Tribute: Two German scholars remembered

Speakers say Dr Schimmel, Mother Elsa idiolised everything Sindh had.

Islamabad-based writers and intellectuals paid glowing tributes to two German women and for their scholarly work and propagation of peace and human harmony — Prof Dr Annemarie Schimmel and ‘Mother’ Elsa Kazi.  

According to a press release, at a gathering titled “A tribute to two great German souls”, organised by the Pakistan Intellectual Forum (PIF), Islamabad on Saturday, noted jurist and author Khadim Hussain Abro read out his research paper on Kazi saying she was born in a small village in Germany.

It was in London that she met her future husband, scholar-philosopher Imdad Imam Kazi, and developed a lifelong association. The couple married in Germany in 1910.

He said, “She had no children, but all the students of the University of Sindh, Jamshoro and Sindhis call her Mother Elsa, even today.”

In order to pay perpetual tribute to her, an old campus of the University of Sindh in Hyderabad was named after her.

The Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro followed suit and established a girls hostel named after her. She is now buried side II Kazi on the Sindh University campus.”

Research scholar and author Khadim Hussian Soomro spoke about the life and literary contribution of Prof Dr Schimmel, whom Sindhis call “Amarr Schimmel” (sweet ‘Mother’ Schimmel).

He said that she made an unparalleled contribution to culture, mysticism and other areas of social sciences and humanity in Pakistan, particularly in the Sindhi language.

Soomro said that she was a practicing sufi and great disciple of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. Her mastery over Sindhi language and literature and her appreciation and interpretation of Shah Jo Risalo made her “sweet mother” of every soul in Sindh.

“Like Mother Kazi, they also idolised each and everything Sindhi and in return the people of Sindh regard them as their mothers.”

Hashim Abro of PIF, recited a famous poem “Neem tree” by Mother Kazi which is reflective of her intense love for trees, herbs, shrubs and environment of Sindh. He also read out a few insightful and thought-provoking paragraphs from Prof Dr Schimmel’s literary and mystic works.

A resolution was also passed at the gathering demanding that the Sindh government establish an educational or literary institute or library in memory of Dr Schimmel.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2014.