KARACHI, April 30: Eminent scholar and leftist thinker Sobho Giyanchandani was given the first Habib Jalib Peace Award by its organisers at a ceremony held at the Karachi Press Club to observe the 14th death anniversary of the great poet popularly known as the Shair-i-Awam.

Mr Giyanchandani, 87, a graduate of Rabindranath Tagore’s famous Shantiniketan School in Kolkata, is one of the few surviving members of the leftist politics the country had inherited at partition. He spent many of his prime years behind bars but remained steadfast to his ideals throughout his life.

According to the organisers, Mr Giyanchandani, whose name is generally prefixed with the honorific of ‘Comrade’, was selected for his unbroken commitment to his cause and the uncompromised integrity he maintained.

“This award is special and will never be given to any Tom, Dick or Harry. If we don’t find a person worthy of it in the future, we will skip that year,” said an organiser.

Comrade Giyanchandani, in his brief speech, resolved to remain committed to his cause, and paid rich tribute to the late Jalib.

“Jalib lived for his people and belonged to a breed which is very rare now,” he said.

The speakers who paid glowing tributes to Jalib on the occasion included Hasil Bizenjo, Zahida Hina, Mamnoon Hussain, Hamid Mir, Mujahid Barelvi, Afaq Shahid, Zubeida Mustafa and Saeed Pervez.

The speakers admired Jalib’s commitment to the common people’s welfare and his immense sacrifices for a judicious social order against the military rule.

The speakers demanded an end to the army’s rule the country had been suffering since Ayub’s imposition of martial law.

They also criticised the reported ‘deal’ of Benazir Bhutto with General Pervez Musharraf and said anyone who joined or helped the military regime would ultimately face the wrath of the people.

Baloch leader Hasil Bizenjo criticised the government for “leading the country to the point of no return”. He said the time would come soon when the people would take charge of the country’s affairs into their own hands and would not pardon anyone guilty of tormenting them. Mamnood Hussain also criticised the government. Zahida Hina and Afaq Shahid said the people should join the struggle against the military regime.

Hamir Mir and Mujahid Barelvi shared with the audience the memories of their association with Habib Jalib. Zubeida Mustafa stressed an inter-faith dialogue. Fazil Jamili paid poetic tribute to Jalib.