THATTA: Speakers at a literary conference called for spreading the revolutionary message of Sindh’s great warrior mystic, Sufi Shah Inayat Shaheed, and urged the government to establish an international university in lower Sindh to teach the warrior saint’s ideology and help restore peace and tranquility in the region.

The literary conference was organised at Thatta Press Club on Thursday on the eve of annual Urs of Shah Inayat. Nationalist leader, writer and intellectual Abdul Wahid Arisar said that understanding and preaching the philosophy of Shah Inayat was the need of the hour. “It has in it a remedy for starvation, poverty, unemployment and peace,” he said.

Dr Mohammad Ali Manjhi shed light on the life of the warrior saint and said that Shah Inayat transcended all human barriers and reached the height of spirituality and fana (annihilation) in his life.

He said that it was in recognition of his lofty place in the mystic world that thousands still thronged his shrine, be they Muslims or non-Muslims, rich or poor. He was the first social reformer of Sindh and the 17th revolutionary from Jhoke Sharif near Thatta who was executed by the army of Moghul emperor in the early 18th century, he said.

Head of Shah Inayat Adabi Forum, Sufi Hazoor Bux; chairman of Sindh Cultural Forum, Sadiq Lakho, and Obhayo Khushk, said that Shah Inayat was martyred for leading a small army of peasants of his area who challenged the domination of the Moghul kings, local feudal lord and orthodox Mulllas.

Thatta Press Club president Mehboob Brohi, advocate Liaquat Jamari and others said the slogan of Shah Inayat’s movement was “Jo Kherey so Khaye” (he who tills has the right to yield).

The speakers were of the opinion that time was appropriate now to spread the message and legacy of Sufi Shah Inayat Shaheed.

Before the conclusion of the conference the participants passed unanimously a resolution, demanding the establishment of an international university of Sufism to learn and spread the message of Sufism. They also demanded withdrawal of government decision to set up a university in Hyderabad on ethnic grounds.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2014