LARKANA, Feb 16: Speakers at a condolence reference said people of the calibre of Sirajul Haq Memon came into being in centuries and during their lifetime they left an indelible mark on the world through their outstanding performance and valuable contribution.

They paid tribute to scholar, linguist, journalist and researcher Sirajul Haq at the event held here on Friday night at the Arts Council of Pakistan.

Renowned poet Prof Mukhtiar Samo, who presided over the reference, described Siraj as a committed Sindhi writer who had not come to terms with political and social injustice during his lifetime. He had refused to bow down before negative forces and fought against them with his pen.

Prof Samo said he would always be remembered for his untiring struggle through his writings for the rights of the people of Sindh.

Short story writer and critic Prof Saleem Korai said Siraj had introduced new trends of reporting and editorial writing in Sindhi newspapers. His editorials and columns brought him closer to the masses who saw true representation of their troubles and problems in his writings. Researcher Dr Baduruddin Dhamrah said that Siraj’s novels were like a living commentary on the history of Sindh. He said the Arghun and Tarkhan invaders had destroyed the libraries and seats of learnings in Thatta so as to destroy the history of Sindh, but latter Siraj recorded their atrocious actions in his novels for the coming generations.

Dr Aijaz Samo said Siraj was basically an outstanding fiction writer, but his different professions had snatched the story writer in him from readers.

Rizwan Gul, Mumtaz Abro, Akhtar Piya and Panjal Sangi also spoke on the occasion.