91st death anniversary of Shams-ul-Ullema Mirza Qaleech Baig marked at SU under SOPs, speakers pay glowing tributes to iconic Qaleech in a solemn ceremony
Speakers have paid rich homage and sparkling tribute to the eminent literary legend the late Shams-ul-Ullema Mirza Qaleech Baig for his services in the domain of Sindhi language and literature. They said that Mirza Qaleech Baig was an exceptional, international phenomenon whose influence went beyond his age and country but he was denied international fame for reasons yet to be discovered through research.
This they said in a Solemn Ceremony organized by Shams-ul-Ulemma Mirza Qaleech Baig Reseach Chair, University of Sindh, Jamshoro at the Senate Hall of the Vice Chancellor Secretariat at SU to mark 91st anniversary of legendary scholar Shams-ul-Ulemma Mirza Qaleech Baig.
SU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Fateh Muhammad Burfat presided over the Ceremony whereas, Mirza Qaleech Baig’s grandson Mirza Aijaz Ali Baig, Director Shah Abdul Latif Research Chair, University of Karachi Prof. Muhammad Saleem Memon and well-known writer Nafees Ahmed Shaikh were in participation as Special Guests/ Speakers.
SU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Fateh Muhammad Burfat, in his presidential address said that Qaleech Baig was the most voluminous and versatile Sindhi writer in all branches of poetry and prose, and on all kinds of subjects from theology to horticulture and agriculture whose bibliography reached the 480 mark.
Dr. Burfat said Qaleech’s style was a model of easy and expressive prose with a balanced blending of Persian and Sanskrit words and phrases; but towards the end he made his writing rather bald and uninteresting in an effort at utter simplicity.
Defining the term Shamas-ul-Ullema as the sun of education and light, he said that Mirza Sahib’s work merited more research, adding that Sindh University through Qaleech Reseach Chair was spotlighting singularly on the task of undertaking, highlighting and promoting diverse aspects of Mirza Sahib’s colossal literary output.
Prof. Dr. Fateh Muhammad Burfat observed that top English playwright William Shakespeare had authored only 37 plays whereas; the number of Qaleech’s books had gone well over 480 by then.
“Sindh has historically been a centre of literary activities and it used to be frequented by scholars from Iran, Iraq, Turkey and other countries. Firdousi had also made mention of Sindh in his Shahnama”, the VC maintained.
Dr. Burfat hailed joint proposition of Mr. Aijaz Ali Mirza and Prof. Muhammad Saleem Memon towards establishment of exclusive library and building for the Chair and assured to do the needful on priority basis.
The Vice Chancellor lauded Dr. Nawab Kaka’s admirable dedication to the cause of research and more specifically to the Chair mission and scope.
Mirza Qaleech Baig’s grandson Mirza Aijaz Ali Baig said that his grandfather was an uncontested king and pioneer of modern Sindhi literature.
“My illustrious grandfather served the cause of Sindhi language all his life by putting into it his sweat, toil and blood”, Mr. Aijaz Baig opined.
Declaring his grandfather Mirza Qaleech Baig a polyglot and a polymath, Mr. Aijaz Ali Mirza said Qaleech had produced 480 books on 60 disciplines/themes in over 25 languages in 76 years of age-span.
He thanked Vice Chancellor Dr. Burfat for reviving the Chair to its rightful vitality, vigour and engagement and stressed the need for publication of remaining books of great Qaleech.
Mr. Mirza eulogized the services of the Chair Director Dr. Nawab Kaka and his devotion and tenacity towards the Chair work.
Director Shah Abdul Latif Research Chair, University of Karachi Prof. Muhammad Saleem Memon, eulogizing the content, auality, theme, character and calibre of Mirza Qaleech Baig’s Drama Anthology compiled by eminent pen-man Naseer Mirza, said Naseer had done an amazing job.
“Mirza Qaleech Baig’s translations — be those dramas, prose or poetry wear and exude an indigenous aura as Mirza Sahib seems to taken keen personal interest toward lending them local habitat to make them relate more intimately to the readers”, Prof. Memon commented.
He underlined the need for publishing more of his works, reprinting the already published books and making arrangements for the translation of all his works in English, Persian, Arabic and other international languages besides that of Sindhi.
Well-known writer Nafees Ahmed Shaikh said that more such events on the great scholar’s person and works should be organized from time to time to enable the new generation to fully benefit from the literature.
Welcoming all to the event and thanking VC-SU Prof. Dr. Fateh Muhammad Burfat for his patronage and support, Director of Mirza Qaleech Baig Research Chair, University of Sindh, Jamshoro Dr. Nawab Kaka said that because of his broad vision, exceptional intellectual approach and enormous contribution to Sindhi language and literature, Qaleech Baig was known in this province as the Shakespeare of Sindh.
He said that Qaleech Baig translated Chachnama and enabled future generations to read history of their homeland adding that besides being an intellectual, he was a great social reformer.
Drama Anthology based on Qaleech’s plays was also unvieled on the eve.
Renowned radio broadcaster, poet and writer Naseer Mirza moderated the proceedings of the programme.
