KARACHI, Jan 8: A book titled Jadeed Sindh Adab: Meelanat, Rujhanat, Imkanat - a comprensive study of Sindhi literature, its past and present and the future prospects - was launched on Friday. The author, Mazher Jamil, has to his credit many literary volumes, including Aashob-i-Sindh aur Urdu Fiction, which has been widely admired. With Ibrahim Joyo in the chair, eminent writers spoke on the merits of the book.

It was an "uncommon book" portraying the secular and humane society of Sindh and the tales of mythological and semi-mythological nature carrying the message of love. Spread over centuries old culture and literature of Sindh, the book, though longish, was a useful guide for the young writers, Mr Joyo said.

Minister of Education Dr Hamida Khuhro admired it as a "monumental work", which proved there was no rivalry among languages. With powerful and fruitful cooperation from Urdu, Sindhi had become a great force, she said, and advised the Sindhi Adabi Board to get the book, "a real literary treasure" be translated into English.

Noted poet and chairman of Adbiat Iftekhar Arif stressed the need to have more such studies in the history and literature of Sindh and the writers should play a "partisan role" when their support for the poor and oppressed was needed. The writers must fight against the tyranny of the oppressive forces. It was for the first time that a comprehensive book was written on the post-partition scenario. Iftekhar Arif also stressed the need to get the book translated into English in a shorter form.

Writer Mumtaz Meher said the modern Sindhi literature was basically a literature of resistance against the unjust, lustful and oppressive rulers. Though the overall conditions in Sindh were getting from bad to worse, its literature was very much alive. Admiring the book, he said a new Sindh saga had been written.

Prof Afaq Siddiqui, known for his translation of Shah Jo Risalo into Under, praised the author and said with this great literary volume, the terms of 'old Sindhi' and 'new Sindhi' had become meaningless.

Dr Fehimda Hussain, a noted writer, read out a paper on the merits of the book which, according to her, also carried Urdu translations of Sindh writings, depicting the social changes in Sindh and the influemens it carried with the arrivals of the settlers. She said the author rightly deserved a doctorate on his research work.

Among other writers, Vali Ram Vallabh, a creative writer praised the writer for his unbiased work. Shamsher-ul-Haideri, also an Urdu poet, said Urdu's impact on Sindhi literature was visibly felt and suggested that the book should find its place in the libraries. Mr Haideri narrated the role of the Sindh Adbi Sangat in the promotion of social and political consciousness among the people.

Dr Bader Abro's article in chaste Urdu received much applause as he described the injustice done to the Sindhi language. At the outset, Prof Saher Ansari read out an introductory paper about the contents of the book. The paper also touched the cultural history of Sindh. Muslim Shamim, secretary of the Anjuman Taraqqi-Pasand Mosannifin, the body which co-hosted the launch, did the compering.