Only Sindhi books were banned during Ayub and Zia regimes: Madad Ali Sindhi

On the second day of fourth Ayaz Melo here on 22 December at Hyderabad organized by Khana Badosh Writers Cafe different sessions were held and rich tributes were paid to the great Sindhi poet Shaikh Ayaz.

 During a session on great Sindhi poet Shaikh Ayaz and Fahmida Riaz moderated by Shabnam Gul, the renowned Sindhi author Madad Ali Sindhi said that only Sindhi books were banned during dictatorships of General Ayub and General Zia. It were Sindhi writers who faced most sufferings during these military regimes.

Sindhi books were banned and writers including Shaikh Ayaz faced tribulations and were jailed. For writing poetry and giving awareness to his people Shaikh Ayaz was jailed three times.

Sindhi was of the opinion that Ayaz started writing poetry in Urdu language and he was highly upset by partition and stopped writing. It was renowned author Mohammad Ibrahim Joyo, who in 1955 asked Ayaz to write poetry in Sindhi language. In reply Ayaz asked who would read him in Sindhi as most literate class of Sindh has left after partition. To which Mohammad Ibrahim Joyo told Ayaz Sindhi nation would read him and make him a great poet.

The fourth edition of Ayaz Melo has started from 21 December and carry on till 25 December, different sessions upon life and work of great poet Shaikh Ayaz would take place in which more than 70 writers, intellectuals, and men of letters would take part as speakers, while more than 80 artists would perform in the Melo.