Report and Photos by Allah Bux Khushik

Dadu, Sindh

Sindh Culture Department has miserably failed to maintain the 34-year old Allama I. I. Kazi Library and provide basic facilities to the visitors including the furniture and potable water.

A number students took out rally and staged demonstration outside the local press club on Friday to register their protest against the lack of facilities at Allama I.I. Kazi Library in Dadu city.

The students of various universities, colleges, and high school holding placards raised slogans against the provincial culture department and the library administration for not providing furniture and clean drinking water etc.

They also criticized the library administration for not opening the different closed sections and increasing library time.

Farooq Abro, Naveed Somroo, Farman Jamali, Ihsan Kumbar and other protesting students said that due to shortage of furniture in study sections, they are compelled to study under the trees in the lawn of library and sitting at the floor of library rooms.

They said that water filter plant was established in library but due to corruption it has not been functional yet. “Due to shortage of clean drinking water we are facing great hardships,” they said.

The agitating students said that study time of library is 12 clocks for students but the administration has curtailed the time to 10 clocks a day. “The library’s opening and closing time is 8am to 5pm but the administration opens the library an hour late at 9am and closes the gates at 4pm,” they told.

Citing the example of other libraries of the province, they said that libraries in Hyderabad, Larkana, Sukkur and Karachi offer much time to the students but in Dadu, the administration is not ready to increase timing of library and instead has illegally curtailed the 2 hours’ time.

The protesters said that old building of library was closed and in new library building, female and primary students’ section were closed by administration.

They alleged that administration shows the old building functional in official record and is getting fake bills but the fact is contrary to it.

The students said that many times they lodged complaint to Deputy Commissioner Dadu and elected MNAs and MPAs but they didn’t pay any attention to their grievances.

“Finding no other way we compelled to record protest,” they said.

They said that our youth want to give time to their studies at library but the library administration and elected members of assemblies are not happy. “Perhaps they want youth to spend time at hotels,” they lamented.

They told that a number of students are preparing for competitive examinations but no one is ready to help them. The protesting students demanded District and Session Judge Dadu to take notice of the situation and issue directives to the concerned authorities.

While, this reporter contacted library in-charge Muneer Mustafa Jhandeer, he was not available at the library. He even didn’t reply text message sent to him about the students’ allegations.

It was learnt that the Library In-charge lives in Hyderabad and is posted here. On Friday, he was in Hyderabad, according to sources, however, on Saturday, when Mr. Jhandeer was again contacted, he told that he was in a meeting in Naushehro Feroze on Friday.

Muneer Mustafa Jhandeer said they cannot extend the library timings due to shortage of staff. “No recruitment has been made since 2013 during which a number of staff members have retired,” he said.

Admitting that the library has shortage of furniture, he said there are only 50 chairs at the library, and he has no authority to buy any furniture. “I have written to the high ups about the grievances of students,” he said.

According to him, the library has solar system and all the library rooms are airconditioned.

The miserable conditions were witnessed during a visit to the library to verify the allegations of protesting youth. The students showed the contaminated water they had to consume while a large number of students were seen sitting on floor, stairs and in the lawn.

The library was established by Sindh Culture and Tourism Department, but seems that the authorities have utterly neglected to maintain it and even no inspection is conducted to take stock of the situation.

The library was inaugurated by Syed Qaim Ali Shah, the then Sindh Chief Minister, on February 26, 1989.

An employee of the library, who didn’t want to be named, confided that owing to lack of facilities, the number of students enrolled at library, has declined. “Last year, the number of registered students was 300, which this year has dropped to 200,” he told.

Dadu has only two public sector libraries. Another one is located in Doaba Village of Dadu. Some NGOs had established the libraries in Mehar, KN Shah and Johi towns of Dadu district but all were closed.

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Nasir Aijaz

Slim and tall, having dark complexion, Gul Muhammad Khatri often used to drop in at my newspaper office in Karachi during second half of 1970s. His small studio shop was located in Lea Market, downtown area, from where he would walk to the historic ‘Bank of India’ building at Bandar Road, which housed the office of Sindhi Daily Hilal-e-Pakistan besides some offices of lawyers. Gul was a renowned artist, but his art could earn only the name and fame for him unlike certain other artists who enjoyed luxurious life developing contacts through their ‘talent’, which he had not. Although, then Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto personally knew him but he never benefited from it.

Born in 1919, Gul Muhammad Khatri had produced art works in the form of portraits, landscape art, and calligraphic illustrations of Sufi poetry, especially poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. He also did commercial art work in the form of poster design, glass painting, sign boards, textile design, theatrical design, cinema posters, tile design as well as Sindhi, Urdu, Hindi, Gujarati and English calligraphy.

Due to his lifelong interest in the art of the Indus Valley, he was known as Mussawar-e-Latif and Founder of the Indus Art

Khatri was also a prolific writer, authoring many articles and essays on Pakistani and Indus art and literature in Sindhi and Urdu languages, which were published in different newspapers and periodicals. Due to his lifelong interest in the art of the Indus Valley, he was known as Mussawar-e-Latif and Founder of the Indus Art.

He learned art from his teacher Charanjit Singh Wordi under whose mentorship he studied for about 12 years. In 1967, Khatri founded Mehran Cultural Association to develop Indus art and literature and was elected its President.

Ordeal of an artist

It was some time in 1976 when we first met – the year I had joined the field of journalism. Although we were new for each other but perhaps he found a person in me to share the stories of his plight. Gul often used to say, “Nobody has done good to me, but I will not blame anyone.” But I could feel the pain hidden in his words. He was not happy with treatment meted out to him by various government departments and institutions.

Gul Muhammad Khatri blamed none, for he was a simple and humble, but being very straight-forward he never tried to hide what he had been suffering all his life. He was not happy with the people at the helms of affairs in Sindh Culture Department, who always ignored his work. “I handed them manuscript of ‘Naqoosh-e-Latif’, the translation of Sindh’s great mystic poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s poetry in Urdu, English, Gujarati and Hindi languages along with the illustrations, but with no response,” he used to tell me showing the illustrations of Seven Queens, the heroines of Bhittai’s poetry, he had beautifully painted.

None of the government institutions including Pakistan Television, Radio Pakistan, Institute of Sindhology, Sindhi Adabi Board, Mehran Arts Council Hyderabad and Pakistan Arts Council Karachi did pay any importance to him and his work.

I handed the manuscript of ‘Naqoosh-e-Latif’, the translation of Sindh’s great mystic poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s poetry in Urdu, English, Gujarati and Hindi languages along with the illustrations, to Sindh Culture Department but with no response

In 1978, Khatri, a chronic patient of Tuberculosis, which proved fatal for him, was admitted at Ojha Sanatorium, where he previously had been for treatment. During last days of his life, Khatri wrote three letters to me from the hospital bed. I received his first letter in March 1978, second in October and the last one in November same year. When I received his first letter, I imagined a feeble and unattended artist lying in a hospital bed, and published his letter in Daily Hilal-e-Pakistan with my comment: “An outstanding artist of Sindh, who translated great poet Bhittai’s Risalo with paintings, has again been admitted to hospital and alas neither the Culture Department of Sindh nor any other institution has cared. Physically he is still alive but can anyone feel his spiritual pain? I am sure, we will declare him a National Artist and observe anniversaries when he will be no more with us, because we are a nation ‘Idolizer of the Dead’. We always wait for the death of our artists and writers.”

I would like to quote a few lines from his first two letters for the readers, which show apathetic attitude of institutions towards a great artist.

“The Kings of Pakistan Television got colored slides from me. One and half a year has passed but neither they returned nor presented the same in any program despite having signed a contract form.”

“My own people (Sindhis) have neglected me but I continue to depict Sindhi culture in my paintings and dump it to be eaten away by the rats. So far paintings worth thousands of rupees have destroyed, and I am sure the entire assets will get ruined as none of the institution will take measures to save it. Even the Director of Sindh Culture Department is not willing to publish my work – paintings with translation of Bhittai’s poetry in five languages.”

“I had requested the management of Mehran Arts Council Hyderabad to provide me with a room where I could work for the Council as well as for my livelihood, but alas an artist could not get a small space at the Council, spread over a vast land.”

“The Management of Mehran Arts Council once said, ‘We are setting up a Khatri Corner. I gave them eleven precious paintings, but neither they established any Corner nor returned the paintings.”

“Karachi Arts Council provided Sadqain with a free space. He was honored with title of National Artist. They also established an Institute of Arts to engage the artists. But I am deprived of such facilities, being a Sindhi, although, I am member of Karachi Arts Council.”

Now I would come to the last letter of Gul Muhammad Khatri, which he wrote from Bed No: 4, Ward No: 2 of Ojha Sanatorium Karachi, and is preserved in my personal collection. I consider the 4-page hand-written letter of about 2000 words in Sindhi language, a ‘White Paper’ on the indifferent and biased attitude of institutions and individuals towards a marvelous artist of Sindh.

Here are some excerpts of the letter dated November 26, 1978 that begins with a line from a verse of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai – مونکي ڏيرن آھي ڏکوئيو which literally means that ‘He has been suffering at the hands of his own people’.

Highlighting the importance of culture and heritage of Sindh, Gul Muhammad Khatri shares about his work on historic Ranikot Fort, spread over 24 miles in Khirthar Mountain Range, known as Great Wall of Sindh, and the path of Sasui (One of the seven heroines of Bhittai), she had taken to meet her beloved Punhoon. “I had worked on these paintings spending several days at Ranikot and visiting the difficult mountainous regions from Sindh to Balochistan. It was a unique work none had labored so far,” he writes adding, “For six months, I had been wandering to convince the Director of Karachi Arts Council to organize an exhibition. I had no greed of earning some money, as I knew that they don’t pay to any artist. I just wanted exposure of my hard work and draw attention of domestic as well as foreign tourists to the neglected heritage of Sindh. This would, in turn, result in development of approach roads to the fort, generate revenue for the government and job opportunities for the local people.”

Khatri was the first artist to visit historic Ranikot and portray it in his paintings  

“But, I was not surprised on the response of biased Director of Karachi Arts Council, who every time repeated the same single sentence – ‘Khatri, we will let you know about exhibition date by the post. Don’t bother to visit Arts Council’. Four to five months passed, during which several exhibitions were held. I once again approached him to know if they have any objection, but I received same response ‘We have already told you – We will let you know.’”

“These people are enemies of culture and heritage. We must not expect good from them. They are working for their own interests. They are spending huge funds on promotion of their own people.”

“Even the National Council of Arts Islamabad, established 15 years back, has never invited me, a representative artist of Sindh, during this long period,” Khatri writes.

“Interestingly, they write letters to me for donating the paintings whenever they plan to organize charity programs for the help of flood-affected people or others. I never refused them and took active part in such activities and donated my paintings. On the contrary, they too avoided to hold exhibition of my paintings because they never wanted to introduce Sindhi culture and heritage to the world through the universal language of colors and paintings.”

Khatri also visited mountainous areas of Sindh and Balochistan and portrayed the Sasui’s path she traveled to meet Punhoon

“Dear Nasir, even while lying here in hospital, my mind continues agitating. I want to write against the injustices. I feel tired as the letter has become too lengthy. I will write more in my next letter, but before ending here, I would like to share what our own people have done.”

“In 1965, when Dr. Nabi Bux Baloch was the honorary Secretary of Bhit Shah Cultural Center Committee, he offered me to work on frescoes, translate the Bhittai’s poetry in murals besides imparting training to the aspiring artists at Bhit Shah. I was told that a bungalow will be allocated to me for this purpose. On his instructions, I submitted an application but never got any response during one and half a decade.”

“Again, I am not surprised on such attitude, as the seats at the Culture Department are occupied by the corrupt and inefficient persons. They are drawing big salaries and enjoying luxurious life while the poor artists are starving.”

In a small note on back of the letter, Gul Muhammad Khatri wrote, “Please ask Umerdin Bedar (a journalist friend) to send him a required injection. And also ask Mumtaz Mahar (a writer) to visit my home (located in Moosa Lane Lyari), as nobody has come to see me since long. I also need warm clothes and some money.”

I couldn’t control my tears rolling down while quoting last words of his last letter.

He couldn’t write more letters, as his condition had deteriorated during next few months, when he breathed his last on March 20, 1979.

Neglected in Life, Forgotten after Demise

Gul Muhammad Khatri was neglected during life and remains forgotten even after he passed away. The concerned government department or any institution never tried to collect and preserve his work, or to set up any Corner to honor ‘Mussawar-e-Latif’. Once, his friend Muhammad Siddique Kaka and his son Afzal Khatri organized an exhibition at Arts Council a few decades back and then there is complete silence. He remains forgotten even on his death anniversary.

It was only in 2010, when Gul Muhammad Khatri was posthumously honored with a special shield in acknowledgement of his services to Sindh Art at a seminar organized by the Institute of Art and Design University of Sindh.

In 2017, Zafar Kazmi Institute for Art & Literature produced a documentary on the life and works of Gul Muhammad Khatri and remembered him as the ‘Pride of Mehran’.

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Nasir Aijaz is a Karachi-based senior journalist and author of nine books on literature, language and history. He can be accessed at nasir.akhund1954@gmail.com                  

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The Culture Dept. was to send a delegation of more than 39 persons for musical nights in UK and other countries. The delegation members’ list contains the names of irrelevant persons.  

From Our Correspondent

Sukkur

Sindh High Court Sukkur Bench has restrained Provincial Culture Department from organizing musical nights in UK and other countries and also restricted the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi from organizing the programs outside the province as well as the country.

Approving a constitutional petition for hearing, filed by Suhail Memon, the court has fixed the hearing on March 14 at 9.30am and directed the Secretary Culture and President of Arts Council to appear before the court on the fixed date.

The SHC Bench, comprising Justice Sallahuddin Panhwer and Justice Mubeen Lakho, further directed that ‘Secretary, Culture Department, Government of Sindh, shall submit complete breakup of amount of last five years incurred on musical nights in the province as well as abroad, if any. Besides, shall submit criterion and SOPs with regard to organizing cultural festivals and musical nights.’

The court further directed that the Secretary Culture Department shall submit setails with regard to musical nights conducted for fund-raising for present flood-affected people, besides they shall not conduct recreational program on the cost of public exchequer. Further, he shall submit details of the festivals organized to promote academic, cultural and sports activities amongst the physically challenged. Secretary Finance shall also submit details of fund allocated and released to the culture department in last two years.

The Court in its directives to the President, Arts Council of Pakistan Ahmed Shah, said that ‘President Arts Council is restrained to schedule any cultural events in other provinces from the aid granted by Sindh government.

Journalist Sohail Memon, in his petition stated that Sindh Culture Department is going to organize musical night at London, UK on March 11, 2023 titled as ‘Centenary of Mohen Jo Daro’, besides festivals and musical nights in different countries despite the fact that they have failed to save cultural heritage sites besides have no mechanism for providing information by establishing such centers.

He had further stated that Sindh government is providing Rs.300 million every year to the culture department for conducting such informative festivals regarding the heritage sites as well as book fairs but the grant has been misusedin the name of musical nights.

The court directed that the notice shall also be issued to Additional Advocate General of Sindh to appear in the court on March 14.

Meanwhile, Sohail Memon has released a copy of the list of persons who were to proceed abroad in connection with musical night. The list consists of 39 names besides four VIPs (whose names were not disclosed by the department of culture). The names are as follows:

Naseem Ghani Sahito, Secretary Culture, Manzoor Ahmed Kanasro, Director General, Antiquities, Munawar Ali Mahesar, Director Culture, Kaleem Lashari, a retired bureaucrat and archaeologist, Muhammad Ahmed Shah, President Arts Council of Pakistan, Abdul Fateh Shaikh, Director Antiquities, Habibullah Memon, Director Culture, Santosh Kumar, Director Culture, Adil Ahmed Assistant Director, Haleem Soomro, Private Secretary to Minister Culture, Arshad Ahmed, Coordinator to Minister, Sanjay Kumar, Media Person, Atif Hussain, PRO to Minister, Javed Ali Shaikh Guide, Naved Ahmed Sangah Field Officer, Sikandar Hulio (Bilawal House employee for social media), Altaf Hussain Aseem (Member, but no mention of what), Sarfraz Solangi, geologist, Ghulam Mustafa (Member TCC), Neelofer Shaikh, Archaeologist, Madad Ali Qureshi, Member Technical Committee, Humaira Mahesar Assistant Professor, Chand Gul Shah.

According to Suhail Memon, two of the female entourage were perhaps daughters of officials, also among those going abroad for musical nights.

The folk artists who were mentioned in the list are: Mukhtiar Naz Taj Mastani (Singer), Fakeer Faheem Ali (Folk Singer), Hassan Mirbahar, Arbab Khoso (Alghozo Player), Zulfiqar Ali (Boreendo Player), Allahdad Raza (Harmonium Player), Muhammad Achar (Dholak Player), Muhammad Talib (Banjo Player), Khadim Hussain (Dhol Player), Shahid Ali Keyboard Player), Faizan Ali Keyboard Player), Fakeer Muhammad Kunbhar (Artist), Saif Samejo (Singer).

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By Noor Ahmed Janjhi

Geography plays the important role in creating the overall temperament of any society. Sindh had been a versatile valley with many layers of topography and reflections of geography. The area of the Indus Valley Civilization was very vast containing many sub areas. There had been many settlements and urban centers. Sindh of present time has also the land of geographical diversity and geological potential. Political maneuvering and strategic mobilization follow geographical consideration. Any state realizes its existence by a geographical context. Nothing happens in vacuum. From Ptolemy to Arab geographers and from English geographers and archaeologist to M. B. Pithawala, there seems great work in the field of geography of Sindh. The study of the geography facilitates any interaction between the nations and the people or among the people of any area.

M. B. Pithawala has left wonderful research in the field of geography. Recently his book ‘Historical Geography of Sindh’ has been reprinted by the Culture Department Government of Sindh. Before discussing the book, let us have a look on the life account of the author.

Professor Dr. Manekji Bejanji Pithawalla, a great geologist, geographer and a scholar, belonging to Parsi community, was born on 20th November 1886, in village Nawsari, Pune India. After getting early education from his native village, he graduated from Wilson College Bombay and completed his science education from Bombay University. He came to Karachi from Pune in 1919. In 1920, he was appointed as the principal at Bai Verji Sopariwala (BVS) High School located in the heart of Karachi by the authorities of the school. In 1932, he went to London and completed his Ph.D. from B College London University under the supervision of Prof E G Tylor with the topic of “A Geographical Analysis of the Lower Indus Basin (Sindh) – Climatic Conditions in Sindh”. He came back and continued his service at the school till 1946. He was also the president of the Geographical Society of Sindh and had edited the Research Journal of the Society. After partition, he remained on different positions as Professor of Geography and Geology at NED College and Islamia College, Chairman of Geography and Geology Karachi University, Professor and Dean of Science Faculty, University of Sindh and Advisor on Economic Affairs, Government of Pakistan. Besides, he worked with many associations working for social service. He lived in Karachi till 1965 and then moved to Bombay, where he took his last breath on 16th June 1969.

Having dedicated his whole life to research and study, he wrote 50 books and many papers on geography covering many aspects of the subcontinent. His love for Sindh reflects from his research endeavors.

The book under review is divided into six parts. First part is on preliminary survey elaborating the relation of history with geography, outstanding geographical features, Sindh as a gift of the Indus and a land of contrasts. Second part discusses pre-historic and early historic period under the topics of pre-historic period, Indus Culture People, A Dark Age, Persian Conquest, The Greeks and post- Alexandrian period. Part three discusses pre-Arab period and the Arab period. Part four elaborates post-Arab conditions, The Sama Dynasty, The Sumra, Samma, The Arghun, Tarkhan, Mughal, Kalhora and Talpur Dynasties. He describes Sindh as the geographical necessity for the British. Part five discusses antiquity of Sindh under topics of pre-historic ruins, ruins of Mihran system, ruins of Hakra-Wahinda system and Deltaic ports. Part six is about Lower Indus Basin. Summary has been given with the conclusion by portraying the geographical synthesis of Sindh, and physical factor.

The above mentioned topics are just a sample and the ocean of information lies beyond it in the book. The author not only gives data on the subject but also analyses it beautifully. Explaining the relation between history and geography, the author mentions the influence of the natural geographical factors on human character and actions and the history of any country related with the geography of the country. He writes, “World power at any time in the history of mankind can be resorted into (1) the place, which must mean the geographical factor, (2) the time, which must be ripe and opportune, and (3) the man, who must be ready to utilize the opportunities.

The diversity of historical factors molds the temperament of people. Heterogeneous and homogeneous people behave differently as a nation. The subcontinent is a mixture of races, different castes and creeds, speaking different languages, observing different cultures. Because of these factors, there is lethargy in the unity and react after passing through difficult conditions. Defining the Indus Basin, the author calls it as a mixture of two trends. He opines, “To the Persian and Vedic Aryans from the North it owes it language and other institutions, while to the Sumerian and Semitic peoples from across the Sea, it owes its civilization and mode of life.” The point of view cannot be seen eye to eye because the Aryan Invasion Theory has been rejected now and the Semitic and Sumerian cultures owe greatly to Sindhian input because of the exodus of people of Mohen Jo Daro. The writer has mentioned it because of the currency of the research about the theory of Aryans and non-Aryans. A language cannot be developed in a few years. The language written on Indus Seals is the language of the Indus rather than a language of any invader. This absorbing land, which had been absorbing many influences and oppression, has maintained her identity in terms of language and cultural manifestations.

After discussing the outstanding geographical features and position of topography, the author has given the historical setting of Sindh along with a wonderful map showing the influx of 17 human races in Sindh. The setting describes interesting order with befitting chronology.

Having explained pre-historic and early historic period, the author presents a good deal of data. Revising the term ‘aborigines ‘, the author clears that the Indian Archaeology is yet in its infancy and replaces the term aborigines with ‘early settlers’. A map is given on page 29 of the book to highlight the contact of foreign lands with Mohen Jo Daro (2700 BC-2500 BC). The interaction made this area an area of diversity of people. The chapter covers different topics at length such as geographical environment, climatic conditions, human geography, age of Mohen jo Daro, people of commerce, Chanhu jo Daro excavations, conflict of Upper and Lower Indus Valley cultures, knowledge of the Aryans about the Sindhu, Pani people, migration of the races and the Indus Valley, functioning of the Indus Valley, Jat and Med, Alluvial Gold, Conquest of Sindh by Darius, Voyage of Nearchus, Alexander’s Commercial Plan and return journey, and concludes the chapter on the geographical value of Sindh. He writes, “The open character of the valley allowed free movements, though, on account of some scattered desert tracts amidst fertile fields, they were restricted here and there”.

In this way, the part three and four discus the historic period starting from first century AD to the British annexation of Sindh. Both the chapters present the historical and administrative aspects of geography. Part five gives details about the old sites. The author categorizes them under four heads, (1).Prehistoric ruins (2). Belonging to Mihran System, (3) Belonging to Hakra-Wahinda System and (4) Deltaic Ports.

The sites include; Mohen Jo Daro, Chanhu jo Daro, Naru jo Dhoro, Aror, Bahmanabad, Mansura, Thatta, Patala, Nasarpur, Old Hala, Nirunkot, Khudabad, Kalari, Bukkur, Sehwan, Jerruck, Vijnot, Muhammad Tur, Umerkot and Wango. Deltaic ports include Bhambhra, Debal, Lari Bundar, Minna Nagar, Krokla, Shah Bundar, Ghora Bari, Keti Bundar.

Part six draws attention of the geographical synthesis of Sindh. It discusses changing aspects of Sindh. After the analysis, the summary of research on hydrological changes in the Pujab and Sindh has been given.

By and large, the book offers very interesting and worthwhile material as well as analysis of the data and concludes smartly. It is need of the hour to continue the research on geography where this giant of geography has left his work. The academia and scholars of Sindh lag behind in this regard and the subject of geography seemed neglected discipline here.

Noor Ahmed Janjhi

Noor Ahmed Janjhi is a senior educationist based in Desert District Tharparkar Sindh. He is author of several books in Sindhi and English on folk literature including two poetry books.

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Sindh Culture Department invites photographers to send their photographs  

A jury will select the photographs; participants will receive certificates; award will be given for Best Photograph

Karachi: The provincial Culture Department has announced holding of second season of Photographic Exhibition to highlight the culture and heritage of Sindh and encourage the photographers.

The Culture Department, announcing the launch of the 2nd Season of ‘Aks-e-Sindh Exhibition’, has invited the photographers to share their best photography portraying Culture and Heritage of Sindh.

Photographs may include subjects like People of Sindh, Local Musical Instruments, Traditional Crafts, Food, and Sports, the Cultural Activities, Diverse Landscapes of Sindh, Architecture (heritage and tourist sites, tombs, Shrines, forts, old architecture, cultural monuments etc.), and any other type of representation of Sindh and the people of Sindh.

The photographers may send only five (05) best photographs with high resolution in JPEG format. The previously displayed photographs for Season One will not be entertained, an official handout of Sindh Culture Department said.

A Jury of well-known photographers will select the photographs to be exhibited in ‘Aks-e-Sindh Season-2’. The photographers will be informed about their selected photograph.

All Participants of the exhibition will receive the Certificate of Participation, and the Best Photographer Juried Award will also be given to the best Photographer.

For Participation, the photographers may send their entries on photograpersindh@gmail.com

The last date of Submission of Photographs is 2nd May 2021. (PR)

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Art exhibition features the works of more than 100 senior and young emerging artists

Art has received meager attention in recent literary festivals – Curator Waheeda Baloch

Karachi: Five-day Art Exhibition titled “ArtFest Karachi” kicked off on Wednesday at Sambara Art Gallery, an art space recently established by the Sindh Culture Department, located in front of the Liaquat Memorial Library Karachi.

Curated by the renowned artist, art-performer and curator Waheeda Baloch, the ArtFest features the works of Meher Afroz, Ab Jabbar Gul, Manizhe Ali, Shaukat Ali, Amjad Talpur, A. Malik Channa, Safdar Ali Shah, Nizam Dahri, Romila Kareem, Akbar Ali and other more than 100 young emerging artists.

MPA Ms. Faryal Talpur inaugurated the exhibition and expressed her pleasure while looking at different art pieces. She was impressed by the works of young artists who have depicted their view of different socio-cultural settings, especially their mental condition during the Covid-19.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Syed Sardar Ali Shah said that Sindh government is an all-time supporter for the cultural and literary activities, and has always provided all possible facilities to the artist community.

He said that visual art is the medium of expression through colors. “Art is not just the random lines and colors, but the thought behind it that makes it so moving and impressive,” Sardar Shah said.

Curator Waheeda Baloch said in her curatorial statement that Sindh is a region rich in art, culture and heritage. She said that not only the talented craftsmen, but this land has also produced genius writers, poets and artists.

“The shreds of evidence of vast culture are pretty visible from the ancient excavated treasures of Mohenjo Daro”, said Waheeda Baloch.

She said that art has received meager attention in the recent literary festivals.

Waheeda said that ArtFest Karachi is the initiative of the Culture Department to celebrate all the creative individuals of Sindh. It proudly brings forward the senior artists and an open chance for the youth to participate in the exhibition and art discussions. It is a platform for learning and sharing experiences.

Director General Culture Abdul Aleem Lashari said that ArtFest Karachi aims to set a new trend on the local level to promote the artists community. Senior, mid-career and emerging artists are showcased to inspire the public. The event would continue till 28 March 2021 wherein different panel discussions apart from the art exhibition would be held, and senior artists like Meher Afroz, Nilofur Farrukh, Fawzia Naqvi, Amin Gulgee and others will share their experiences.

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Sindh Courier

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Chotiari Dam is a neglected tourist resort of Sindh located in Sanghar district, which is deemed as a wonderland of Sindh having a unique ecosystem consisting of six natural lakes namely Akanwari, Tajar, Phuleli, Seri, Sao Naro and Baqar lake. This beautiful place rich in natural beauty is devoid of all the basic facilities.

Public Opinion

Allah Almighty has bestowed Sindh with natural beauty and lots of attractive places. Nature is beautiful and is said to have been a cure to man’s several mental and physical agonies. Besides being a source of pleasure for the people, such places, replete with natural beauty are the great source of income for the government. However, the Sindh government has neglected such places including the Chotiari Dam, situated in district Sanghar, which is deemed as a wonderland of Sindh. It has a unique ecosystem consisting of six natural lakes namely Akanwari ,Tajar, Phuleli, Seri, Sao Naro and Baqar lake.

The Chotiari Dam is the place where the people of the country in general and Sindh province in particular can visit and have pleasure by viewing natural things.

When we visited the Chotiari Dam, we found no facilities provided there so that the families could visit and enjoy the place. We found a guest house built there by the government but in neglected condition. I came across the local people living in the surrounding of the dam, who told that even they were not provided with any basic facilities. There was no road maintained, no electricity; no school for the children, no gas facility and no healthcare center available to the people. The people living there are not acquainted with modern facilities. They depend on fishing. Workshop, Mangoli and other villages are there, whose inhabitants were unaware of the basic facilities of life.

The resort is operated by Sindh Tourism Development Corporation. The guest house was established in 2017 by Sindh Culture, Tourism & Antiquities Department, under a development scheme of 2016-17 fiscal year however after completion, it was handed over to Sindh Tourism Development Corporation in 2017.

The Chotiari Dam has various tourist attraction points. Historical Makhi forest, where the Hurs had established their base against British Raj in Sindh was also situated at the bank of Baqar Lake.

It seems that the concerned department of Sindh government has abandoned promoting tourism in the province. It is the fundamental responsibility of the government to promote recreation places, which will be the natural source of pleasure for the people of Sindh as well as the foreign tourists.

The road leading to Chotiari Dam was in dilapidated condition. Sindh government must pay attention to the construction of roads leading to the dam, and also develop the resort by establishing rest houses, shops, parks and providing other basic facilities so that people could make the most of benefit from the natural place bestowed by Allah. A vast barren land was found in the surroundings of dam, where some measures should be taken for plantation so that greenery could be promoted. Migratory birds from Siberia also use to visit this area in cold weather adding the beauty to the area but the Sindh government has disregarded all these things.

If the government develops this place as tourist resort, it can bring prosperity to the people of the area. A good number of people can also be provided with jobs if the Sindh government takes an initiative to flourish the tourism in the province.

Fawad Hussain Samo

Hyderabad, Sindh

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