To Say Shaikh Ayaz Is Just Progressive Poet Would Not Be Correct: Ali Akash

Poet and thinker Ali Akash in a lecture conducted at Cafe Khanabadosh, Hyderabad on topic Shaikh Ayaz: A Progressive Poet claimed that progressive writing was ideological movement having its roots in the October 1917 Red Revolution. Though Marx and Engel were of the opinion that Marxism could be implemented in those states where there was a conflict between industrialists and workers, but Lenin implemented Marxism in Russia keeping in view the local conditions, it became a worldwide phenomena, that revolution had an impact on politics, ideology as well as on literature.

The basic aim of progressive movement was to bring out people from traditional thinking and look at things with modern approach, its aim was to bring out people from old trends, traditions and superstitions and lead them towards new path of reason and enlightenment, he said.

The second important point of that movement was social realism in literature, prior to the revolution only Pushkin was one writer who could be called a progressive writer in Russia, but after that great names in literature were seen, they claimed that the purpose of literature was to highlight social injustice prevailing in the society, literature was not mere tool for pleasure of mind or entertainment, rather wasting time in imaginary world and fairy tales, literature should have connection with people depicting their problems.

He also claimed that the movement of social realism played a vital role in the formation of modern literature. In 1936, the Progressive Writers' Association was founded and in early 1940s that movement entered the subcontinent, Sajid Zaheer, Rajnath and other like-minded friends met in London in this regard and formed the constitution of Progressive Writers Association, the biggest threat during that time at subcontinent was communalism and the British policy of 'Divide and Rule' .

In 1942, Sindhi writers and intellectuals formed Sindhi Adabi Circle, which later on was named as Sindhi Adabi Sangat (SAS) that circle was formed by progressive writers.

"There have been different phases of Shaikh Ayaz's poetry such as his poetry during 1940s, when he was a young man was revolutionary poetry, Shaikh Ayaz's was inspired from Khiyal Das Fani, who was a progressive poet of his time and Ayaz mentioned him as his teacher in his auto-biography, Fani was the first person who introduced social realism in Sindhi literature. 

"Another big name as progressive poet was Kishen Chand Biwas, who hailed from Larkana, his poetry is best example of social realism in Sindhi literature, prior to him there was a Majlis-e-Shura, who followed the Urdu and Persian pattern in the poetry. Before partition Shaikh Ayaz published a magazine representing progressive ideology titled "Agthy Qadam" only three issues of that magazine were published, everyone should read that magazine, it would help to understand Shaikh Ayaz as a progressive poet. 

Before partition of subcontinent the progressive element dominated Shaikh Ayaz's ideology, while nationalism was secondary. But after partition the middle class of Sindh was white washed, everything was in chaos, and in this chaos our progressive intellectuals selected motherland, and this brought a change in Shaikh Ayaz's poetry, now he started to write poems about motherland, mother language and culture, while nationalism became a dominate factor of his poetry, but we should not forget that Shaikh Ayaz held on with progressiveness and social realism was basic element in his poetry at that time. To say Shaikh Ayaz is just a progressive poet would be not correct, there are many aspects of his poetry like nationalism, and romanticism."