Sindhi poet, Shaikh Ayaz, remembered

He was the first poet to translate Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s work into Urdu.

HYDERABAD/SUKKUR:

The 14th death anniversary of Sindhi poet, Shaikh Ayaz, was observed on Wednesday.

A commemorative ceremony was organised at the poet’s mausoleum, which is situated right next to the shrine of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai in Bhitt Shah, by the Qarar Lake.

“Ayaz wanted to be buried near Bhitai whom he considered to be his spiritual mentor,” said 97-year-old Muhammad Ibrahim Joyo, Ayaz’s friend of 40 years.

Joyo was among many writers, poets, intellectuals, fans and journalists who came to pay homage to the poet on his death anniversary. Seth Gagandas, a devoted admirer, and the founder of Shaikh Ayaz Yadgar Committee, arranges the ceremony each year. Musical performances with Ayaz’s poetry and speeches were made on the occasion.

Ayaz was born in Shikarpur on March 2, 1923. He first earned recognition for his poem, “Gaey iqilab gaey”, written before the independence of Pakistan.

Ayaz’s biggest claim to fame was his first poetry compilation “Bhanwar bharee aakash” (Sky full of swirls) in 1963 which was the translation of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai’s poetry from Sindhi to Urdu.

“Ayaz began to write poetry under the influence of Khaildas Fani, his mentor, and Arjun Saad and Narayan Shayam who were his friends,” recalled Dr Habibullah Siddiqi, a Sindhi writer.

Poet, music connoisseur and the regional director of Radio Pakistan Hyderabad, Naseer Mirza, said, “Love, beauty, sufism, nationalism, stoicism, sacrifice and truth constitute his work.”

Ayaz wrote around 50 books in addition to his works of prose, one of which was, “Kithe Ta Bhanabo Thak Musafi” (Recuperating weariness at some point).

Ayaz also went to jail during the term of President Ayub Khan. Former prime minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was his fellow inmate.

Seminar held for Ayaz

Meanwhile, a day-long seminar highlighting the life and work of the eminent scholar and poet was held in Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur on Wednesday. It was jointly organised by the cultural department and Shaikh Ayaz Chair Shah Abdul Latif University.

Sassui Palejo, the culture minister, said that Ayaz’s work was revolutionary. She said that her department had published around 67 books on the poet’s life in the last three years.

Palijo said that Ayaz’s poetry inspired the people of Sindh and his contribution was revolutionary against the establishment of one-unit.

The minister said that all the papers presented in the seminar will be published by the university and the entire cost will be borne by the culture department.

The vice chancellor of the university, Prof. Dr Nilofer Shaikh, said that the message of Shaikh Ayaz was universal in nature. The poet was a symbol of struggle and his work should be translated in different languages.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2011.