A SEMINAR was recently organised under the auspices of the Arts Council, Karachi, to have a discourse on various aspects of 'resistance literature' with reference to the subcontinent, as reported by your newspaper, 'Seminar hails resistance literature' (July 11).

It bodes well that scholars and writers, especially when the country is passing through various socio-economic crises, have gathered for the exalted cause of intellectual and literary pursuits.

Here I would not like to touch upon the topic which itself is controversial but would only draw your attention to the statement of Mazhar Jamil, noted scholar and author of a voluminous history of Sindhi literature.

He has perhaps, due to some misunderstanding, mentioned the famous but most controversial short story, 'Sufaid Wahshi', written by Shaikh Ayaz as his poem of resistance.

Shaikh Ayaz wrote many short stories before and after the Partition, which irritated the then rulers and he was given a tough time for it.

The point here is that these writers were famous more for their revolutionary thought than for creating resistance literature.

The latter has a short-lived impact compared on the revolutionary thought, which has a lasting universal appeal.

KAZI KHADIM
Jamshoro