BADIN: Renowned Sindhi poet Shamsher-ul-Hyderi passed away on Friday after protracted illness. Hyderi, 79, was in Karachi at the time of his death and also lost his sight during his last days. He was born on September 15, 1932 in the Kandhan town of Badin district.

Besides being an acclaimed poet and writer of the Sindhi language, Hyderi was also a well-known columnist and drama-writer. He authored over a dozen books – ranging from poetry, travelogues to fiction novels – during his prolonged career.

In the early days of Pakistan Television’s Sindhi broadcast, Hyderi hosted several programs for the state television. He also wrote several Sindhi-language drama serials for PTV.

As a journalist, Hyderi served as editor of several Sindhi dailies and magazines, including Mehran, Hilal-i-Pakistan and Naee Zindagi.

Hyderi was also one of the founding fathers of Sindh Graduate Association and remained at the forefront of struggle against military dictatorship from the era of General Ayub Khan to General Pervez Musharaf through his literary work. Hyderi was jailed for issuing a pamphlet against former military dictator Ayub Khan, during his one-unit scheme period. His novel ‘Kak Mahal’ earned great popularity in Sindhi literature and his poetry was sung by the likes of Abida Parveen and Ustad Mohammad Yousaf.

The Sindhi Adbi Sangat (organisation of Sindhi poets and writers), where Hyderi served as secretary general for seven years, will observe a seven-day mourning period, the organisation’s Chairman Dr Mushtaq Phul announced.

“Sindhi literature has been deprived of a revolutionary poet, journalist and great son of soil,” Phul told Dawn.com.

Well-known writer and broadcaster Naseer Mirza as well as other literary figures of Sindh including Dr Ayaz Gul, Dr Akash Ansari, Jami Chandio, Firak Halepoto, Dr Adal Soomro, Sindh Minister for Culture Sussui Palijo and others termed Hyderi’s demise a great loss for the world of literature and journalism of Sindh and Pakistan.