LARKANA: Speakers at a literary sitting showered praise on seasoned poet Shahnawaz Shaikh, who used penname of ‘Vishal’, in recognition of his 33 years’ contribution to Sindhi poetry, and noted that despite experiencing severe financial constraints throughout his life, he kept giving the message of hope through his poetry.

Prof Mukhtiar Ahmed Samoo, founder of Knowledge Centre, who presided over the sitting organised by Arts Council of Pakistan here the other day, said that Vishal was a representative poet of modern traditions and unique diction. He had two anthologies to his credit, Thadha Rasta (cool paths) and Akhian Je Glass Mein (In the glass of the eyes), which were the products of over three decades of poetic career, he said.

He never compromised on theme and thought in his lyrical poetry despite strictly following metrical rules and boundaries in ghazals, Prof Samoo said.

The patchwork of words in lyrics is also a unique style in his poetry which took the readers to heights of ecstasy, he said.

He said that Vishal was a straightforward man, who always maintained cordial relations with people but sometimes he became bitter when he faced duplicity and double standards in society.

Though Vishal, who was a schoolteacher by profession, had experienced severe financial constraints throughout his life, he never allowed it to influence his appreciation of nature and aesthetic sense which was manifested in his poetry, he said, adding that the poet had many admirers, who always loved to listen to him reciting his poetry.

Prof Dr Azhar Ali Shah, pro-vice chancellor of Sindh University’s Larkana campus, said that creating poetry was not an easy job as a poet had to undergo very frustrating experiences during the process of composing poetry.

He said that Vishal wrote what he observed himself and that was why his poetry was liked by people of every class and taste.

Zeb Kango, poet and former senior jail superintendent, said that Vishal’s poetry encompassed many ideas and had vast scope. In short, he was a poet of life, he said.

Javad Jaffery, a poet of Sindhi and Urdu languages, said that Vishal’s poetry had great appeal for its readers and listeners as it touched their subtle feelings.

Inayat Memon, poet and short story writer, said that pain of deprivation and disloyalty caused by loved ones was very artistically painted in the poetry of Vishal.

Aijaz Ali Channa said that despite facing all kinds of problems in his life, the poet sounded hopeful and exuded optimism.

Prof Malhar Sindhi, poet and chairman of literature department of Arts Council, said that they were under obligation to honour the poet given his valued contribution to Sindhi literature.

Among others who also paid homage to the poet were; Rafique Abro, Sanwal Meerali, Zulfiqar Chandio, Naveed Naz Bhatti, Dado Dital, Anwar Domki, Azhar Majeed and Saleem Raza Kumbhar.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2022