ON 29th death anniversary of Muhammad Usman Diplai, a man of indomitable spirit and fortitude Sindh has ever produced, a special day was commemorated at the Sindh Museum, Hyderabad.

On this auspicious occasion the provincial minister for culture inaugurated 'Muhammad Usman Diplai corner' at Sindh Museum.

Scholars and men of letters who were present on the occasion acknowledged the services Diplai had rendered in the fields of literature and journalism.

They also praised him for preserving traditions of his native culture in his literary writing.

Diplai's contribution to Sindhi literature is a great achievement. He wrote about 100 novels, 14 dramas, more than 100 short stories, nearly 500 essays and countless editorials, 'Shah jo Risalo', Muslim biographical works, including translation of the Holy Quran in the Sindhi language.

Through these writings he inspired transformation in the culture of Sindh which was inundated with centuries-old superstitions etc.

The colossal stock of writings left by him not only contains his thought and ideas but is a sociological and cultural history of Pakistan from the perspective of the person who struggled to raise the consciousness of the poor against reprehensible designs of the elite class.

Those were the days when freedom of expression was regarded as a most abhorrent thing by the ruling elite. When many succumbed to the sword of dictators and charlatans, it was Diplai who did not waver for a moment and withstood all tribulations with great courage.

I request the provincial culture minister and the vice-chancellor of Sindh University to establish Dilpai Chair in the university to help research scholars to profit from his works, as well as to pass on their literary and historical benefits to the posterity.

MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi