KHAIRPUR, May 7: Renowned Sughar Abdul Rehman Mahesar died in a hospital in Karachi on Monday after fighting diabetes and hepatitis-C for several years. He was 57.

He leaves behind his wife, seven sons and three daughters. He had been the president of the Sindh Sughar Welfare Association and has two anthologies “Mahesar ji Maam” and “Mahesar jig Murk” and another book "Khairpur ja Hayat Sughar" to his credit.

He received Sachal award for best Sughar and regularly conducted the Sachal Sughar Conference during the Urs celebrations of Sufi poet Sachal Sarmast. He performed on radio and television also.

Sughar is a peculiar ingredient of Sindhi rustic culture. He is a poet of oral tradition who composes lively verses on different subjects and reads them out in ‘Kutchehries’ (traditional gatherings) at Autaqs (guest houses).

The role of Sughar, like some other features of rural culture) had begun to die after the onslaught of modern entertainment through TV. But, now it is witnessing a revival, courtesy the same TV and TV programmes showing Sughars Kutchehries.