MITHI: Renowned Sindhi poet, singer and artist Mohammad Juman Sand, who was lovingly called Mama Juman Darbadar, passed away on Thursday after suffering cardiac arrest on Thursday. He was 78.

He was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard in Ruhal Vai village near Umerkot town amid a large number of poets, writers, political leaders and workers of almost all parties and admirers.

Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Sindh Minister for Education and Culture Syed Sardar Ali Shah, PPP MPA Mohammad Qasim Siraj Soomro and Taj Joyo, renowned writer and critic, said in their messages that Darbadar’s death was an irreparable loss for the world of Sindhi literature. The void created by his death could hardly be filled in coming decades and centuries, they added.

Born on May 12, 1944, Juman Darbadar was among top Sindhi lyrical poets like Niaz Hamayooni, Ibrahim Munshi, Majeedi and Sarwaich Sujawali. His poetry was sung by famous artists Shafi Faqir, Sadiq Faqir, Sarmad Sindhi and others.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2022