HYDERABAD: The 3rd Sindh Sufi Melo got under way in Sindh Museum on Friday evening after inauguration jointly by Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Heer Soho and Board of Revenue secretary Muna­wwar Mahesar.

Speaking to reporters, MPA Soho said that such events would promote mysticism in society and helped promote cultural colour and Sufism of Sindh. She said that such programmes should not only be restricted to Hyderabad alone and added that in present conditions, it was also difficult to organise those events. She said the people of Sindh believed in mysticism as the province was the land of Sufis who promoted peace and love.

Mr Mahesar said the identity of Sindh was based on brotherhood and peace and the entire world got the message of peace from Sindh. He said objective of such fairs was to inform youth about Sufism because the people of Sindh were basically the followers of Sufi teachings.

He said that when the first Melo was organised under title of ‘Me Raqsam’, Pakistan was facing difficult conditions, but the people of Sindh gave a message of brotherhood and harmony.

He said that if only five per cent of people attending the event understood the message of mysticism, it would be considered success of that programme. He said those events would disseminate teachings and message of great mystics of Sindh.

Speaking at a session relating to mysticism and media, Altaf Jokhio said that weapons were not found in Moenjodaro. He said the present role of shrines was not positive for society.

The shrines needed to be upda­ted like any software of computer, he added.

Bharoo Mal Amrani said Sindh had an agrarian society, therefore, the people of Sindh were always close to nature.

Naseer Mirza said G.M. Syed and Pir Ali Mohammad Rashdi promoted the poetry of Sufis of Sindh on radio and they took it to cities, villages and media houses from shrines.

He said Ustad Mohammad Jumman Sindhi’s poetry was introduced in media houses. He said Sufis always talked about opposing discrimination, and promoting peace and love in their teachings.

Senior journalist Naz Sehto was the moderator of the session.

In another session on youths’ interest in Sufism, K.S. Nagpal said the present age was all about science and technology, but mysticism was all about revolution. Sufism was facing a “conspiracy” of confining it to red clothing alone, he observed.

Noor Bajeer said Sufism worked against short-sightedness through cultural ways while Sindhu Nawaz Ghanghro said the youths of Sindh lacked clear knowledge of mysticism. Challenging tyranny was in fact mysticism, he added.

A photo exhibition was also organised by Sindh University’s arts and design department where paintings of Sufis, dance, sceneries of Thar and other cultural colours were displayed.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2019