DADU: Speakers on Monday recalled the outstanding and lifelong contribution of Dr Nabi Bakhsh Khan Baloch to the preservation of culture and folklore of Sindh.

Terming him an “icon of achievement” of the province, they paid glowing tributes to Dr Baloch who was an intellectual, author, researcher and former vice chancellor of Sindh University (SU).

They were addressing a seminar titled “Dr Nabi Bukhsh Khan Baloch: As a Researcher and Expert of Latif’s Poetry” held on his 104th birth anniversary at Shaikh Ayaz Auditorium of Arts Faculty Building, SU, organised by Dr N.A Baloch Chair.

The speakers called for including his works in universities’ syllabus.

Kazi Khadim Hussain observed that Dr Baloch was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth; he achieved greatness through sheer hard work and dedication. He did not create space for himself at the cost of others, he added.

He lauded that born to a farmer on Dec 16, 1917, in the village of Jaffar Khan, Dr Baloch contributed to education, literature, folklore and history. He said the scholar also wrote books in Arabic, Persian, English and Urdu.

“He visited every nook and corner of Sindh to preserve its history and culture,” Mr Khadim said and added that Dr Baloch worked hard all his life to document everything about Sindh. His major contribution, according to him, was work on folk literature and Sindhi language dictionary.

Prof Dr Arfana Mallah said the literary and research work of Dr Baloch must be included in universities’ syllabus for teaching so that the youth might benefit from his work.

She said Dr N.A. Baloch produced work of international standards as he was a man who kept researching on a variety of subjects round the clock and throughout the year.

Sindhi Language Authority chairman Dr Noor Muhammad Jhinjhi said Dr Baloch had worked on heritage, lexicography, language and places of Sindh to come up with his research. “Dr Baloch had in fact reincarnated Sindh,” he said.

Dr Ishaque Samejo termed Dr Baloch the pioneer of teachers’ education as he was a staunch supporter of teachers’ education. Baloch had worked hard to produce a collection of Sindh’s folklore, riddles, archaeological heritage etc.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2021