HYDERABAD: A literary conference followed by ‘Latif Award’ ceremony was held at Sindh Museum on Tuesday, the last day of the three-day celebrations of the 279th urs of great Sufi Saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai.

Writers, poets, authors and intellectuals presented their papers, shedding light on the life and works of Shah Bhitai.

Naseer Mirza and Yasir Qazi moderated different sessions of the conference.

Sindhi Language Authority (SLA) chairman Ishaq Samejo, speaking at a session, said that it was time to ponder that whether today’s pain was the same that had been in the Bhitai era. He said that there were always internal and external pains which helped people understand how to pass life. He said that Bhitai’s sur ‘sarang’ reflected the same pain that was being felt in present conditions.

He said that Shah Bhitai had presented rainfall as ‘idol’ in his verses and described rain as life. He said that since Bhitai was people’s poet, he had sung masses’ pain deeply.

Samejo stated that Bhitai had also celebrated and sung ‘happiness’ in his poetry and those who felt pains were encouraged by the sufi saint.

Prof Noor Janjhi said that pain had a universal phenomenon because “the universe was born out of pain”.

He said that known philosophers had said if people enjoyed happiness, they should also be ready to go through pains. He said poetry and short stories always reflected pain. Shah Bhitai had taken pain as a character, he noted. According to Bhitai, he said, pain was a source of facing difficulties. He said Bhitai always talked about standing with those suffering from pain.

Shaukat Ujjan, a writer, said that pain had different conditions — individual and collective — and Shah Bhitai talked about the pain of those who had faced hunger. He said the sufi saint discouraged disappointment and his works showed the path of ‘hope’ after ‘pain’.

He said Bhitai had envisioned a society devoid of corruption, injustice and tyranny. No poet other than Bhitai could have such a dream, he observed. Ujjan said Bhitai could not see Sassui dying with Punho.

The writer pointed out that Bhitai also played a role of critic, besides celebrating characters of his poetry.

Latif Awards

Recipients of ‘Latif Award’ included Shahnawaz Nizamani (Shah’s raagi) Dr Rehman Gul Palari and Gul Hassan Kalmati (researchers), Aajiz Rah­matullah Lashari (sughar), Mohammad Ahmed Shaikh (music), Nawaz Imdad Ali (flute player) and Deeba Sahar (raagi).

Posthumous lifetime achievement award was given to Mittho Kacchi which was received by his grandson.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2022