Atta Muhammad Bhanbhro

Atta Muhammad Bhanbhro (1 February 1936 – 3 June 2020[3]), also spelled as Atta Mohammad Bhambhro[4], was a Pakistani writer, translator, poet, historian, lawyer, and the founder of Hoshu, a banned rebellious magazine. He wrote more than one hundred books on Sindhi literature, history and civilisation besides contributing to indus script through his writings. Sometimes, he is referred to as archaeologist for his archaeological contribution excavated in Sindh.

Atta Muhammad Bhanbhro
Atta Muhammad Bhanbhro
Native name	عطا محمد ڀنڀرو‎
Born	(1936-02-01)February 1, 1936 Bachal Bhambhro, Khairpur, Pakistan
Died	June 3, 2020(2020-06-03) (aged 84) Hingorja, Khairpur, Pakistan[1]
Resting place	Bachal Bhambhro
Occupation	Writer Poet Translator Historian Archaeologist Lawyer
Language	Sindhi, English
Education	Bachelor of Laws
Alma mater	Sindh Muslim Law College
Period	1958 Pakistani coup d'état 1999 Pakistani coup d'état [2]
Subject	Politics Literature History Archaeology
Notable awards	Latif Award, Madar-i-Watan Award
Years active	19xx–2020
Children	5

Life and background

He was born in Bachal Bhambhro village of Khairpur district. He did his early schooling at his hometown. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Khairpur, and later moved to Karachi where he attended Sindh Muslim Law College and obtained Bachelor of Laws. After completing his education, he choose legal profession and started legal practice in Gambat city. He later started practice of law while serving as a junior lawyer with Shaikh Ayaz, a Sindhi poets of Pakistan.[5] He had two sons and three daughters.

Career

Between 1967 to 1968, Bhambhro started publishing a rebellious magazine called Hoshu which was later banned by the government of Pakistan in 1974 under the Defence law of Pakistan. After restrictions were imposed on the magazine, the pieces were later published in several other magazines, and the printing press responsible for publishing the magazine's remained work was also seized by the authorities and he went underground while the publisher and his uncle were arrested following the ban.

Literary work

In 1980, he translated Iranian children’s literature and Russian literature into English language. In 1989 after residing in Hyderabad, he translated a book titled Sindh Ja Qadeem Asaar which was written on Sindh’s heritage. He then continued working as a translator and translated around one hundred books into Sindi language, including Sindhu Likhat Ayein Boli, Sikandar Ji Kaah and Sindh Ji Tareekh Moarukhan Ji Zubani.

He wrote books on different subjects such as politics, culture, literature, history and archaeology. His publications included Hur Guerrilla Tehreek, America Ja Sindhi and Sindh Ji Fateh.[3] Bhanbhro's notable contribution included a book titled 'Deciphering Indus Script' in Sindhi language as well as in English.[6] It is believed he was the first Sindhi researcher who made an attempt to understand the Indus Script of ancient language. His book Sindhu Likhat Ji Bhaj (Deciphering Indus Script) has also been published.[7] As an archaeologist, he excavated archaeological sites in Sindh and also wrote a book on the British strategy in the Sindh province. In one of his books titled the Hur Guerilla War he covered Hurs involving guerrilla warfare, and later wrote the Conquest of Sindh and the Islamic seminaries of Thatta.

During the Movement for Restoration of Democracy, a left–wing political alliance formed to end the military government of a Pakistani military dictator and then president general Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, he was recognized as a poet for supporting the movement through his poetry.[5]

Work

Key

Remarks denote a short description of the work where available.

#	Title[3]	Year	Type/Credited as	Remarks
1	Hur Guerrilla Tehreek	N/A	Book	N/A
2	Sindh Ji Fateh	N/A	Book	N/A
3	America Ja Sindhi	N/A	Book	N/A
4	Bhit Jo Shah	N/A	Book	N/A
5	Indus Script	N/A	Book	The first book with 250 pages was published in Sindhi language while English version comprises 2,000 pages, covering Sindhi language's history.[7]
6	Sindhu Jo Safar	N/A	Book	N/A
7	Sindh Jo Mehran	N/A	Book	N/A
8	Sindhu Likhat Jo Bainul Aqwami Likhatun Saan Lagapo	N/A	Book	N/A
9	Sindh Main Qadeem Khandran Ji Khotai	N/A	Book	N/A
10	Sindh Main Angrezan Ji Hikmat-i-Amli	N/A	Book	N/A
11	Sindh Sheehn Darya	N/A	Book	N/A
12	Sindh Ja Qadeem Asaar	1989	Translator	a book on Sindhi's heritage
13	Sindhu Likhat Ayein Boli	N/A	Translator	N/A
14	Sindh Ji Tareekh Moarukhan Ji Zubani	N/A	Translator	N/A
15	Sikandar Ji Kaah	N/A	Translator	N/A
16	Sindhu Jo Moh	N/A	Translator	N/A
17	Tareekh Ja Sabaq	N/A	Translator	N/A
18	Sindh Ja Qadeem Aasar	N/A	Translator	N/A
19	Thatte Ja Islami Darsgah	N/A	Translator	N/A
20	Thatte Ja Katib	N/A	Translator	N/A
21	Sindh Jean Moon Dithi	N/A	Translator	N/A
22	Sindhu Kinare Wisaryal Shehar	N/A	Translator	N/A
23	Sindh Dukhoyal Mathri	N/A	Translator	N/A
24	Sindh Hind Ji Qadeem Geography	N/A	Translator	N/A

Awards

He was the receipent of the Madar-i-Watan award given by the Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party, a left-wing Pakistani political party. During Pervez Musharraf's regime, he was nominated for the Pride of Performance award by Asif Ali Zardari, but he refused to accept it in protest of son's death who was abducted by unknown persons, and found dead with torture marks on his body.[3][8] In 2004, he was awarded Latif Award in recognition of his work on Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, a Sindhi Philosopher, scholar, saint, and poet.[9]

Death

Bhambhro died in Bachal Bhambhro village of Hingorja, Khairpur, Pakistan on 3 June 2020. Prior to his death, he made a volition regarding his burial and had wished to be buried in such a manner that "his lips kissed the soil of Sindh".[3]

References

1. Irfan, Muhammad (3 June 2020). "Eminent Writer, Scholar Atta Muhammad Bhanbhro Passes Away". UrduPoint. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
2. "A life well lived - Opinion". The News International. 6 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
3. Khan, Mohammad Hussain (5 June 2020). "Prolific writer, nationalist and historian Atta Bhambhro laid to rest". DAWN.COM.
4. "Renowned scholar Atta Muhammad Bhambharo laid to rest". 4 June 2020.
5. "Writer Atta Muhammad Bhanbro passes away".
6. "Revisiting Mohenjodaro". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
7. "BBCUrdu.com". BBC (in Urdu). 7 October 2007. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
8. "Sindh: A new Balochistan? - Dialogue". thenews.com.pk. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
9. "HYDERABAD: Call for consensus on NFC award". DAWN.COM. 9 April 2004.