International conference: Bhittai’s ability to transcend time and nation moves audience

Characteristics of Shah jo Risalo discussed by writers and poets

KARACHI: Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai is not a poet of just Sindh or for Sindhis - his wisdom, vision, approach, language, patriotism and his concept of humanity prove he transcended boundaries at a time when his contemporaries merely talked about local issues. This was one of the views put forward by speakers in the one-day international conference on the poet best known for his book Shah jo Risalo.

On Sunday, the Manzar Akbar Hall of the Karachi Arts Council was packed with famous Sindhi poets, writers and intellectuals who attended the three-session conference divided into Urdu, Sindhi and English. The speakers aimed to highlight just three aspects of Shah’s poetry: his philosophy of melancholy, his message and its impact on the present situation and humanism. As the papers were presented the experts returned to the words of a man written over 200 years ago.

Professor Saleem Memon, the director of the Shah Latif Chair at Karachi University, said that Latif’s poetry conveyed a message of peace and humanity, but that readers should be aware that his poetry was imbued with two meanings, an inner and an exterior.

In the first session which was in Urdu, famous poets and writers dwelled on the philosophy of the great Sufi poet. They said that each couplet carried different meanings for different people but in general always guided man on what the Almighty has laid down his role as.

But it was the speech of KU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui that made the audience sit up in their seats. He stressed that understanding Shah was more important than just reciting his poetry with rhythm. “Without getting involved one can’t understand what the real message is. His approach was great as were his words. I have learnt a lot from his poetry,” he maintained.

For Heero Thakar, a Sindhi writer and poet from India, it was wonderful for hundreds of common people to come and hear and share Shah’s poetry the whole night at Bhitshah. Thakar’s family migrated to India in 1948 but he is well known in Pakistan.

Poet Rakhyal Morai said that they were grateful at least such conferences were being conducted.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd,  2012.