KARACHI – Sindh Culture Minister Sassui Palijo on Tuesday lauded the services Sheikh Ayaz, terming him a great revolutionary and the founder of modern poetry.
She said this on the launch of the poet’s birthday celebrations being organised by the Sindh Culture Department. Paying rich tributes to Ayaz, Palijo said the poet was the most widely read and referenced after great Sufi saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.
“Ayaz was the founder of modern poetry. His writings and poetry created a new spirit and enthusiasm in the hearts of people during the Movement for Restoration of Democracy and anti-one-unit movement.
\He truly represented the people and never bowed down while spending his life bravely and courageously,” said Palijo. During the celebrations, the department, while highlighting other aspects of his life, poetry, etc, would organise a literary conference and launch three new books of Ayaz’s poetry, prose and a translation of his book titled ‘Bandits of Rani Kot’. The department has published 18 books of Ayaz including poetry and prose in its continuous efforts to work further on other remaining poetry works of Ayaz.
In this regard, the Culture Department will also lay a floral wreath on Tuesday (today) at the poet’s tomb. Born on March 23, 1923, Mubarak Ali Sheikh – popularly known as Sheikh Ayaz – is considered the greatest Sindhi poet of the 20th century. He revolutionised Sindhi poetry and its various aspects with his aesthetic marvels, unmatched intellect and grandeur. Ayaz is credited for taking the Sindhi language beyond seven seas and set new trends in literature with his matchless and magical scripts. He penned around 50 publications on various topics most containing poetry, which emanates the fragrance of Bhittai, the greatest ever Sindhi poet.
