Dr Nabi Bux Baloch remembered on his 100th birthday

Nine books of the late scholar launched at a commemorative event in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Rich tribute was paid to the late Dr Nabi Bux Baloch for his academic and literary contributions on the occasion of his 100th birthday. A commemorative event for Dr Baloch, jointly organised by the Nabi Bux Baloch Research Foundation and Sindh culture department, was held in Hyderabad on Saturday, which featured the launch of nine of his books.

"The position and recognition that he achieved in life [was based solely] on his merit and hard academic work," observed former chief secretary Sardar Ahmed Khan.

Born on December 16, 1917, in Sanghar district, Dr Baloch died at the age of 93 in Hyderabad in April, 2011. He is credited for authoring around 150 books in English, Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Sindhi and Seraiki. The subjects of his works include history, education, music, folklore, lexicography, ethnology, archaeology and anthropology.

Up to 100 of his books were published during his life time while the remaining in the years which followed his death. His research works on Ranikot and Chachnama, books, Advent of Islam in Indonesia and History of Taxila, and a six-volume work on the architectural monuments in Thatta, Makli, Uch, Multan, Lahore and the northern areas are among his works published prior to his death.



Khan described Baloch's research on Ranikot and Chachnama as seminal and asked the historians and government to take guidance from his books. Sindhi Language Authority Chairperson Dr Abdul Ghafoor Memon said Baloch was among the few topnotch 20th century scholars who illuminated Sindh with their knowledge, research and writings.

Pakistan Academy of Letters Chairperson Dr Qasim Bughio recalled that in the 1970s when he was pursuing university education, students were lured to launch a campaign against Dr Baloch. "Some teachers of Sindhi subject tricked us into accusing Dr Baloch of being an enemy of Sindhi language," he said, apologising for taking part in the campaign.

According to Dr Bughio, Dr Baloch raised the standard of doctorate in Sindhi language to the one being practised in the West. He believed that this was the reason that some teachers in University of Sindh's (SU) Sindhi department turned against him. "This is why the students were provoked to begin protests against him [Dr Baloch]."

"The world knows Sindh either because of Mohen Jo Daro or Dr Baloch," Dr Bughio maintained.



Nabi Bux Baloch Research Foundation Secretary Inayat Baloch complained that the chair named after Dr Baloch in SU was without a head for the last five years.

Former culture department secretary Gul Mohammed Umrani, Dr Tehmina Mufti, Muhammad Rashid Shaikh, Prof Lal Jiskani and Prof Yousuf Shaikh, among others also praised Dr Baloch at the event.