HYDERABAD, April 19: Noted intellectual Mohammad Ibrahim Joyo has said that the legend of Moomal-Rano holds a prominent place in the history of Sindhi music.

He said that without learning Sindhi language, it was very difficult to understand the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai.

He was speaking at the second day proceedings of the literary conference jointly organized by the Sindh culture and tourism department, Bhit Shah cultural centre and Shah Latif chair of the Karachi University to mark the three-day 259th Urs celebrations of great sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai at Mumtaz Mirza auditorium of Sindh Museum here on Saturday.

Mr Joyo said that if the young generation was not taught Sindhi language, it would not be able to understand the poetry and message of Bhitai and other great poets of Sindh.

He said that the message of Bhitai’s poetry was international and it was not for a particular class of people.

He said that the great poet had tried to inculcate spiritualism in the hearts and minds of the readers.

Speaking on the occasion, short story writer Hameed Sindhi said that Bhitai had given the message of truth and morality in his verses.

He said that writers, in particular, should try to understand the philosophy of his verses.

Dr Abdul Razzaq Sabir of the Balochistan University said that Bhitai was poet and guide of the entire country and the world but Bhitai and Sindh were synonymous.

He informed that a literary conference on Bhitai was also being held in Balochistan.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Mohammad Ismail Shaikh, Dr Hidayat Parveen, Inayat Zangejo, Dr Mehr-un-Nisa Larak, Dr Rasool Memon and Dr Nawaz Ali Shauq.

Dr Fahmida Hussain unveiled a book, based on the papers read at the previous Shah Latif literary conference on Sur Surath.

The book has been compiled by Taj Joyo and published by the department of culture and tourism, Sindh.