HYDERABAD, April 14: One of the greatest institutions of Sindh -- the Sindhi Adabi Board which was once a home to giants like Allama Daudpoto, Pir Hussamuddin Rashidi, Dr N.A. Baloch, Mohammad Ibrahim Joyo and Makhdoom Talibul Maula, only to quote a few -- is now being crucified at the altar of Lilliputians.

The work at the board has come to a stand still due to differences between pro and anti-secretary groups and protest demonstrations are being held on almost daily basis outside the Hyderabad Press Club by one or the other group in support of or against the secretary of the board, Aijaz Mangi.

The board had come into existence because of the efforts of G.M. Syed and its main purpose is to publish classics and promote Sindhi language and literature.

Pir Hussamuddin Rashidi had under taken the gigantic task of publishing the history of Sindh as a few books like Tohfatul Karam, Tareekh-i-Mousomi and Chachnama are available on the history of Sindh.

Two books by H.T. Lambrick on the ancient history of Sindh and two volumes on Kalhoro period written by Maulana Ghulam Rasool Mahar were published due to the efforts of Pir Rashidi. Mumtaz Pathan and a couple of others had also contributed to these efforts.

However, no further progress was made on the history of Sindh over the years a result complete history of Sindh is not available in the market.

The pigmies have all but destroyed this great institution and recent internecine fighting among the employees has rendered the board irrelevant.

The press employees union of the board has resorted to pen down strike against its secretary whereas his supporters staged a demonstration outside the press club in his favour on Saturday.

The leaders of the union, Ghulam Haider Katchi, Tariq Alam Abro and others, in a statement faxed to Dawn, have demanded the removal of Mr Mangi who, they said, had sung hymns, praising the then Sindh chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, and the vice chairman of the board, Madad Ali Sindhi who, according to them, had written statements on behalf of the Arbab against Benazir Bhutto.

They demanded an inquiry in the embezzlement of Rs15 million.

The former secretary of the board, Inam Shaikh, assistant professor, department of International Relations, university of Sindh, in a statement has issued a charge sheet against Mr Sindhi. He held Mr Sindhi responsible for the present crisis and alleged malpractices in the board during the last two years.

Mr Shaikh claimed that Mr Sindhi’s appointment as vice-chairman of the board by the former chief minister was illegal.

He appealed to Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Sindh Assembly speaker Nisar Khuhro, Pir Mazharul Haq, Zulfiqar Mirza and other cabinet members to remove Mr Sindhi to save the board. He also demanded an inquiry into the alleged embezzlement of the board’s funds.

He said that he had documentary proof and would soon address a press conference at the Karachi Press Club to expose malpractices in the board.

When contacted on telephone, Mr Mangi refuted allegations levelled against him and Mr Sindhi by a group of board employees and Mr Shaikh.

He said that the employees of the board had developed over the years a culture of staging protest demonstrations against the board management and added that similar allegations were levelled against Mr Shaikh.

He said that annual grant of the board was only Rs10 million out of which Rs9.85 million were spent on the payment of salaries and pensions.

He said that average income from the bookstalls of the board was Rs100,000 per month which was spent on the publication of board journals and books and other contingencies.

The question of misappropriation of funds, therefore, simply did not arise, Mr Mangi said and added that the books and the record of the board was there for everyone to see.

Several attempts were made to contact Mr Sindhi on his cell phone and an SMS was also sent to get his version but there was no response.