Shah Latif children fest promotes heritage links

Schoolchildren sing Sufi poetry, folk songs, present traditional dances

HYDERABAD:

The two-day Shah Latif Festival for Children held at Sindh Museum Auditorium in Hyderabad concluded on Monday amid moving recitations of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai's poetry, speeches on the Sufi Saint's legacy, calligraphy and quiz by school children.

The Sindh Culture and Tourism Minister Syed Junaid Shah, on the inaugural day, asked the teachers to expose schoolchildren to heritage sites and literary figures and Sufi Saints like Shah Abdul Lateef Bhitai to help them better understand their culture and history and to develop affinity as well.

He was speaking at the inaugural event of two-day Shah Latif Festival for Children at Sindh Museum's auditorium in Hyderabad. Shah said the education department should include chapters about historical and literary figures of Sindh in the curriculum. He praised the land and culture of Sindh for giving birth to many wonderful poets like Bhitai, Sachal Sarmast and Shaikh Ayaz who cultivated and propagated a universal approach in poetry.

The provincial information and Auqaf Minister Syed Muhammad Ahmad Shah observed that Bhitai presented women as strong characters in his poetry, fighting the tyrannies of their times and male dominated society.

Addressing the concluding ceremony of the two-day children festival for Shah Latif, the the Vice Chancellor Sindh Agriculture University Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri said that Sindhi Language Authority has taken commendable step for introducing Latif's poetry to children.

He said that Bhitai was poet of the entire Sindh and presented feelings of every person in his poetry and also expressed the same sentiments for children.

Dr Marri said that a heritage museum was being setup in Agriculture University Tandojam enabling the young generation to understand the history, civilization and culture of Sindh.

Leader of Qomi Awami Tehreek Ayaz Latif Palijo on the occasion said that Shah Latif through his verses presented the courage of the weak segment of the society.

"We should read Shah Latif's poetry to disseminate his message to the world and preserve the classical Sindhi language," Palijo said. He lauded the efforts of Sindhi Language Authority (SLA) to hold the Children Festival for Shah Latif.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2023.