HYDERABAD: The ‘Madan Fa­qir Eco-Resort and Research Cen­tre’ established at Bhitshah under the United Nations Development Fund-Global Environment Facility (UNDP-GEF) small grants programme was inaugurated at a ceremony, which continued till late on Thursday evening.

The centre is meant for promoting culture and research on great Sufi saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai’s verses, philosophy and raag.

UN resident coordinator and UNDP resident representative in Pakistan Neil Buhne, UNDP-GEF national programme manager Mas­ood Lohar and other officials, as well as Bhitai shrine custodian Syed Waqar Hussain Shah, chief administrator of the Auqaf department Mun­awwar Mahesar and Sindhi Lan­g­uage Authority (SLA) chairman Abdul Ghafoor Memon were among those who attended the ceremony.

Speaking to the guests and audience, researchers and other scholars said that Shah Bhitai’s philosophy and verses carried the message of peace and harmony in society.

His folklores portrayed womenfolk as heroes, they noted.

They said that what Bhitai had talked about in his poetry 400 years back was today being projected as ‘global village’.

Neil Buhne said that the United Nations worked for peace and harmony in the world and Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai’s poetry and ideology carried the same message.

He said he was glad to see that women were reciting Bhitai’s poetry on the shrine’s premises.

He said that the Madan Faqir centre would play its due role in promoting research and culture.

Masood Lohar said that poets had always played an important role in ensuring peace in the world.

He said that promotion of eco-tourism was essential for civilisation and history.

Syed Waqar Hussain Shah noted that the UN charter depicted legacy of Bhitai. He endorsed the view that the entire world today was considered to be a global village as was reflected in Shah Bhitai’s works.

Juhi Fatima, a Taiwanese woman (Pei-ling Huang) who converted to Islam, Ghulam Sakina, Faqir Manthar and his students, and other faqirs of Bhitai presented the Sufi saint’s melodies at the ceremony.

A mystic dance performance was presented by Burhanuddin’s team of Raqs-i-Darweshan Rumi from Kara­chi on the poetry of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar and Maulana Rumi to mark the 767th Urs of Rumi.

The visitors also enjoyed Bhitai’s raag.

Syed Waqar Shah presented Bhitai’s dambooro and Sindhi cap to the UN official.

Neil Buhne along with other UNDP-GEF officials also inaugurated the Moenjodaro Eco-Resort and Cultural Centre near Dokri town in Larkana district.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2018