KARACHI, Jan 29: Scholars at a seminar on Saturday stressed the need for reliving the Persian literature and letters that prevailed in Sindh till the end of Kalhoro dynasty as those can be invaluable sources for researchers, religious scholars and men of letters in this age too.
They said that efforts should be made for promotion of Persian language and literature in the province and broadening of the horizon of interaction for Sindhi and Persian language writer, poets and historians at home and abroad. They also called for making arrangements for recognition of Persian in youth.
The seminar on Persian Language and Literature in Sindh During the Kalhora Rule was organized by the Department of Persian, University of Karachi (KU), in collaboration with the Culture Centre of Islamic Republic of Iran and the Anjuman Ittehad-i-Abbasia at Shaikh Zayed Islamic Centre.
While discussing the evaluation and development of Persian language, scholars mentioned that the period of Kalhora rulers stretched from 1701 to 1783 was known as the golden period of Sindhi and Persian literature in Sindh. The role of Pir Hissamuddin Rashidi as an oriental historian, with special reference to Persian studies, was also highlighted at the seminar.
In the inaugural session, the chief guest, Dr Pirzada Qasim, Vice-Chancellor of the Karachi University, said that the seminar would go a long way in extending the limits of research and set a trend of knowing Persian and undertake research work. He also appreciated the organizers for dedicating a full day of seminar to the Kalhoro dynasty, saying that among many of the ages since after 520 BC in Sindh, Kalhora period was the one that deserved to be known as the real era of Sindh.
It was during the Kalhoro era when numerous developments took place and Thatta emerged as one of the oasis of literature, when works related to lexicon and expressions, in medicine and other fields, were carried out. Kalhora rulers valued the indigenous wisdom and culture.
He said that the KU works were under way with the support of the Iranian Culture Centre for the establishment of a centre meant for understanding Iran and Persian. The works related to research and manuscripts in Persian, which had been carried out in the province in the past should be advanced further under the patronage and supervision of senior scholars and educational institutions, he added.
Director-General of the Cultural Centre of Iran in Karachi, Dr M. Mehdi Tavassoli, said that study of Persian literature in Sindh, particularly during the Kalhora period was a source of gratification to him. Kalhora rulers knew Persian language and though not scholars themselves, they extended patronage for Persian scientists, poets, artists and architects, and gathered them in their courts.
During their period, they got so many books on the history and literature written and the same are now taken as vital sources for studying Pakistan as well, he added, saying that the upcoming seminar on ‘Talpur rulers’, fourth of the present series undertaken by the KU, will enlighten the history of Pakistan.
During the presentation of research papers, a noted researcher Dr Inamul Haq Kauser from Balochistan said that Sindh had a long history of its relationship with Persian and that matter in Persian was significantly available there. Sindhi educationists and scholars had also found Persian language very close to them, while in the case of Balochistan, he could say that literature and manuscripts were not available in libraries as those were segregated and lying with people at different places.
He said that in the region, the research-oriented history writing and chronicles started in Thatta, and mostly under the Kalhora rulers, which was rejuvenated by Sindhi Adabi Board and Pir Hissamuddin Rashidi as well. Hence the individuals like Mohammad Rashid Thatvi, Shafiullah Adbi and Mir Ali Sher Qane.
He said that Maqaalatul Shu’ara and Meyar-i-Salikanan-i-Tariqat were remarkable works done by Mir Ali Sher Qane and known to the present lot of scholars. The Maqaalat chronicled about 719 Persian and Pakistani poets, while the Meyar-i-Salikanan covered the civilizations and periods spread over 12 centuries, narrating 1,760 personalities.
Dr Mohammad Idrees Soomro talked about Persian manuscripts by Sindhi ulema which were available in libraries of Makkah and Madina. He said that it would be highly appreciated if KU endeavoured for getting the manuscripts of Sindhi religious scholars of Sindh who had gone to Makkah and Medina, and hold them on the campus for Pakistani writers and scholars.
Prof Ghulam Mohammad Lakho said poets and writers coming from Iran had done a splendid job in the promotion of Persian literary works in Sindh. He said that Persian was the official language of Kalhoras’ courts which also encouraged new writers and poets as well, and that’s why the personalities like Mohsin Thatvi, Qane, Mohammad Panah Reja and Mirza Ghulam Ali emerged on the literary and educational scene of Sindh.
He also suggested that the manuscripts of the holy Quran prepared during the period of Mian Noor Mohammad Kalhoro be either brought back from Iran or reprinted for the benefit of the people of Sindh and other provinces of the country. He said that the KU should also go for reprinting the book on hunting in Persian by Mian Mohammad Dawood (written in 1900) as it was a worthy work done in Sindh.
Dr Khizar Naushahi talked about Shiwak Ram Atarud Thatvi, a Hindu poet who was elevated to the post of ‘Mir Munshi’ in the court of Ghulam Shah Abbasi Kalhoro. Shiwak was influenced by renowned Hafiz and Shirazi, and wrote on peace and brotherhood as well, he added.
Dr Naimatullah Iranzadeh, Dr Syed Murtaza Mosavi, Dr Shafqat Hussain Abbasi, President of the Anjuman Ittehad-i-Abbasia, Dr Rehana Afsar, chairperson of the KU’s Persian Department, Dr Gul Hassan Leghari, Dr Sultan Altaf Hussain, Dr Shagufta Mosavi, Dr Nawaz Ali Shouq and others also presented papers at the seminar.