HYDERABAD: A literary conference focusing the philosophy, teachings and poetic works of great Sufi Saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, a thought provoking dialouge and several musical and sports events featured on the second day of his three-day 274th urs at Bhitshah on Sunday.

The literary conference titled ‘Annual Latif Conference’ was held at the H.T. Sorley Hall at Bhitshah. A number of scholars presented their papers on the life and poetic work of Shah Bhitai and called for setting up the ‘Latif Chair’ at all universities in the country and abroad for the benefit of the mankind.

They said Bhitai propagated interfaith harmony, love, peace, tranquillity, brotherhood and tolerance through his kalam. His philosophy must reach the present and next generations in order to prevent people from inclining to hate, intolerance, sectarianism, extremism, terrorism and all other ills, they said.

Writer Jami Chandio stressed the need for doing maximum possible research on Bhitai’s poetry and philosophy which were valid for all ages and people of all age groups.

He expressed his dissatisfaction over the performance and progress of Latif Chairs established at different universities in the country and called for taking necessary steps to make them proactive.

Paying tribute to Bhitai, Chandio said Shah Latif was a symbol of love and peace and his message was equally beneficial for every person regardless of his caste, creed and religion.

Custodian (Sajjada Nashin) of the Bhitai shrine Syed Waqar Hussain Shah Latifi said the great Sufi saint always advocate woman empowerment as was evident from his Shah Jo Risalo. He said that people could find characters of different women in his works who were presented as heroines.

A research scholar from Taiwan, Pei-ling Huang, who is doing her PhD in ethnomusicology at Harvard University, recited Bhitai’s kalam on the tunes of a traditional musical instrument used to played by Shah Bhitai and known as tamboora. She said it was a great honour for her to do research on Shah Bhitai and described the raag defined in Shah Jo Risalo as a unique treasure.

“The realisation that raagis of Shah Bhitai have carried on for such a long period of time to propagate the great Saint’s message on the tunes of tamboora is enthralling,” she said. She spoke at length on her learning of Bhitai’s surs and playing tamboora as well as the language of Shah Jo Risalo.

A scholar from the United States, Emily Hauze, said that although the name of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai was not generally unknown in her country, she was eager to learn about a poet from Sindh who was as marvellous as Shakespeare. “It is not for me to compare those two giants, but from my own observation I would like to say that the Sindhi heart has a deeper and more emotional connection to Bhitai than any Western heart has to Shakespeare,” she said.

Ms Houze said that a single phrase from Shah Jo Risalo could bring tears to the eyes of Sindhi people. “I have never seen Shakespeare’s doing that. [I want to ascertain] why is Shah Bhitai not known in the West,” she said. “I would say it’s because Western people have very few ways to find him. The best way that I know, and what I can attempt to offer, is translation,” she said.

Dr Alamdar Bukhari from the Siraeki Study Centre, Multan, said that the philosophy of Shah Bhitai was being studied and researched for over two centuries and it seemed to be a universal message. He said that the great poet delineated his surs separately.

A scholar from Balochistan, Mohammad Pannah Baloch, said that the Sufi Saint made mention of Balochistan and its people at many place in his poetry.

Others who spoke at the conference included Kishwar Naheed from Islamabad and Prof K.S. Nakpal.The dialogue session was held on ‘Shah Latif and contemporary needs”. Dr Ihsan Danish moderated the session in which scholars Inam Shaikh, Noor Mohammed Janjhi and Dr Sher Mehrani discussed Shah Bhitai’s poetic works, philosophy and teachings. Four books published by the Sindh culture department were launched on the second day of the urs. The books were Kastoori Khusbhoo by J.A. Manghani, Shah Latif Ji shaeri main dard jo jamal by Dr Fayyaz Lateef, Andar toun ujaar by Mohammad Ibrahim Sindhi and Bhittai hik aadarash insaan, compiled by Ghulam Akbar Leghari.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2017