KARACHI, April 8: Senior Sindh Minister of Education Pir Mazhrul Haq has said that Dr Nabi Bakhsh Baloch was an institution in his personality and made his life an example for young generation by doing a huge research work on Sindhi folk literature, Sindhi language and culture and education of Sindh. Speaking as a chief guest at a condolence meeting organised by the Sindh Madressatul Islam at its Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto Auditorium on Friday, the minister said that although Sindh produced great personalities in the field of education like Allama I.I. Kazi, Dr Umar Bin Muhammad Dawoodpoto, Khan Bahadur Ghulam Nabi Qazi, Ghulam Mustafa Shah and others, but Dr Baloch was different.

His research work was spread on many volumes and contributed tremendously to the increase of knowledge about Sindhi language, folk literature and culture and he collected information and data from each and every part of Sindh, he said.

Mr Haq said that Dr Baloch was born in a remote village of district Sanghar, received his education from Bombay University, Aligarh University and the US and then proved himself a great scholar of 20th century Sindh.

He urged the younger generation to go through his life and research works and learn from his continuous struggle and great achievements.

He said that the present Sindh government had also sought his suggestions for the education policy and that had been made part of it.

Similarly, former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had appointed him vice chancellor of the University of Sindh and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto too got his assistance for the development of education in the country.

Talking about the Sindh Madressatul Islam, Mr Haq said that now the Sindh Madressah had been given under the control of the Sindh government after devolution of the federal education ministry under the 18th amendment to provinces.

However, he added that its status could not be changed and instead it would enjoy an autonomous status and no functionary of the Sindh government would interfere in its affairs.

“This great institution, being an alma mater of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and the most historic institution of Sindh, needs such a status,” he said.

The SMI would be run as it had been run in the past, he said, adding that he had ordered officials of the education department to develop a comprehensive plan for the SMI in consultation with SMI principal Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh.

He said that the Sindh Madressah would be given a charter as a university because it was in the interest of Sindh, especially the citizens of Karachi.

Noted educationist Mazharul Haq Siddiqui said that Dr Baloch was a great research scholar of the 20th century and there was no match for his works.

“Dr Baloch’s footprints will be seen on the sands of time and leaves of history,” he said.

SMI Principal Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh said that the Sindh Madressah had received its charter as a university in 1993 with the efforts of Dr Baloch because at that time he was provincial education minister. However, it could not be passed from the Sindh Assembly within a due period, he added.

Distinguished Sindhi poet Shamsherul Hydri said that Dr Baloch tremendously contributed to Sindhi folk literature, Sindhi language and culture. “I worked with him at the Sindhi Adabi Board and found no match for him,” he said.

Resident director of the Academy of Letters Agha Noor Mohammad Pathan also spoke.

The meeting was attended by special secretary of education Mr Essani and other prominent figures of the city.—PPI