I shall pass through this world but once;
Any good that I can give to my fellow beings,
Let me do it now;
Now; for I shall not pass this way again!
Today we are gathered here to pay tribute to Dr. Nabi Bux Khan Baloch.
Today my heart weeps for Dr. Baloch - an Icon of Sindhi nation; a renowned educationist - who dedicated his whole life for elevation of education, an acclaimed scholar , a linguist , a Latif Shanas , and what not! He was an “ameen” of Indus Valley Civilization.
Dr. Baloch sang songs of that Sindh , which respects its elders, which loves its children, which gives water to a thirsty and bread to a hungry, which equally cares birds and animals; he is a genuine Sindhi by heart! We are lucky enough that we are living in an era ; which is Dr. Baloch’s era.
Dr. N. A. Baloch very enthusiastically collected volumes of Sindh’s history of wisdom, bulk of precious pearls of imagination, Sindh has an enormous collection of its Folklore. Sindh is one of the richest nation of the world which has huge folk heritage.
Dr. Baloch compiled 42 volumes of Sindh’s folklore under “Lok Adab Scheme”. And still a hundred thousand stories,tales, fables, folk songs, Geech, Ggia, Ggaatha’s are buried in the hearts of Sindhi people. So, we need many Dr. Balochs to extract that from the hearts of people. And no doubt he was many in one. A beautiful mind does not age and in fact can become ever more beautiful.
Its our utmost duty to pay respect to these beautiful minds!
(12th April , 2011 - Jamshoro, Sindh)
Today is Your Day , O’ Woman!
Today You must Speak Words of Steel,
Fold Your Fingers and Make an Iron Fist,
And Sing a Song that Never Dies,
Today is Your Day , O’ Woman!
Cast Your Weaknesses in an Alloy,
Fill your Eyes with Hope of a Rising Sun,
O! Brave , Beautiful and Bold Lady!
Shah Latif Sing Your Songs Centuries ago:
Though Mountains Block Your Path ,
Do Not Buckle Under Menacing Death ,
Though the Path is Grueling and
The Night is Bleak!
Though Pigs might Tear Your Flesh ,
Do Not Retract Your Bleeding Tracks ,
Keep on Marching , Keep on Marching ,
With Your Eyes on Horizon!
Today is Your Day O’ Woman!
Today You Must Speak Words of Steel!
* He was born in 1690 & died in 1752.
* Belongs to a notable Sayyed family of Mattiaree(mutaalvi sadaat).
* His father Shah Habib was also a poet.
* Great Saint-Poet Shah Karim Bulrai was his great grand father. A contemporary of Bhagat Kabir.
* Shah Latif was fifty years old when Nadir Shah sacked Delhi & made Sindh tributary to Persia.
* He was fifty eight when Ahmed Shah Durrani captured Delhi & founded modern Afghanistan & made Sindh subject to Kabul.
* Six years after his death second East India Company’s factory was established at Thatta.
* He is one of the greatest poet of globe(world).
* He produced a very considerable quantity of poetry : called Shah jo Risalo.
* He was not active against stirring political events. He lived a secluded life as a Sufi-Saint- Poet at Bhit.
* But he wrote intensely, deeply , symbolically about the tyranny of the time.
* His melodious & embalming poetry contains enormous layers of wisdom and aesthetic pleasure.
* The divine message of his poetry emerges as it was sung.
* Poetic truth in his poetry stimulates emotional level of hearer, and that’s the power & appeal of the poetry.
* All from Beloved’s side is sweet پريان سندي پار جي مڙئي مٺائي
What ever He gives to you ڪانهي ڪڙائي چکين جي چيت ڪري
There is no bitter, if you knew
the secret how to taste .
* As a young boy he was very different from the rest:
Fond of loneliness.
Loved to wander.
Contemplative & thoughtful.
* He was a gentleman with manners & speech.
* Kind, compassionate, generous.
* As a worthy person with a charismatic persona he intensely appeals to the downtrodden people.
* He has an enormous message of Peace and tranquility for whole Universe:
On my Sindh aye shed water, O! Lord,
And plenty, Mercy’s self, accord .
Make this whole world to burgeon with thy grace of rainy deeds.
* سائين سدائين، ڪرين مٿي سنڌ سۡـڪار
دوست مٺا دلدار،عالم سڀ آباد ڪرين
