THATTA, Oct 22: Renowned revolutionary poet, Mohammad Siddique Tariro alias Sarvech Sujawali, who gained unparalleled popularity for creating mass awareness by his poetry particularly during the dictatorial regimes of Gen Ayoub Khan and Gen Ziaul Haq died after protracted illness in his native village Sarvech Nagar on Monday. He was 80.

People from all walks of life attended funeral procession of the people’s poet. He was buried in his ancestral graveyard in Sujawal.

The district government of Thatta announced public holiday on Tuesday in recognition of his services.

The septuagenarian who has left a widow, five sons and four daughters besides a large of admirers to mourn his death had been bed ridden in different hospitals over a period of two and a half years since he was diagnosed with a deadly tumour in spinal card followed by lung cancer.

His condition deteriorated after the death from cancer of his poet son, Habibullah Sangi Sujawali who was also a progressive nationalist poet of Laar. He died four months before him.

Sarvech gained popularity for creating awareness against dictatorial rule and hatred against Ayoub Khan era. He was jailed a number of times and suffered immensely due to his daring and extempore poetic utterances in numerous public gatherings of almost all the political leaders like G.M. Syed, Mumtaz Bhutto and Rasool Bux Palijo.

Sarvech was born on March 14, 1937 in Badin district and attended school for only four years. Being a poor shepherd Sarvech drew great inspiration from the poetry of Moulvi Ahmed Mallah.

In 1968 he joined Pakistan People’s Party on the advice of Makhdoom Talib Moula and become an associate of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who, in recognition of his services, installed him as town administrator of the then town committee of Sujawal and Daro. Sarvech also participated in the public meetings of Benazir Bhutto.

In 1968 he played a key role in the MRD movement and was sent to jail. His book on poetry “Alyoon Akhiyoon Anba War” (The wet eyes and dry hair) received great public response.

The lyrical poet gave 37 precious years of his life to PPP but none of the party leaders showed up to inquire after the health of veteran activist neither extended any help during his prolonged illness.

In his later years he was compelled to join Shirazi group to be able to pay his medical bills. In return Thatta District Nazim Syed Shafqat Shah Shirazi generously bore all the expenses incurred on his treatment in expensive hospitals of Karachi.