THATTA: Speakers at book launch ceremony for Sindhi boli ain lippi jo ilmi ibhyas (The study of Sindhi language and it’s script) on Sunday showered praise on the author Dr Muhammad Ali Manjhi for his extraordinary work in the field of literature, language, history and archaeology.

They said at the programme jointly organised by the Sindhi Adabi Sangat and the Organisation for Culture and Heritage at Thatta Press Club that Dr Manjhi had authored 17 books on history, poetry, archaeology, art and fiction and had rendered unparalleled services in the education as well.

Former Senator Sassui Palijo said the literary services rendered by historian, writer, poet and compiler of many books, Dr Manjhi, was a continuation of the former greats like Awami Tehreek founder Rasool Bux Palijo, Dr Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Dr Ghulam Ali Allana, Dr Rajab Memon, Faqir Abdul Ghafoor Alasti and others.

She said that Sindh had been gifted with many intellectuals like Dr Manjhi who had contributed to the development of Sindhi language and produced several students, who were serving in different fields. Young generation should learn from his contribution, she said.

She said that as culture minister she had worked for the preservation of historical sites in Sindh and the work she had started was still going on. Dr Manjhi had kept prestige of Sindhi language intact by constant research work and innovative ideas, she said.

In his different capacities as director general of Culture Department, chairman of Sindhi Language Authority and DG of Colleges Sindh, Dr Manjhi worked untiringly to serve Sindh, and she as the minister ensured publication of more than 500 books on various subjects by the culture department.

Senior columnist and agronomist Obhayo Khan Khushik said that a language could only be kept alive if research work was done on it regularly and this book would prove a milestone for setting new trends in Sindhi language and its history.

Writer and poet Dr Maru Khushik called Dr Manjhi a silent contributor to Sindhi language and added that Dr Manjhi had served without greed while working on different assignments.

He said that Manjhi had proved himself a man of principles as head of Sindhi Language Authority and other educational institutions.

Senior journalist Mohammad Iqbal Khwaja, chairman of Sindh Cultural Forum Sadiq Lakho, writer Allah Juriyo Burfat, Noor Serai and others were unanimous in their view that Dr Manjhi had made unparalleled and exceptional work by exploring and discovering many historical and archeological sites including Thar’ro ruins near Thatta, which had engravings in Greek language and different signs.

The signs and the words were believed to be engraved by soldiers of Alexander the Great when they made stopovers at different places on their way upland during his Indian expeditions.

Dr Manjhi also introduced Jholl Mari, Sareji, Sonn Maari, Jam Tamachi ji Maari, Mir Kot and other historical sites scattered across Sindh, they said.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2023