The glory days: Scholars recall a religiously tolerant, culturally rich Karachi
Sindh Literature and Culture Festival features panel discussions, musical performances
Singers performing at the Sindh Culture and Literature festival. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD SAQIB/ EXPRESS
KARACHI:
The Sindh Literature and Cultural Festival started at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi on Saturday. The festival has been organised by president of the Sindhu Sabheta Sath (Friends of Sindhu Civilisation), Khadim Hussain Soomro.
On the opening day of the two-day festival, a talk on the province's arts and culture followed by a Sufi musical performance by renowned duo Zulfiqar Ali and Mazhar Hussain was held.
Soomro, in his welcome address, said Karachi has remained the historical city of Sindh. People such as Harchand Rai, Jamshed Mehta, Mir Abdul Jabbar, and GM Syed did a lot for the city's development. He said according to British rulers of India, Karachi was the Queen of the East. Soomro termed the president of Karachi municipality from 1911 to 1921, Harchand Rai, as the father of modern Karachi.
Towards tolerance: ‘There is a dire need to redefine secularism in Pakistan’
During the panel discussion, he said the city's founders were visionaries whose gift of Karachi has to be taken care of by the people now.
Talking about interfaith harmony back in the day, Soomro recalled that during a ceremony at the Radio Pakistan building on April 9, 1933, a prayer was held by all communal religions of Karachi. He further said that Jamshed Mehta had once wished to build a centre in Clifton in which all worship places of different religions would be situated with a single central gate.
Referring to Mehta's wish, writer Gul Hassan Kalmati informed the guests that the site is now a park named after the 8th century Muslim invader Muhammad Bin Qasim. He explained that the Mewa Shah Graveyard is a true example of religious tolerance where graves of Jews, Christians, Baha'i and Hindus are present alongside those of Muslims.
Religious festivity: 'Follow Data Sahib’s teachings on tolerance'
But unfortunately, we are facing religious extremism nowadays, he said, adding that a few years ago a Hindu man's grave was dug up by religious extremists for being buried in a Muslim graveyard.
Former chairperson of the Sindhi Language Authority, professor Nawaz Ali Shouq, said it's high time extremism ends and for that, we must tread on the path of revolutionary mystic poet Mansural Hallaj. Shouq also read a piece he had written on the life of Hallaj and the miseries the poet had to bear, including his tragic execution at the hands of religiously intolerant people. He said Sindhi poet Sachal Sarmast and Qadir Bux Bedil have also expressed their feelings about Hallaj in their poetry.
During his talk, writer Mazhar Jamil said, "Karachi is incomplete without Sindh and Sindh is incomplete without Karachi."
He told The Express Tribune following the talk that such gatherings prove that the love for literature, culture and local history is still alive.
A young singer, Nasir Soomro, performed on the Sindhi work of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Shaikh Ayaz and Dr Akaash Ansari in between the talk and amused guests.
Panelists for the festival's second day (Sunday) are professor Sahar Ansari, professor KS Nagpal, Hamid Akhound, Omer Soomro and Geeta Shahani. The talk will be followed by a Sufi raag by Zulfiqar Ali and Mazhar Hussain.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2016.
The Sindh Literature and Cultural Festival started at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi on Saturday. The festival has been organised by president of the Sindhu Sabheta Sath (Friends of Sindhu Civilisation), Khadim Hussain Soomro.
On the opening day of the two-day festival, a talk on the province's arts and culture followed by a Sufi musical performance by renowned duo Zulfiqar Ali and Mazhar Hussain was held.
Soomro, in his welcome address, said Karachi has remained the historical city of Sindh. People such as Harchand Rai, Jamshed Mehta, Mir Abdul Jabbar, and GM Syed did a lot for the city's development. He said according to British rulers of India, Karachi was the Queen of the East. Soomro termed the president of Karachi municipality from 1911 to 1921, Harchand Rai, as the father of modern Karachi.
Towards tolerance: ‘There is a dire need to redefine secularism in Pakistan’
During the panel discussion, he said the city's founders were visionaries whose gift of Karachi has to be taken care of by the people now.
Talking about interfaith harmony back in the day, Soomro recalled that during a ceremony at the Radio Pakistan building on April 9, 1933, a prayer was held by all communal religions of Karachi. He further said that Jamshed Mehta had once wished to build a centre in Clifton in which all worship places of different religions would be situated with a single central gate.
Referring to Mehta's wish, writer Gul Hassan Kalmati informed the guests that the site is now a park named after the 8th century Muslim invader Muhammad Bin Qasim. He explained that the Mewa Shah Graveyard is a true example of religious tolerance where graves of Jews, Christians, Baha'i and Hindus are present alongside those of Muslims.
Religious festivity: 'Follow Data Sahib’s teachings on tolerance'
But unfortunately, we are facing religious extremism nowadays, he said, adding that a few years ago a Hindu man's grave was dug up by religious extremists for being buried in a Muslim graveyard.
Former chairperson of the Sindhi Language Authority, professor Nawaz Ali Shouq, said it's high time extremism ends and for that, we must tread on the path of revolutionary mystic poet Mansural Hallaj. Shouq also read a piece he had written on the life of Hallaj and the miseries the poet had to bear, including his tragic execution at the hands of religiously intolerant people. He said Sindhi poet Sachal Sarmast and Qadir Bux Bedil have also expressed their feelings about Hallaj in their poetry.
During his talk, writer Mazhar Jamil said, "Karachi is incomplete without Sindh and Sindh is incomplete without Karachi."
He told The Express Tribune following the talk that such gatherings prove that the love for literature, culture and local history is still alive.
A young singer, Nasir Soomro, performed on the Sindhi work of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Shaikh Ayaz and Dr Akaash Ansari in between the talk and amused guests.
Panelists for the festival's second day (Sunday) are professor Sahar Ansari, professor KS Nagpal, Hamid Akhound, Omer Soomro and Geeta Shahani. The talk will be followed by a Sufi raag by Zulfiqar Ali and Mazhar Hussain.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2016.