ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Academy of Letter (PAL) on Thursday celebrated 100th birthday of Sindhi nationalist, writer, scholar and teacher, Mohammad Ibrahim Joyo.

People from all walks of life participated in the birthday function. Mr Joyo, however, could not turn up as it was not easy for him to travel from Karachi to Islamabad because of health issues.

Senator Sassui Palijo of Pakistan People’s Party said Mr Joyo’s contributions for Sindhi literature were great.

“Mr Joyo had ideology and he never compromised on it. With the passage of time people joined him and followed him,” she said.

Intellectual Ahmed Saleem said he met Mr Joyo in late 60s and became great fan of him.

“I was introduced as Punjabi poet. Mr Joyo allowed me to speak in Punjabi with him and also suggested that I should translate poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and Shaikh Ayaz in Punjabi,” he said.

“Unfortunately people like Mr Joyo and Sobho Gianchandani were declared traitor because they never compromised on principles,” he said.

Renowned writer Taj Joyo, who came from Hyderabad to participate in the function, said Ibrahim Joyo was born on August 12, 1915 in a village of district Dadu which later became part of district Jamshoro.

“He was son of a farmer and taught at home by his grandfather (Mehboob). Renowned Sindhi nationalist GM Syed got him admitted in secondary school (Sindh Madrassa) from where he did his matriculation and then graduation in 1938. After that Mr Joyo went to Bombay (now Mumbai) for further education and then joined Sindh Madrassa as a teacher,” he said.

“Mr Joyo wrote a book “Save Sindh Save Continent” due to which British government decided to terminate his service from Sindh Madrassa.

Last week, Sindh Madressatul Islam University (Sindh Madrasa) withdrew the termination letter with an apology,” he said.

Chairman PAL Qasim Bogio said Mr Joyo belonged to a literary family and always stood for his principles.

“If political parties really want to make new Pakistan they should make Joyo’s Pakistan based on peace, love and tolerance,” he said.

While talking about the 100 years life, Mr Bogio said that Mr Joyo lives a simple life.

Executive Director Lok Virsa Dr Fauzia Saeed said the massage of Mr Joyo should be transferred to new generation.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2015

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