Sindhi literature
Sindhi literature (Sindhi: سنڌي ادب), Sindhi-language literature in the Pakistani province of Sindh, consists of poetry and prose. It was influenced by a number of cultures over a thousand years.[1]
Sufi literature and poetry
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The earliest references to Sindhi literature are contained in the writings of Arab historians; Sindhi was among the earliest Eastern languages into which the Quran was translated in the eighth or ninth century AD. Evidence exists that Sindhi poets recited verses before Muslim caliphs ruled in Baghdad. Secular treatises were also written in Sindhi about astronomy, medicine, and history during the eighth and ninth centuries. Pir Nooruddin, an Ismaili missionary who lived in Sindh in 1079, wrote Sufi poetry in the Sindhi language. His verses, known as ginans, are an example of early Sindhi poetry. Because Pir Nooruddin was a Sufi and an Islamic preacher, his verses are full of references to (and descriptions of) mysticism and religion.
Pir Shams Sabzwari Multani, Pir Shahabuddin and Pir Sadardin also wrote Sindhi poetry, and some verses by Baba Farid Ganj Shakar were written in Sindhi. Pir Sadruddin (1290–1409 AD) was another major Sufi Sindhi poet, composing verse in Sindhi's Lari and Katchi dialects. He also wrote in Punjabi, Seraiki, Hindi, and Gujarati. Sadruddin modified the language's old script, which was commonly used by the lohana caste of Sindh Hindus who embraced Islam as a result of his teaching; he called them Khuwajas or Khojas.
During the Samma dynasty (1351-1521), Sindh produced notable scholars and poets; the Sammas were some of the original inhabitants of Sindh. This era has been called the "original period for Sindhi poetry and prose". Mamui Faqirs' (Seven Sages) riddles in verse are associated with this period. Ishaq Ahingar (Blacksmith) was also a notable contemporary poet. Sufi scholar and poet Qazi Qadan (died 1551) composed Doha and Sortha poetry, and was a landmark in the history of Sindhi literature. Shah Abdul Karim Bulri, Shah Lutufullah Qadri, Shah Inayat Rizvi, Makhdoom Nuh of Hala, Lakho Lutufullah, and Mahamati Pirannath are among other authors of Sindhi mystic, romantic and epic poetry.
Kalhora and Talpur dynasties
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (1689–1752) lived during the Kalhora dynasty, a significant period in the history of Sindhi literature. The Sindhi language was standardized at this time, and classical Sindhi poetry flourished with Shah Latif's work. Shah Latif invented a variant of the tanbur, a musical instrument played when poetry is sung. His compilation, Shah Jo Risalo, includes "Sassi Punnun" and "Umar Marvi".
Shah Latif traveled to remote regions of Sindh, studying its people and their attachment to its land, culture, music, art and crafts. He described Sindh and its people in folk tales, expressing ideas about the universal brotherhood of mankind, patriotism, the struggle against injustice and tyranny, and the beauty of human existence. Also a musician, Shah Latif composed fifteen svaras (melodies). Each line of his poetry is sung on a specific svara. Khawaja Muhammad Zaman of Luari, whose poetry appears in Abdul Rahim Garhori's Shara Abyat Sindhi, was another notable Kalhora Sufi poet.
Sachal Sarmast, Sami and Khalifo Nabi Bux Laghari were celebrated poets of the Talpur period (1783–1843). Khalifo Nabi Bux was an epic poet known for his depictions of patriotism and the art of war. Rohal, Bedil, Bekas, Misri Shah, Hammal Faqir, Dalpat Sufi, Sabit Ali Shah, Khair Shah, Fateh Faqir and Manthar Faqir Rajar were other noteworthy poets of the pre- and early British era.
Early modern period
Modern Sindhi literature began with the region's 1843 conquest by the British, when the printing press was introduced. Magazines and newspapers revolutionized Sindhi literature, and books were translated from a number of European languages (particularly English}. People were hungry for knowledge and new forms of writing. Mirza Kalich Beg wrote more than four hundred books (including poetry, novels, short stories and essays) about science, history, economics and politics during the last two decades of the nineteenth century and the first two decades of the twentieth. Thousands of books were published at that time, and Hakim Fateh Mohammad Sewhani, Kauromal Khilnani, Dayaram Gidumal, Parmanand Mewaram, Lalchand Amardinomal, Bheruamal Advani, Dr. Gurbuxani, Jhetmal Parsram, Miran Mohammad Shah, Shamsuddin Bulbul and Maulana Din Muhammad Wafai were pioneers of modern Sindhi literature.
Modern era
After World War I, Sindhi literature was affected by the October Revolution and other socioeconomic changes. Literature became more objective and less romantic, and progressivism was an influence.
The struggle for freedom from the British gathered momentum, sparking interest in the history and cultural heritage of Sindh. Scholars such as Allama I. I. Kazi, his wife Elsa Kazi, Rasool Bux Palijo, G. M. Syed, Umer Bin Mohammad Daudpota, Pir Ali Muhammad Shah Rashidi, Pir Husamuddin Shah Rashidi, Maulana deen Muhammad Wafai, Chetan Mariwala, Jairamdas Daulatram, Hashoo Kewal Ramani, Bherumal Meharchand Advani, Abdul Majeed Sindhi (Memon), Badaruddin Dhamraho, Muhammad Ibrahim Joyo, Allah Dad Bohyo, Tirath Wasant published works on history and culture.
Mir Hasan Ali and Mir Abdul Hussain sangi, Khalifo Gul, Fazil Shah, Kasim, Hafiz Hamid, Mohammad Hashim, Mukhlis, Abojho, Surat Singh, Khaki, Mirza Qalich Baig, Zia and Aziz pioneered poetry in Persian meter. "Bewas" (a pseudonym), Hyder Bux Jatoi and Dukhayal are modern poets.
The novel and short story became the main prose forms, and hundreds of each were translated from European languages to the languages of Pakistan. World War II saw the emergence of novelists and short-story writers such as Narain Das Bhambhani, Gobind Malhi, Sushila J. Lalwani, Lokram Dodeja, Sundri Uttamchandani, Popati Hiranandani, Dr. Moti Prakash, Sharma, Kala Sharma, G L Dodeja, Padan Sharma, Ghulam Rabbani Agro, Usman Deplai, Jamal Abro, Shaikh Ayaz, Rasheed Bhatti, Hameed Sindhi, Hafeez Akhund, Amar Jaleel, Naseem Kharal, Sirajul Haq Memon, Agha Saleem, Anis Ansari, Tariq Ashraf, Ali Baba, Eshwar Chander, Manak, Asghar Sindhi, Adil Abbasi, Ishtiaq Ansari, Shaukat Shoro Kehar Shaukat, Mushtaq Shoro, Shaukat Shoro, Madad Ali Sindhi, Rasool Memon, Akhlaq Asnari, Reta Shahani, Rehmatullah Manjothi, Aziz Kingrani Badal Jamali, Ishaque Ansari, Jan Khaskheli, Hasan Mansoor, Pervez, Shakoor Nizamani, Tariq Qureshi, Munawwar Siraj, Ismail Mangio, Fayaz Chand Kaleri, Ayaz Ali Rind, Altaf Malkani. Sindhi drama has also flourished, and Aziz Kingrani has written scores of plays.[2][3]
Young writers have experimented with new forms of prose and poetry. Free verse, sonnets and ballads have been written in addition to classical poetry forms such as Kafi, Vaee, beit, Geet and Dohira.
Notable Sindh poets are Makhdoom Muhammad Zaman Talib-ul-Mola, Ustad Bukhari, Shaikh Ayaz, Darya Khan Rind, Ameen Faheem, and Imdad Hussani. Mubarak Ali Lashari is a literary critic and the author of Kuthyas Kawejan.[4]
Noor-ud-din Sarki and Abdul Ghafoor Ansari founded Sindhi Adabi Sangat, an organization of Sindhi-language writers originally centered in Karachi, in 1952. Chapters now exist in other parts of Pakistan and overseas.
Children's literature
The children's novels Lakho Phulani (Sindhi: لاکو ڦلاڻي and Naon Chateeha Lakhinoo (Sindhi: نئون ڇٽيهہ لکڻو) were written by Shamsuddin Ursani. Gul Phul is a popular children's magazine which was edited by author Akber Jiskani.[5] Laat, a magazine published by Mehran Publication, was founded by Altaf Malkani and Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti (author of the spy novel Khofnaak Saazish. The Sindhi Adabi Board has published books for children.[6] Waskaro, a magazine which began publication in 1990, contains short stories, poems and articles.[7] The Sindhi Language Authority has also published books for children.
See also
Further reading
- Sindhi Sahitya Charitre - Kannaḍa language translation by Sumatheendra Nadig of History of Sindhi Literature by L. H. Ajwani. Sahitya Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi 110001 (1981).
- "Indo-Persian Literature in Sindh" in The Rise, Growth And Decline of Indo-Persian Literature by R. M. Chopra, Iran Culture House, New Delhi (2012).
References
- "Culture and Literature". Government of Sindh. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- ":: LIVEVISION :: - Entertainment". www.livevisionusa.com. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
- "Ismaili.NET WEB :: First Ismaili Electronic Library and Database". www.ismaili.net. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
- Times, The Sindh (March 6, 2016). "New book of renowned critic Mubarak Ali Lashari published".
- http://www.pakistanpressfoundation.org/news-archives/8694/editor-passesaway/
- "Sindhi Adabi Board Online Library (Children Litrature)". www.sindhiadabiboard.org.
- "انسائيڪلوپيڊيا سنڌيانا : (Sindhianaسنڌيانا)". www.encyclopediasindhiana.org.