Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai:
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai is the most celebrated and significant figure in the literature of Sindh- till date. His poetry gave Sindh language a full bloom, an beautiful expression at a whole new level. It merged the Sufi thought with the folkore regularly mentioned in Sindh i.e. Sassi Punno, Moomal Rano and Umar Marvi. It reflected a whole new era of idealism and provoked the thoughts of new cultural idea.
The poetry and words of Latif were not limited to the folkore but also gave wisdom and idea for the humanity at large. His poetry deals with promoting peace, resolving conflicts, increasing love and brotherhood among people of the world. He was not only a asthodunding poet, but also a musician. His music and poetry reflected the need for promotion of universal brotherhood, love for the land of Sindh, mysctism and beauty, the intensity and fire of love, the search for the God(Beloved).
-.Culture and folklore: Sindhi poetry has been usually written in the genre of reflecting culture and folklore. The tales of different lovers that took place on this land, the devotion and the intensity, the fire and the passion, the search for the beloved as well as the longing for the Beloved, the pain that separation brings and the pleasure that unification smothers. Sindhi poetry largely reflects and potrays and brings different messages into the similar position of reflection of beloved and famous heroes and heroines of the land and the tragedy they went through
-Sufism: Another aspect of Sindhi poetry is Sufism. For most of the highly celebrated Sindhi poets like Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and Sachal Sarmast, the large and huge focus of their writing was Sufism. The ultimate connection and dramatic scene of all the love stories and folkore of Sindh was directly linked in relating to the love of God.
The British Raj & Creation of Pakistan
Sindh produced significant scholars and poets which not only contributed to Sindh in general but Pakistan at large. One of the very learned scholars include Allama I.I. Kazi who was a scholar, philosopher and educationist. He was a very learned man and considered the very important person and founding father of University of Sindh. From the works of literature, to art and mysticism and education and wisdom- many are honored and attributed to him.
His wife, Elsa Kazi, who was an important figure too. She was a poet, a philosopher and a writer. She is famous for translating Shah Abdul Latif's poetry in English Language.
Other scholars include: G.M Syed, Dr Daudpota, Pir Ali Mohammed Shah, Maulana Deen Mohammad wafai etc. and many others who produced and developed a part of the Sindhi literature what it is today.
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| The Neem Tree- a poem by Elsa Kazi |
Sindhi Literature: Present times
To this day, Sindhi literature is highly celebrated. Both in the forms of poetry, music, dance, folklore, wisdom for understanding different situations. Sindhi poetry has been translated in English by many different poets. It has been turned into music by different bands. A present day famous band called "The Sketches" produce high quality music and sing the poetry of Latif, with the lyrics produced in English language.
Cultural and literature festivals are arranged in the big city of Karachi to read, promote and understand the dynamics and depth of Sindhi literature and get the wisdom from it.
