LARKANA: The Larkana chapter of the Sindhi Adabi Sangat held a literary gathering at Sitta Villas on Sunday in honour of two Sindhi poets, Siddique Soomro and Naveed Naz Bhatti.

Poet Jawad Jaffri presided over the event. Tributes were paid to the work of both poets, and a resolution affirming the unity of Sindh was presented on the occasion.

In his presidential address, Mr Jaffri said honouring creative artists in their own lifetimes was commendable, and praised the Sangat for continuing to do so. He described Mr Soomro as a versatile poet who had experimented with the ghazal, the bait and prose poetry, and as a poet of peace, love, colour, light and fragrance. He called Mr Bhatti an important voice of the modern Sindhi ghazal with a masterly command of the form, whose novel refrains, distinctive manner and freshness of thought were the hallmarks of his verse.

Dr Essa Memon and Saeed Hawi, in a paper on Mr Bhatti’s work, said he was a seasoned ghazal poet whose verse was rich in rhythm. They said many well-known Sindhi singers had sung his poetry, which had found favour with listeners, and that his work abounded in new similes, fresh metaphors and originality of thought.

Tael Abbas and Atta Hussain Ghorar, in their paper on Mr Soomro, said he was as fine a human being as he was a poet. They said his poetry showed a deep Sufi influence and that he had tried many poetic forms.

Mr Soomro, one of the two guests of honour, said the poets’ creative journey was one of love and that the tributes and affection of his friends had inspired him further. Mr Bhatti, the other guest of honour, said poetry was his beloved and that creative life was not possible without it.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2026