the book was to unite pro-Sindh people.

Sindhi Language Authority chairman Mohammad Ali Manjhi said that the book covered those personalities who had left the world. It contained quality information about those people, he added.

Writer Madad Ali Sindhi, Taj Joyo, Mohammad Ismail Kumbhar and others congratulated the author.

They said he had expertise in English, Urdu and Sindhi languages, knew abilities of people and also read much.

Annu Solangi presented Bhitai’s waee on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2021