HYDERABAD: Eminent scholars, writers and intellectuals have said that it is high time to declare Sindhi a national language by implementing legislation made on the subject in the past.

Sindhi language, they said, was not only the oldest but the richest language of the country and it must be provided protection and the educational system of the province should be strengthened.

They were speaking at a seminar on "Sindhi language, national language: its importance and significance" at Dr NA Baloch hall here on Tuesday evening. The seminar was jointly organised by the Sindh culture department and Sindhi Language Authority to mark the International Mother Tongue Day.

Renowned scholar Mohammad Ibrahim Joyo said that some elements had always tried in the past to harm Sindhi language but the people of Sindh had foiled such conspiracies.

Not only in Pakistan but in other countries as well frequent attempts were made to eliminate mother languages and this was the reason that this day was being observed throughout the world to protect mother languages.

Joyo said that after the inception of Pakistan, it was decided that both Sindhi and Urdu languages would be taught as a compulsory subject in Sindh. He, however, said that while Urdu language was taught in all the educational institutions, Sindhi was ignored. He said those settling in Sindh should adopt Sindhi language. He said that in the rural areas of Sindh, people were living in abject poverty and floods and rains had further aggravated the situation.

He said under these circumstances, the people could not pay attention to education.

He said several schools in the rural areas had been occupied by politicians and feudal lords.

Sindhi language, he added, was in grave danger, therefore, it was extremely necessary to launch a joint struggle to protect it.

Dr Ghulam Ali Allana said the Sindh culture department and the SLA had been working hard for the development and promotion of Sindhi language.

He, however, said that the Sindhi language was still in danger because it was not being taught in private schools nor was it being enforced in the government organisations as per law. He stressed the need for implementing the law in this regard.

Dr Allana urged the Sindhi TV channels to telecast research reports on Sindhi language and history of Sindh. He said the responsibility of the universities to promote Sindhi language could not be over-emphasised.

SLA chairperson Dr Fehmida Hussain in her paper stressed the need for giving national status to Sindhi language. She said, the government and the writers of Sindh were rendering yeomen services to the language and added that it will be a great honour for the present government if the language bill was approved.

Professor Dr Sehar Imdad said that joint efforts were needed by people from all walks of life to ensure that Sindhi was given the status of national language.

Noted writer and poet Adal Soomro said that mother languages had been discriminated against for centuries, adding that the importance of Sindhi language could not be over-emphasised.

Shoukat Hussain Shoro said that the educational system of Sindh needed radical changes to protect Sindhi language. He said that it was an irony that Sindhi language was not given due importance in the higher educational institutions.

Azad Qazi said Sindhi language was symbol of the civilisation and identity of Sindh and the best weapon for the survival of Sindhi people.

He urged the government to take concrete measures for the protection of Sindhi language.

Dr Kamal Jamro, culture department director Dr Mohammad Ali Manjhi and SLA secretary Taj Joyo also spoke on the occasion.