HYDERABAD, Dec 29: Tribute was paid to poet Shaikh Ayaz for his literary services at a literary conference, held at the Sindh Educational Trust building here on Saturday to mark his fifth death anniversary.

The speakers of the function, held under the aegis of the Shaikh Ayaz Foundation, stressed the need for conducting more research on Ayaz.

In his presidential speech, noted writer and educationist Mohammad Ibrahim Joyo said to understand Ayaz, one must understand his poetry.

He urged the readers to also read prose of Ayaz for it would give them a better understanding of his poetry.

Joyo said the foundation had published two books of Ayaz at a cost of Rs22,000 and added these books would be sold at a nominal price of Rs5 each.

Speaking on the occasion, Awami Tehrik president Rasool Bux Palijo said Ayaz was a pioneer of the modern Sindhi poetry, adding he was a harbinger of contemporary romantic Sindhi verse.

He said after 1933, ghazal and geet were introduced in Sindhi poetry.

The secretary of the Sindhi Adabi Sangat, Adal Soomro, said more research was being conducted on the poetry of Ayaz.

He said Ayaz had given a new life to the Sindhi language.

Ghulam Rabbani Agro said Ayaz was an immortal poet and he was deeply revered by the Sindhi people.

He stressed the need for more research on the works of the poet.

The secretary of the Sindhi Language Authority, Taj Joyo, said Ayaz and his contemporaries were pioneers of modern Sindhi poetry.

Earlier, the members of the Shaikh Ayaz Foundation, led by Joyo, visited the graves of Ayaz and Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai in Bhit Shah and laid floral wreaths on the graves.

Floral wreaths were also laid on the graves on behalf of the Sindhi Adabi Board, the Institute of Sindhology, and the Sindhi Language Authority.