HYDERABAD, July 2: Shamsul Ulema Mirza Qaleech Baig was a genius and a legend and the way he planned his life to utilise every minute was simply amazing.

Sindh minister for culture and tourism Sassui Palijo said this on Tuesday while speaking at an inaugural ceremony of Mirza Qaleech Baig chair established at Sindh University under the Faculty of Arts and sponsored by department of Culture and Tourism, Government of Sindh.

The Mirza Qaleech Baig chair in Sindh University was established after the establishment of the Latif chair.

The ceremony was largely attended by scholars and intellectuals of Sindh, besides family members of Mirza Qaleech Baig and faculty members and students of the university.

The minister said that even lack of facilities at that time did not hamper Mirza Sahib from work.

Life in those days was very difficult, she said, but Mirza Sahib could still find time to write book after another book.

Ms Palijo said that it was the duty of everyone to remember and acknowledge services of great scholars and added that Mirza Sahib’s literary contribution had enriched Sindhi literature enormously.

Ms Palijo handed over a cheque of Rs1 million to Sindh University vice-chancellor for the chair and promised that every year the amount would be increased.

She said that cultural complex under construction at Mirpurkhas will also house a library and the same will be named after Mirza Qaleech Baig.

She said that her department was establishing galleries in Sindh Museum in the name of Moenjodaro, Makli, Bhittai and Shaheed Bhutto and a gallery will be established name after Qaleech Baig.

She advised the family of Mirza Sahib to gift his personnel belongings for preservation in the gallery.

She appreciated efforts of Sindh University vice chancellor for establishment of the chair.

Mirza Aijaz Baig, grandson of Mirza Qaleech, thanked the Sindh University and department of culture and tourism for their efforts for establishment of the chair.

He offered full cooperation to university from his family for the chair.

He said the establishment of chair was his dream and added that in 1954, on the occasion of 14th international Sindhi conference held at Sindh Madressah Karachi, his father had proposed about Qaleech chair and Shamsul Ulema U.M Daudpota at that time promised for the same.

He said that Syed Abdullah Shah as the chief minister of Sindh who had visited the Qaleech Baig library had announced Rs10 million for the publication of books of Qaleech but due to difference of opinion among literary organisations the announcement came to naught.

He said a large number of manuscripts lying with him were still unprinted and added that only some manuscripts were published which were now out of market.

He said that due to lack of interest of people as well as literary organisations books of Mirza Sahib had not been published.

Vice-chancellor Mazharul Haq Siddiqui, who presided over the ceremony said that it was unfortunate that people of Sindh, Pakistan and the Muslim world were not playing any significant role in promoting services of their great men and added that we must acknowledge the services of Mirza Sahib and luminaries likes him by establishing institutions in their names.

He said Mirza Sahib had rendered great services to the people of subcontinent by writing more than 457 books on different subjects.