Literati laud Sindhi poet Shaikh Ayaz

Celebrate 22nd death anniversary of revolutionary poet of the 20th century

HYDERABAD: Writers, poets and intellectuals commemorated the 22nd death anniversary of celebrated Sindhi poet, Shaikh Ayaz, at his mausoleum in Bhitshah, Matiari district, on Saturday. Officials of the Sindh culture department and the Sindhi Language Authority also attended the event.

The participants laid ajrak on the grave of the 20th century poet, which is located near Qarar lake, to start the commemoration. "Ayaz's poetry has kept him alive in our hearts," said Naseer Mirza, former broadcaster, and a connoisseur of regional music, art and literature.

Taj Joyo, a literary figure, credited Ayaz for igniting passion for motherland Sindh among the youth through his poetry. "He served Sindh with his revolutionary poetry," he said.

Ayaz, who was born in Shikarpur on March 2, 1923, first earned fame as a poet before Pakistan's independence when he wrote a revolutionary poem 'Gaey inqalab gaey' [sing revolution sing]. He rose to prominence through his poetic compilation 'Bhanwar bharee aakash' [swirls in the sky] in 1963, and subsequent translation of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai's mystic poetry, from Sindhi to Urdu language.

His poetry revolves around the subjects of love, beauty, sufism, nationalism, stoicism, sacrifice and truth. He is regarded as an epic revolutionary and romantic poet. Ayaz wrote 76 books on poetry, mostly in the Sindhi language, in addition to his majestic prose works like 'Kithe Ta Bhanabo Thak Musafir' [Recuperating weariness at some point].

His revolutionary poetry also landed him in jail. The ceremony's participants expressed dismay that Ayaz's day is still not being celebrated at the official level.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2019.