THIS has reference to the letter by H.A. (Oct 18). There are two errors in the letter. He has reported that Shamsul Ulama Mirza Kalich Beg was born on Oct 7. He has been attributed as the author of 350 books.

To set the record right, the legendary scholar was born on Oc 4, 1853 and died on July 3, 1929 in Tando Thoro, Hyderabad.

His 157th birthday was celebrated on Oct 4 this year by Shamsul Ulama Mirza Kalich Beg Chair which was reported in this paper (Oct 5).

Moreover, the actual number of books written and translated by him into eight languages in different disciplines is 457.

List of all his works is available on Shamsul Ulama Mirza Kalich Beg Chair website www.usindh.edu.pk/mkbc. A committee comprising Dr Nabi Bux Baloch, Professor Emeritus Dr M. Qasim Bughio and Aijaz Ali Beg Mirza, grandson of Shamsul Ulama Mirza Kalich Beg has examined the personal documents of Mirza Kalich Beg and his titles to ascertain the actual spelling of his name.

After verifying the documents and record they unanimously decided and declared the following spellings for Shamsul Ulama Mirza Kalich Beg.

He himself used to write his name as Kalich Beg.

This is to further inform readers that Shamsul Ulama Mirza Kalich Beg Chair was established in July 2008 at the Faculty of Arts, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, having Professor (Dr) M. Qasim Bughio as its director.

We, however, appreciate the contents of the said letter where the writer has rightly described and acknowledged the great services of the scholar towards literature, language and society.

Regarding the publication of the manuscripts of Mirza Kalich Beg, the chair is proud to have published the following books of Mirza Kalich Beg last year

1. 'Zeenat' novel, translated into English from Sindhi by Zunera Yousuf; 'Barg-i-Sabz ya Qirtas-i-Siyah', Urdu translation of the autobiography of Shamsul Ulama Mirza Kalich Beg from Sindhi by Shehnaz Shoro; Tehreeroon and Taqreeroon (Sindhi) compiled by Dr M. Qasim Bughio; Café Kalich (articles and TV interviews about Mirza Kalich Beg) by Zaib Sindhi, and Kalich Album (rare photographs of Mirza Kalich Beg, the family and friends) arranged by Naseer Beg Mirza.

There are a number of other rare books of Mirza Kalich Beg in the pipeline for publication this year by the Chair.

The proceedings of the 'International Conference on the Contribution of Shamsul Ulama Mirza Kalich Beg to the language, literature and society' containing 53 articles presented at the conference held on Oct 3 and 4, 2009, is also under print, and will provide a treasure of knowledge to the readers and lovers of literature.

KAZALBASH H. MIRZA
Secretary, Shamsul Ulama Mirza Kalich Beg Chair, University of Sindh
Jamshoro