Larkana (GNP): The Larkana chapter of the Sindhi Adabi Sangat held a literary gathering at Sitta Villas on Sunday to honour two Sindhi poets, Siddique Soomro and Naveed Naz Bhatti. Tributes were paid to the work of both poets, and a resolution affirming the unity of Sindh was presented at the event.
Poet Jawad Jaffri presided over the gathering. In his address, he said honouring creative artists in their own lifetimes is commendable, and he praised the Sangat for continuing that practice.
He then turned to the two guests of honour. Jaffri described Soomro as a versatile poet who has experimented with the ghazal, the bait and prose poetry. He called him a poet of peace, love, colour, light and fragrance.
Of Bhatti, Jaffri said he is an important voice of the modern Sindhi ghazal with a masterly command of the form. In his view, novel refrains, a distinctive manner and freshness of thought are the hallmarks of his verse.
Papers read at the event added detail to that assessment of Bhatti. Dr Essa Memon and Saeed Hawi described him as a seasoned ghazal poet whose verse is rich in rhythm. They said many well-known Sindhi singers have sung his poetry, which has found favour with listeners. They also noted that his work abounds in new similes, fresh metaphors and originality of thought.
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A second paper turned to Soomro. Tael Abbas and Atta Hussain Ghorar said he is as fine a human being as he is a poet. They observed that his poetry shows a deep Sufi influence and that he has tried many poetic forms, which echoes Jaffri’s view of his range.
The honourees themselves then spoke. Soomro said the poets’ creative journey is one of love, and that the tributes and affection of his friends had inspired him further.
Bhatti closed the tributes by saying that poetry is his beloved and that a creative life is not possible without it.
