HYDERABAD: The 6th Hyderabad Literature Festival got under way at Sindh Museum here on Saturday. Sindh Culture Minister Syed Sardar Shah inaugurated the event.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the minister said that such literary festivals showed there was the urge in youth to learn and they were taking keen interest in literature. Initially, he said, it was difficult to hold literary festivals but eventually they became successful. He said that such events played a dominant role in promotion of literature and culture. Currently, another wave of coronavirus had started but with all due precautions, such activities of academic and literary nature would continue, he added.

Culture secretary Akbar Laghari said that had this festival been postponed due to coronavirus, this would have become a precedent and now it was being organised with all standard operating procedures (SOPs).

At a session on poet Hassan Dars titled ‘Hay Hassan Dars aavaragard aadmi’, speakers Ali Akash and Ali Zahid said that Dars had a separate identity in Sindhi poetry as his theme of poetry was entirely different from others. “After his death, people opened franchises to claim their friendship with the late poet,” one of them remarked, adding that Dars shared people’s grief and his poetry presented various scenes of Sindh.

An exhibition of artisans’ creations was also featured at the festival. A number of artisans showcased their works to collect visitors’ praise. Students of Sindh University’s Institute of Arts and Design also put their paintings on display.

Sixth Hyderabad Literature Festival gets under way

A tableau was presented by young students whereas sughars were also there to enlighten the audience.

Fayaz Naich moderated a session on the book Khana Badosh Qabeela authored by Khalid Kumbhar. The author observed that the issue of CNICs was still confronting nomads, pointing out that the required work in this regard had not been completed as yet. He felt that nomad communities were not liked by rural people, and said their customs and conventions taught love with animals and plants. “These communities also worship trees and they give much importance to dance.”

Journalist Ishaq Mangrio observed that these communities kept moving from one place to the other to escape pollution. “Government does not offer any package for them although they have equal rights.”

Yasir Qazi moderated a session on ‘Literature in times of pandemic’. Akhtar Hafeez’s book on Covid-19 was launched at the event.

Sindhi Language Authority (SLA) secretary Shabnam Gul told the session that “fiction has a unique beauty”. She said that media reports and columns left great impact on people during the pandemic period.

Riaz Rafique stated that initial six months of the pandemic had spread fear and affected artists as well because they faced financial constraints. During those difficult days, paintings of artists had to be displayed and sold online, he added.

Attiya Dawood said that coronavirus seriously affected women as they suffered psychological issues. She said that women suffered depression because the pandemic prevented them from meeting friends and colleagues.

Zulfikar Kadri was of the view that people initially took the pandemic as a joke thinking that it would remain confined to China. He said they were not mentally prepared for the pandemic that upset all plans and planning.

Another session, on short story writer Naseem Kharal, was moderated by Nisar Khokhar.

Sharing his views with the audience, Adal Soomro said that Kharal presented psychology of Sindhi society in his short stories. The author also penned down how Sindhi waderas cultivated relations to earn money.

Ayaz Gul Stated that Kharal himself was a big landowner and he was widely respected in Sindhi literary circles.

DIG Sharjeel Kharal, a nephew of Naseem Kharal, said that his uncle ensured his daughters got higher education in the ’60s.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2021