Sibghatullah Shah: Freedom fighter remembered
Our textbooks are silent on real heroes: Dr Khadim Soomro.
Pir Pagaro, considered hero of the land by his followers, was sent to the gallows on this day in 1943 by the British rulers. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Writers, intellectuals and academia at a discussion on Wednesday paid tribute to freedom fighter, Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagaro, on his death anniversary.
The event was arranged by the Sindh Sufi Institute at the Trust for Volunteer Organization (TVO).
Pir Pagaro, considered hero of the land by his followers, was sent to the gallows on this day in 1943 by the British rulers.
Writer Dr Khadim Soomro said that those who looted and plundered the subcontinent have been termed heroes in our textbooks but real heroes like Shah have been ignored.
He said that Pir Sahib fought for the independence and scarified his life and even his residence was bombarded.
“He raised the slogan of “homeland or martyrdom” and he was a great proponent of interfaith harmony.”
QAU Assistant Prof Dr Shabana Fayyaz said that Pir Sahib denied titles and crown from colonisers.
She said that it was still debatable whether his struggle was only for the independence of Sindh or a larger swath of the subcontinent, where Muslim were in majority, but he was against colonialism.
She said that the British always tried to divide their subjects on religious, sectarian and ethnic lines, but Pir Sahib always talked about multiculturalism and religious harmony.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2013.
Writers, intellectuals and academia at a discussion on Wednesday paid tribute to freedom fighter, Sibghatullah Shah Pir Pagaro, on his death anniversary.
The event was arranged by the Sindh Sufi Institute at the Trust for Volunteer Organization (TVO).
Pir Pagaro, considered hero of the land by his followers, was sent to the gallows on this day in 1943 by the British rulers.
Writer Dr Khadim Soomro said that those who looted and plundered the subcontinent have been termed heroes in our textbooks but real heroes like Shah have been ignored.
He said that Pir Sahib fought for the independence and scarified his life and even his residence was bombarded.
“He raised the slogan of “homeland or martyrdom” and he was a great proponent of interfaith harmony.”
QAU Assistant Prof Dr Shabana Fayyaz said that Pir Sahib denied titles and crown from colonisers.
She said that it was still debatable whether his struggle was only for the independence of Sindh or a larger swath of the subcontinent, where Muslim were in majority, but he was against colonialism.
She said that the British always tried to divide their subjects on religious, sectarian and ethnic lines, but Pir Sahib always talked about multiculturalism and religious harmony.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2013.