THATTA, Dec 19: Veteran progressive nationalist and writer Mohammad Qasim Memon, popularly known by his epithet ‘Pathar’ (stone) for showing courage in the face of dangers during his lifelong struggle against feudalism and tyranny, died of cardiac arrest in Mirpur Bathoro near here on early Wednesday morning. He was 76.

He leaves behind two daughters.

Later in the day, he was buried in Miyoon Abdullah graveyard in the town. People from different walks of life, including political activists and writers attended the funeral.

Born in 1940 in a small village Kathore near Tando Mohammad Khan, Qasim Pathar’s poor family later migrated to Mirpur Bathoro. At the age of seven, he started working as a helper at a small tailoring shop in the town.

It was the highly charged political and literary atmosphere of Mirpur Bathoro in which the young boy learnt reading and soon became an avid reader. He got school education but could not continue further. Later in the life, he did BA from Allama Iqbal Open University. Nevertheless, his grip on different subjects, particularly politics, sociology and literature, was amazing.

Qasim Pathar became a nationalist after being inspired by the spearhead of nationalist politics in Sindh, G. M. Syed. Later, he adopted socialist ideology after coming under the influence of Communist Party of Pakistan leader Salam Bukhari and joined National Awami Party

Qasim Pathar’s political journey took him to Sindh Muttahida Mahaz and then Awami Tehrik, of which he was one of the founder members. He later quit Awami Tehrik and founded his own party, the Sindh National Congress but merged it into the Jeay Sindh Mahaz after some time probably due to financial constraints and meagre public response. He remained with the JSM till his last breath.

Qasim Pathar, who had been a close associate of nationalist leaders Rasool Bux Palijo, Fazil Rahu and G.M. Syed, was also one of the founder members of Sindhi Adabi Sangat, a literary organization. He became the secretary-general of its Mirpur Bathoro chapter in 1956. Qasim Pathar authored a collection of short stories “Ratt Ain Ghulami” (the blood and the slavery) and wrote a series of columns in political journal “Tehrik”. He also worked as the editor of the magazine “Saneeha”.

A few days before his death, he established Ibn-i-Hayat Panhwar library in Mirpur Bathoro, which was inaugurated by intellectual-advocate Nooruddin Sarki, who has died a couple of months ago.