IN the passing away of Shamsherul Haidri, Sindh has lost a distinguished writer, a poet steeped in tradition, a playwright and a man of integrity who did not compromise on principles.

Shamsher Ali Imam Ali Khwaja was born in Kadhan, a small town in Badin district, on Sept 15, 1932, in a family of moderate means. The town did not have proper education facilities and its children had to go to other cities and towns for secondary and higher education.

The young Shamsher had no option but to do the same. He travelled to Karachi in 1947 and was admitted to Sindh Madressahtul Islam. However, he could not continue his studies there and had to go back to his hometown.

In 1956, he was appointed as assistant editor of Sindhi Adabi Board’s prestigious and quarterly literary magazine ‘Mehran’, a position which he held for 12 years. During his association with the magazine, he wrote in Sindhi and also translated Urdu and English works into Sindhi.

The Fifties proved to be an important transitory phase for Sindhi literature as new genres emerged. Mr Haidri was aware of this, as he joined such literary figures as Shaikh Ayaz, Dr Tanvir Abbasi, Dr Ayaz Qadri, Dr Najam Abbasi, Amar Jaleel, Hafeez Shaikh and Imdad Hussaini in experimenting with new styles and forms.

The Progressive Movement had enlisted as its members a majority of the Sindhi writers and poets and new forms of expression had begun emerging. The Sindhi Adabi Sangat was also quite active as it offered a proper platform for the new writers to present their works. Mr Haidri took part in all such activities.

In the meantime, he resumed his studies, completing his masters in Sindhi literature from Sindh University in 1963. His post-graduation monograph was on free verse, which earned him laurels from known literary figures.

In 1967, after the retirement of Maulana Abdul Wahid Sindhi, he was appointed as editor of the federal government’s literary magazine, ‘Naeen Zindagi’. In this position, he promoted the works of young writers and poets, enriching further the Sindhi literature.

Later, he became the editor of Hyderabad-based daily newspaper ‘Mehran’. However, he could not continue for long in this position because he had to resign due to his liberal views.

Subsequently, he worked as a freelance writer for publications and for television, working at times as anchor and often as reviewer of transcripts. He also wrote teleplays.

A number of important works are to his credit, including Insaan-i-kamil (1953), Karwan-i-Karbala (1954), Laat (poetry, 1954), Tarikh Kalhora (translated history, 1963), America jo Siyasi Sirshto (translation, 1964) and Behtreen Sindhi Adab (selection of short stories, 1969). As a poet, Mr Haidri experimented in almost all genres. His diction was of high quality, which allowed him to excel in ghazal, nazm, geet and sonnet. He had a vivid imagination and his works appeared in Sindhi literary magazines in Pakistan as well as India.

Although he produced notable works of prose, his unique verses earned him a high pedestal among the poets of the region. His similes and metaphors were not borrowed but all his own. They were simple yet persuasive, making his work stand out from the rest. He employed all kinds of metres and rhymes while producing ghazal and nazm.

He once wrote: Rahbar bhulji viya, ehle nazar bhulji viya/ Shauq-i-safar mein sabheyee kar-i-safr bhulji viya/ Kahen ji gola mein hua nikta sadaye hoshmand/ Waat ji wankar mein pahenji khabr bhulji viya.

(The leaders lost the path, the seekers lost the way/ In the enthusiasm for the journey, all have forgotten its purpose/ In whose search the intelligent had gone out/ In the shadow of time they forgot their own selves.)

Mr Haidri’s was an eventful life, a full life. His contribution towards the promotion of Sindhi literature and his professional integrity will remain unmatched.