LARKANA: Speakers at a book launch ceremony for Azlee Haqeeqat jee gola (In search of eternal truth) at Arts Council on Sunday deman­ded that the government should establish Sindh science board, make concerted efforts to publish a science dictionary in Sindhi and task Sindhi Adabi Board with publishing works on science.

The book’s author Dr Sikandar Mughal, former registrar of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University, said that his book was purely on science and rejected everything else that failed the rigorous test of science like mysticism. Modern physics had proved that the nature of mysticism was always uncertain and unpredictable, he said.

He said that his book explained in easy language Einstein’s theory of gravitational force which showed that matter had power to bend even space. “My book discusses and highlights the points which are not found in science books written for schools and academic institutions,” he said.

Psychiatrist and writer Dr Inayat Magsi said that Dr Mughal had defined truth in the light of science in his book. Though this book did not discuss philosophy it had a flavour of philosophical discourse like many of the best books, he said.

He said the man in the street, who had no aptitude for science, would certainly have difficulty comprehending the book but it had greater value for those who had a grasp over fundamentals of science. Dr Mughal had a special talent to define things in his unique and easy style which had made this book unusual and a good read, he said.

Dr Badar Junejo, social activist and head of psychology department of SMBBMU, said that Dr Mughal who was patron of Sindh Scientific Society (SSS) was his ideological teacher who had educated and trained him intellectually and strengthened him to face martial law of Gen Ziaul Haq. “I still continue to learn from him,” he said. The book launch was organised under the aegis of the society.

Dr Zulfikar Rahoojo, an SSS office bearer, said the society aimed at introducing and propagating scientific and philosophical subjects in society and Dr Mughal’s book had exactly done that. It was not easy to define scientific terminology and principles in Sindhi but Dr Mughal had achieved this “impossible” milestone, he said.

Prof Riazat Buriro said that Dr Mughal’s book was a good addition to science literature in Sindhi as it compelled readers to think deep and make efforts to find out truth. Dr Mughal had to his credit a number of other books as well on serious topics of science which liberated readers from many misconceptions based on psychological and religious concepts, he said.

Zulfikar Rajpar, writer and journalist, said that there was dearth of scientific literature in Sindhi. It was unfortunate that science and philosophy had not so far created a niche in Sindhi literature and become its integral part though Dr Mughal was busy teaching science and adding to science literature by writing books, he said, adding many unscientific concepts had crept into curricula and “we will have to purge it of unscientific theories to make it fully scientific”.

The speakers demanded that the government should establish a Sindh science board and make serious efforts to publish a science dictionary in Sindhi.

Sindhi Adabi Board should be tasked with publishing indigenous work on science and translations of books in Sindhi.

Shamir Soomro, chairman of literature department of Arts Council and Koral Qurbdar also spoke at the ceremony while Anmol Rahoojo, a college student, presented an anthem of science.

Earlier, the book was formally launched by a panel of intellectuals, writers, teachers and doctors amid loud applause from the audience.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2019