HYDERABAD, Dec 2: District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil has said that materialism has received tremendous boost due to development of science and technology, but it has affected literary and soul-searching activities.

He said that the parents did not opt for subjects like social sciences and humanity with the result that literary activities had decreased.

He was speaking at a dinner hosted by the district government in honour of delegates of Pir Hussamuddin Rashdi literary conference on Thursday night.

Sindh University vice-chancellor Mazharul Haq Siddiqui, the dean of the faculty of arts of the Islamia University Bahawalpur, Professor (Dr) Najeeb Jamal, the former head of the Urdu department, G.C. University Faisalabad, Professor (Dr) Riaz Majeed, the former head of the Urdu department Peshawar University, Professor (Dr) Sabir Kalori, the former president of the Urdu department Karachi University, Professor Sehar Ansari and a galaxy of scholars, elected representatives and senior officials attended the function.

The nazim said that scholars and writers were the heart and soul of society but of late literature and social sciences were being crucified at the altar of materialism.

He said that the society had become crude and rustic due to this.

He said that the seminar organised by the Sindh University in memory of great scholar Pir Hussamuddin Rashdi was an indication of the fact that the scholars of social sciences and humanities would not allow literary activities to die.

He paid tribute to Sindh University for organising a seminar to remember the great scholar and acknowledge his services in the field of literature and history.

He exhorted the youth to study the life and works of Pir Hussamuddin Rashdi.

He said that the district government along with physical development of the city was also striving hard for the promotion of literary activities.

He said that the district government had already held Urdu-Sindhi international Mushairas and had also played host to foreign artists.

Sindh University vice-chancellor Mazharul Haq Siddiqui, Dr Saleem Malik from Punjab University and others also spoke on the occasion.