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Sindhi literature |
Sindhi
language is not only very old but it is also very rich in
literature. It is a living and thriving language. Its
writers have contributed extensively in every field and in
every form of literature. It has, therefore, never lagged
behind any developed language of the subcontinent in the
field of literature.
The earliest reference to Sindhi literature is contained in the writings
of Arab historians. It is established that Sindhi was the first and the
earliest language of the East in which the Holy Quran was translated in
the eighth or ninth century A.D. There is evidence of Sindhi poets
reciting their verses before the Arab Caliphs at
Baghdad.
It is also recorded that treatises were written in Sindhi on astronomy,
medicine and history during the eighth and ninth centuries. Shortly
afterwards, Pir Nooruddin, an Ismaili Missionary, wrote Sufis tic poetry
in Sindhi language. His verses, known as "ginans", can be taken as the
specimen of early Sindhi poetry. He came to Sindh during the year 1079
A.D. His poetry is an interesting record of the language which was spoken
commonly at that time. He was a sufi and a preacher of Islam. His verses
are, therefore, full of mysticism and religion.
After him, Pir Shams Sabzwari Multani, Pir Shahabuddin and Pir Sadruddin
are recognized as poets of Sindhi language. We even find some verses
composed by Baba Farid Ganj Shakar, in Sindhi language. Pir Sadruddin
(1290-1409 A.D. ), was a great poet, saint and sufi of his time. He
composed his verses (ginans) in Lari and Katchi dialects of Sindhi. He
also composed the "ginans" in Punjabi, Seraiki, Hindi and Gujrati
languages. He modified the old script of Sindhi language, which was
commonly used by the luhana catse of Hindus of Sindh who embraced Islam
under his teaching and were called by him 'Khuwajas' or 'Khojas'.
During the same period (1010-1351 A.D.) who took over after Soomras, and
afterwards in the days of Arghuns, Tarkhans, Mughal governors (1521-1700
A.D.), Sindh produced may scholars and poets of Sindhi, Arabic and Persian
languages. Qazi Qadan, Shah Karim of Bhulri, Shah lutufullah Qadri, Shah
Inyat Sufi Nasarpoori, Mir Masoom Shah, Makhdoom Nooh of Hala, lakho
lutufullah, Mahamati Pirannath and many other are the renowned literary
personalities of this period.
Bhagu Bhan, Sumang Charan, Shah Abdul Karim, Shah Inayat and many other
poets of this period have enriched the language with mystic, romantic and
epic poetry.
Many centers of learning (Madressahs) flourised during tenth to fifteenth
centuries where celebrated scholars of Sindh used to teach religion,
philosophy and rhetoric. The great scholars among them who earned high
reputation even in the Muslim centres of
Mecca
and Madina were Makhdoom Abdul Hasan, Makhdoom Ziauddin, Makhdoom Muhammad
Hashim Thattavi and Makhdoom Muhammad Muin Thattvi. Their works are mostly
in Arabic, Persian and Sindhi languages.
Shah Abdul Latif of Bhit (1690-1573 A.D.) is the greatest thinker and poet
of all times, produced by Sindh. According to Dr. Sorely, who compared the
poetry of the great poets of all major language of the world, including
Greek, Latin and Arabic, in his book 'Musa Pravaganus', gives first place
to Shah Latif on his language and thought.
Shah Latif gave a new life, though and content to the language and
literature of Sindh. He traveled far and wide in the remotest corners
Sindh and saw for himself the simple and rustic people of his soil in love
with life and its mysteries. He understood the ethos of the people and
their deep attachment to the land, the culture, the music, the fine arts
and crafts. He described Sindh and its people in the finest language,
human mind can conceive of. Thought simple folk tales, Lateef has
expressed profound ideas about universal brother-hood of mankind,
patriotism, war against all kind of injustice and tyrannies, and above all
the romance of human existence. He is in fact a pace maker and a catalyst
for every generation and genre of Sindhi literature. He was a great
musician also & he evolved fifteen new melodies (Surs). The great beauty
of his poetry is that his every single line or verse is sung till this day
with a specific note or melody. His shadow is ever-lasting and all
pervading he is sung not by the literature alone but even by the common
people in the villages and towns of Sindh.
Sachal Sarmast, Sami and Khalifo Nabi Bux Laghari are celebrate poets of
the Talpur period in Sindh (1783-1843 A.D.). Sachal Sarmast comes a galaxy
of great names in literature. Khalifo Nabi Bux is by far the greatest epic
poet of Sindh. His description of patriotic pathos and the art of war
defies words. Rohal, Sami, Bedil, Bekas, Misri Shah, Hammal Faqir, Dalpat
Sufi, Sabit Ali Shah,Khair Shah, Fateh Faqir and Manthar Faqir Rajar are
some of the more note-worthy poets of pre & early British era.
Like all language of the sub-continent, modern literature begin with the
conquest of Sindh by the British in 1843 A.D. With them came the modern
world to these shores. Printing press was introduced. Magazine and
newspapers were brought about a revolution in Sindhi literature. Books
were translated from various European languages and specially from
English. People were hungry for knowledge and new forms of writing. The
pace of literature can be judged from one single instance of Mirza Qaleech
Beg who in the last two decades of the last century and the first two
decades of the twentieth century, wrote more than 400 books---poetry,
novels, short stories & essays etc. He also wrote on science, history,
economics and politics. Thousands of books indeed were turned out at that
time on all forms and facets of literature. Hakim Fateh Mohammad Sewhani,
Kauromal Khilnani, Dayaram Gidumal, Parmanand Mewaram, Lalchand
Amardinomal, Bheruamal Advani, Dr.Gurbuxani, Jhetmal Parsram, Sayaid Miran
Mohammad Shah, Shamsuddin 'Bulbul' and Maulana Din Muhammad Wafai are some
of the pioneers of modern literature in Sindhi language.
After the first world war, the social and economic scene of the world
underwent a tremendous change. The aftermath of the war and the socialist
revolution of Russia affected the literature of every country. Sindhi
literature too was influenced by these trends. Creating new awakening in
the minds of the people working in the field of literature. They began to
translate the new social consciousness into artistic forms of literature.
They were now more objective and less Romanists. Progressive thoughts
opened the door for new trends in Sindhi literature.
Soon the struggle for freedom from the British also gathered momentum.
This gave further momentum to literature. Consciousness about history and
cultural heritage of Sindh served as a catalyst for research and
intellectual upsurge. Great scholars like Allama I.I. Kazi, Dr. Daudpota,
Pir Ali Muhammad Shah Rashidi, Pir Husamuddin Shah Rashidi, Maulana Din
Mohammad Wafai, Chetan Mariwala, Jairamdas Daulatram, Bherumal, Mehar
Chand Advani, Muhammad Ibrahim Joyo, Tirath Wasant and many others were
producing learned treatises on various aspects of history, culture and
other social subjects.
Mir Hasan Ali and Mir Abdul Hussain sangi, Khalifo Gul, Fazil Shah, Kasim,
Hafiz Hamid, Mohammad Hashim, Mukhlis, Abojho, Surat Singh, Khaki, Qaleech
Beg, Zia & Aziz were the pioneers of poetry in persian meter.
But the modern form and content of Sindhi poetry were given a new impetus
by 'Bewas', Hyder Bux Jatoi and Dukhayal. There have been innumerable
poets who have composed verses in the same vein.
Novel and short story became the main forms for prose. Hundreds of novel
and short stories were translated from the European and modern Indian
languages. The second world war saw the emergence of novelists like Narain
Das Bhambhani, Gobind 'Malhi', M: usman Deplai Khaliq Morai and many
others.
Through out the thirties and the forties, the young writers experimented
with new forms of prose as well as poetry. Free verses, Sonnets & ballets
have been written side with the classical forms of poetry like Kafi, Vaee,
Bait, Geet and Dohira etc |
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