KHAIRPUR, Sept 18: A National Adabi Conference was held on the last day of 187th Urs of renowned Sufi saint and poet Sachal Sarmast at Daraza Sharif on Wednesday.

For the first time it was held under the auspices of Sindh culture and tourism department and was presided over by Sindh Assembly Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, while Sindh Minister for Culture Sassui Palijo was the chief guest.

A number of eminent scholars from all over the country participated in the gathering of hundreds of admirers and followers of the truth-seeker saint.

In his welcome speech the director-general of culture and tourism department of Sindh, Moonis Ayaz, said that Sufi saints were the cultural heritage of the country as they were the icons for the common man and people found spiritual and physical solace in their humble attitude and poetry of love and peace. He said it was responsibility of culture department to preserve that heritage.

In his keynote address Sakhi Qabool Mohammad, the custodian of the shrine spoke on the concept of wholeness and oneness underlying all religions of the world culminating into its purest form in Islam and Sufism.

Mr Nisar Ahmed Khuhro in his speech stressed the need of spreading the message of Sachal Sarmast to kindle the hearts of people and counter the fanaticism and extremism.

Ms Sassui Palijo said that the culture department was committed to preserve the physical and spiritual heritage of Sindh especially of Sufi saints which gave the message of love, peace and brotherhood to counter the terrorism based on hatred and discrimination.

She said that the government would construct a cultural complex at the shrine on the land occupied by the land mafia at Daraza Sharif.

She also undertook to get translated the Risalo (complete works of Sachal) into Urdu and English.

Eminent scholar and senior journalist Shafqat Tanveer Mirza analysed the socio-political conditions of the country and emphasised that the role of Sufi saints and their teachings should be disseminated by translating their work in all languages of the country.

Mr Qazi Javed read a paper on the history of mysticism in Sindh.

Dr. Nabila Omar of Punjab University highlighted the philosophical influence of Sufi-saint Mansoor Hallaj on Sachal’s thought.

Dr Tahir Taunsvi and Dr Rashid Mateen of Islamabad talked about the Sachal’s concept of Isq (love), oneness of God and Wahdat-ul-Wujood which is the unity of being or pantheism -- a philosophy immortalised in Sachal’s words while making him immortal as well.

Among others, Khizar Nooshai, Dr Javed Chandio of Multan, Dr Jabbar Junejo, Dr Hidayat Prem Sarmad Chandio and Dr Nawaz Ali Shauq spoke on the occasion.

The three day Urs celebrations concluded on Wednesday.

Sufi singers of Sachal Sain along with devotees concluded the celebrations in its typical style by singing the prayer of Sachal Sarmast in the foyer of the shrine.