"Poet of Sindh Shaikh Ayaz"

Sheikh Ayaaz was born in Shikarpur, Sindh. He introduced several modern trends in Sindhi and Urdu literature. He wrote more than 50 books on poetry, besides penning biographies, articles and short stories in both Sindhi and Urdu. He also translated ‘Shah Jo Risalo’, a famous Sindhi text, into Urdu. Owing to its high aesthetic value, his poetry has been translated into several major languages of the world including English, Urdu, Sindh, French, Chinese, Russian and others. He was rewarded with Sitara-e-Imtiaz for his literary services.

The poetry of Sheikh Ayaz played a major role in the development of progressive thinking in his country, particularly in Sindh, where there was already a very strong imprint of Shah Abdul Latif’s mystic poetry. Besides, he was also a jail mate of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the former prime minister of Pakistan, during the regime of General Ayub Khan.

‘Buu-e-gul, Naala-e-dil’ and ‘Neel Kanth Aur Neem ke Patte’ are the two compilations of his Urdu poetry.

No creative writer can be universal without being recognized locally, noted the literati gathered on Monday to pay homage to the stalwart Sindhi and Urdu poet Shaikh Ayaz.

“Shaikh Ayaz was among the most prominent and well recognised Sindhi poets of modern era,” said poet, author and intellectual Iftikhar Arif. Arif was expressing his views in his presidential address during the online Sheikh Ayaz National Literary Seminar organised by Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of modern Urdu and Sindhi poet Sheikh Ayaz marked on January 4.

Taaj Joyo, a leading Sindhi writer, was of the view that Sheikh Ayaz was the poet who gave innovation and modernity to the primitive genres of Sindhi poetry including bait, wa'i, and kafi.

The welcoming address was delivered by Dr Yousuf Khushk meritorious Prof. Chairman PAL. “Shaikh Ayaz through his creative artistic thinking and vision as well as literary achievements made Sindhi literature more enriched, prolific and worth mentioning throughout the world.” Ayaz also paved the way for the writers of Sindhi literature. His writings mostly addressed issues of ill-treated classes and oppressed strata of society.

He further said that literary history of South Asia is incomplete without mentioning Sheikh Ayaz. Ahmad Saleem, Dr Ghafoor Memon, Dr Anwar Hakkaro, Dr Ishaq Samejoo, Dr Abdullah Jan Abid, Dr Fayyaz Latif, Dr Makhmour Bukhari, Mehboob Zafar, Dr Zia-urRehman Baloch and Sindhoo Perzado also expressed their views. The Seminar was conducted by Dr Hakim Ali Bararo. The most well known writers and poets participated as guests of honor in the seminar.

A conference was held here on Sunday under the auspices of Sindhi Adabi Singat to remember and pay tributes to Shaikh Ayaz, the prominent poet of Sindh.

The event, which was held at Ideal English Grammar School, was presided over by Rafique Siyal, a famous local poet, while Jawad Jafferi was the chief guest on the occasion.

Besides that Hadi Bux, Sajjad Mahar, Aziz Qasmani, Asad Manghnhar and Adarish Shaikh were honourable guests at the programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Rafique Shaikh, Advocate Hadi Bux, Aziz Qasmani, Anwar Shaikh and others paid rich tributes to Shaikh Ayaz, and said that Ayaz was a romantic poet and also had an expertise in revolution poetry.

Ghulam Chandio, Sami Sajjid, Nazeer Sarohi, Hakim Gul Mahar, Sahil Bhayo, Ali Agha Durrani, Yar Markhand, Mukhtiar Soomro, Muhammad Kashif, Atif Jani, Siraj Dil Lohar, Sarang Shaikh, Gohar Shaikh and others read out verses from Ayaz’s poetry which was applauded by the audience.

Abdul Wahab Kagzi, Shikarpur Bachayo Tehreek chairman, Zahid Bhanbhro, Zafar Alvi, Zahid Pahore Advocate, Ali Asghar Advocate, Irshad Chandio, the deputy director information department Shikarpur, Abdul Salam Unar, Zahid Noon, Waheed Phulpoto, Adil Mahar, Irfan Noon, and others came from across Sindh, and paid rich homage to Shaikh Ayaz.

A large number of people, belonging to different walks of life, also attended the event and expressed their pleasure that Ayaz was born in Shikarpur, who had made a name for himself across Pakistan.

It is worth-mentioning here that the poetry of Ayaz has also been translated in many languages, including English, Persian, Urdu, and many more.