HYDERABAD, Dec 29: Leading research Sindhi scholar, Dr Abdul Jabbar Junejo has said credit of research in India on Sindhi language goes to Dr Murlidhar and Kaka Bherumal Meharchand Advani.

He was delivering a lecture on “Evolution of Sindhi Language and New Trends” organized by the Sindhi Language Authority here the other day.

He said Urdu language was based on phonetics and asked Urdu speaking people to speak correct Sindhi language.

Dr Junejo said Sindhi scholars did not know Sanskrit but insisted that Sindhi was the product of Sanskrit by quoting references. He said those believing Sindhi not to be a product of Sanskrit should first learn that language.

He said discussions were going-on on the script of Sindhi language and cited the example of Haleem Brohi who believed Sindhi can be written in Roman script with ease.

He referred to the opinion of other experts about terming Dev Nagri script unscientific which he added was based on wrong assumptions.

Dr Junejo said majority of Sindhi youth, especially newscasters do not speak correct Sindhi. He also answered questions which were raised by the audience.

Dr Nawaz Ali Shouq in his presidential address said Sindhi language was facing a worse situation today than it encountered while enslaved.

He said a single individual could not protect the Sindhi language alone and stressed the need for collective efforts in this regard. He said efforts should begin from home then in locality, later in cities and at last in province.

He said there were many apprehensions about the future of Sindhi language but added Sindhi was very much alive and will remain alive for all times to come. He, however, urged the scholars to make concerted efforts for the development and promotion of Sindhi language.

The chairman Sindhi Language Authority, Abdul Qadir Junejo told audience that the authority had arranged a series of lectures on the development, promotion and use of Sindhi language.

He expressed the hope that the lecture series will go a long way in the development and promotion of Sindhi language.

The secretary of the authority, Kamran Bhatti also spoke on the occasion.

CONDOLENCE: Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, Executive Director Kashmiri American Council/Kashmir Centre Washington D.C. has condemned the assassination of PPP Chairperson and former prime minister of Pakistan.

In a statement mailed to Dawn on Saturday, Dr Fai expressed his sympathies and condolences with the Bhutto family and people of Pakistan.

He recalled his detailed meeting with her in Dubai where they discussed Kashmir issues and ways to resolve them. One could discern, Dr Fai said, within her a selfless desire to help settle the long-standing issue of Kashmir. The people of Kashmir will never forget selfless contribution and tireless efforts of Ms Bhutto in internationalising the Kashmir issue, he said, and added her efforts will remain forever a milestone in the history of the freedom struggle of Kashmir. Certainly, Pakistan has lost a great statesman, he said.

“We can best honour her legacy by continuing on the path of freedom and democracy without fear and fatigue” he said.