Literati gather for launch of Urdu version of Dr Qasim Bughio’s Sindhi reflections

ISLAMABAD: A book titled “Shakhs-o-Aks — Tar Damani Pe Sheikh Hamari Na Jaiyo” — the Urdu translation of renowned poet, writer, researcher and linguist Dr Qasim Bughio’s Sindhi essays, was launched in Islamabad.

The 225-page book, Shakhs-o-Aks (person and portrait), has been translated into Urdu by Sajid Soomro and published by the Anjuman-e-Taraqqi Urdu under the title “Tar Damani Pe Sheikh Hamari Na Jaiyo“.

This book is dedicated to “every collective effort ever made for the betterment of human society, and every human being who has strived for the greater good of humanity.”

The book opens with excerpts from Socrates’ final speech: “Whoever meets me, I will encourage him, examine him, awaken the human within him. If I find that he claims to be virtuous but is not, I will reprimand him.”

 “If someone is to ruin me, it won’t be Meletus or Anytus — those who think ill of me. The world has ruined many before and will continue to do so. There is no danger that it will stop after I’m gone.”

The launch ceremony for Dr Bughio’s book was recently held by the NEPS Literary Society, a student organisation under the National Institute of Pakistan Studies (NIPS), Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad.

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The event featured speakers including Dr Humaira Ashfaq, Dr Hassan-ul-Ameen, Dr Amanullah Memon, Dr Saeed Rind, Dr Hakim Ali Buriro, Dr Manzoor Wisro, Iqbal Hussain Afkar, and Ms Saeeda Manza, who shared insights on Dr Bughio’s contributions to literature, linguistics and scholarship. The session was admirably moderated by Mr Farooq Talib.

Dr Hassan-ul-Ameen, Director of NIPS, thanked the Literary Society for organising such an event and inviting prominent intellectuals. He said it was a privilege for the institute to host this launch and expressed joy at seeing students turning to literature alongside their academic pursuits.

Dr Ameen described Dr Bughio as a towering intellectual whose homeland gave birth to a great civilisation, traces of which are evident in modern Sindhi literature. He added that the Urdu translation would help readers across Pakistan understand Sindh’s literary landscape.

Iqbal Hussain Afkar shared that he has known Dr Bughio since before he became Chairman of the Pakistan Academy of Letters, a position he served with distinction by promoting regional literatures and strengthening the institution with his natural abilities.

Dr Humaira Ashfaq, Chairperson of the Urdu Department at International Islamic University, said Dr Bughio, like Ahmad Salim, is committed to uniting Pakistani society. By translating his Sindhi work into Urdu, he has connected readers of all Pakistani languages to Sindhi literary thought, and enabled the youth to connect with their cultural past.

Dr Amanullah Memon spoke about the significance of translation, noting that despite sharing a country, we remain unaware of one another’s literary scenes. He called for more translations of regional literature into Urdu, like Dr Bughio’s, to bridge this gap.

Dr Hakim Ali Buriro, a Sindhi scholar from Allama Iqbal Open University, observed that Dr Bughio’s work bridges a 300-year gap between Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and Sheikh Ayaz.

The figures discussed in the book span generations — those who came before Dr Bughio, his own time, and those who will come after — and the book weaves them all together.

Saeed Rind remarked that Dr Bughio is a progressive intellectual who uses his talents for collective social good. Despite being a linguist and researcher, his writing is accessible and rooted in simple language.

Chairperson of NEPS Literary Society, Ms Saeeda Manza, said the event would not have been possible without the support of the professors, especially Director Dr Hassan-ul-Ameen. She thanked her fellow Literary Society members for their efforts.

Dr Manzoor Wisro thanked all the guests for attending and speaking on Dr Bughio’s personality and work. He also appreciated the efforts of Ms Manza and Talib in organising the event.

Dr Qasim Bughio expressed his delight at the presence of both literary friends and a large number of students. He said while he loves engaging in dialogue and answering students’ questions, today’s event was one-sided. Still, he hoped attendees gained something meaningful and invited questions afterward.

He clarified that the book is not a collection of traditional sketches, though it is biographical in nature. Many writers have written on the same personalities featured in his essays, and more will do so in the future. What distinguishes his work, he said, is a unique perspective—his essays reflect what personally moved him in each figure and bring out those distinctive traits.

Dr Bughio concluded by thanking the NIPS faculty, director, and Literary Society for organising the event.