SUKKUR, Feb 27: ‘Narbada se Mehran Tak’, a biography of eminent writer and poet the late Fatehullah Usmani was launched at a hotel here on Sunday. Writers Sobho Gianchandani, Mazhar Jamil, Muslim Shamim, Fateh Malik, Rukunddin Qasimi and Jam Saqi performed the book-launching ceremony.

Scores of poets, writers, progressive leaders and political activists including Mumtaz Mahar, Shayam Kumar, Prof Riaz, Shabbir Shar, Shabbir Bedar Bhutto, Nighat Barelvi, Aiz Azizi and Mandhal Shar spoke on the occasion.

Mr Gianchandani lauded the efforts of the late Usmani for the people of Sindh and said that he adopted Sindh as his homeland and worked selflessly for the rights of Sindhis.

Mazhar Jamil and other writers emphasized the need of interaction between Urdu and Sindhi writers and people.

They said that late Usmani sincerely joined hands with the Sindhis who had a long list of injustices.

Muslim Shamim said that in India there are 18 national languages including Sindhi.

He said that Sindhi should be given the status of national language in Pakistan.

The government should make efforts to promote Sindhi language and literature for creating better understanding and harmony among various sections of the society.

Mr Shamim said the late Usmani stood by the Sindhis in their struggle against the One Unit.

He said that he was involved in political activities from the day when he landed in Sukkur in 1948.

Rukunddin Qasimi said the late Usmani would be remembered as a man of principles, friend of friends, and a towering literary figure in poetry as well as prose.