Six-day Ayaz Melo commences with academic discussions, musical sessions

Shaikh Ayaz's followers, contemporaries attended in droves

HYDERABAD: Featuring musical programmes, poetic symposiums, a book festival, a photo and art exhibition, academic discourses and reminiscences by family and contemporaries, the six-day Ayaz Melo commenced at Cafe Khanabadosh in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

The largest commemorative gathering for the legendary literary figure of Sindh, Shaikh Ayaz (1923-1997), brought together his fans, family and contemporaries. Some honoured the poet while others shed light on his intellect as reflected through his work.

"It's not easy to talk about Ayaz," said veteran politician and lawyer Rasool Bux Palijo at the inaugural session. "By writing poems highlighting various cruelties, he gave many people the courage to dedicate themselves to political struggles,” he added.



Palijo recalled that Ayaz stood with the people struggling for abolition of General (retd) Ayub Khan's one unit system. He found Ayaz's insight of the global, regional as well as national politics to be profound.

He defended the poet's acceptance of the job of vice-chancellor, which was offered by the then prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. "In modern Sindhi poetry no bigger figure than Ayaz has emerged so far," he said, also reciting some of his poetry.

MPA Mehtab Akbar Rashdi metaphorically compared stretch and depth of the poet's knowledge and his writing to a placid river. She emphasised the necessity of translating the works of Ayaz, Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai and other leading poets in other global languages.



Rashdi asked the government to establish Muhammad Ibrahim Joyo Translation and Compilation Bureau without further delay as the Sindh Assembly has already passed a resolution in this regard.

Playwright Noorul Huda Shah believed that introducing the young generation to Ayaz's poetry will help them distance themselves from extremist thought and from exercising a dogmatic approach to countless societal issues.

Amar Sindhu, the event's convener, credited Ayaz for instilling a new consciousness in the people of Sindh. "Reading Ayaz creates real images in one's mind," said Professor Naimatullah Khilji, who teaches art and design. He suggested academic research on the vividness of his poetry.