By Manzoor Ujjan
“Literature should not only be a reflection of the society but also a means of adapting people to new avenues of awakening. The writer should be pro-people and should write about public suffering. The progressive poet should not be with extremism but with tolerance. We can all live together in peace”, said Mazhar Leghari, a Sindhi poet while speaking at an online meeting with intellectuals and writers on Friday.
Leghari was speaking at the 9th session of the educational and literary online series initiated by Ramesh Raja and Manzoor Ujjan on Zoom online software.
Famous intellectuals, journalists and writers including Jami Chandio, Hussain Jarwar, Mahesh Kumar, Nadeem Ahmar from Canada, Dr. Khushal Kalani from the USA, Taslim Mazhar from the Netherlands, Kaka Singh from Germany, Danish Parmar from Hungary, Zeeshan Jatoi from Russia, Manzoor Sethar from Bahrain, Dodo Khathian from Dubai and other learned friends shed light on the art and thought of Mazhar Leghari. While young artist Saeed Abid Phul got praise by singing the poetry of Mazhar Leghari.
Talking about the current situation and happenings in Sindh, the guest poet Mazhar Leghari said “The problems of Sindh are mostly of a class system. Yes, the feudal is responsible for all the destruction, they are looting more than ever by keeping their share and that of their masters, and their nominal public accountability is now becoming further less and less.”
Explaining the solution to the dangers of extremism Sindh is facing Leghari said that not with extremism, but with tolerance, we can all live together in peace. Such experiences have been done by the West in the recent past and now they are living in peace. “We have a history of centuries on this issue, which must be understood and tolerance must be maintained.” Insulting religions, ideologies, culture and human beings is an animal act, such acts in Sindh are external transplantation. Protecting and preserving the historical heritage, traditions and culture should be the foremost social duty of today’s writers.
Talking about his poetry, Leghari said that his poetry is against the monarchy and capitalism and for the oppressed class, especially the peasants, labourers and working men and women. In the environment of propagating government ideologies by so-called intellectuals, there is little hope that this poetry will reach the masses directly but Ramesh Raja, Manzoor Ujjan and his colleagues are making their effort, which is commendable.
Talking about the social role of the writer, he said that in this age of modern digital videography, there is no room for haste and temporary attitudes; U-turners and non-serious writers. I am ideologically steadfast and agree with and adhere to every word and letter of my old poetry. Asked about politics and poetry, he said that poetry has done its job, but if politics works in the right direction.
On this occasion, progressive intellectual Jami Chandio said that Mazhar’s poetry is a true story of the sufferings of people and also documents the struggle of the revolutionary people of Sindh. The corrupt state system, bad governance, human rights violations, water scarcity and natural disasters are the main themes of his writings and poetry.
Hussain Jarwar said that Mazhar Leghari challenged the dictatorial regime with his poems like “Don’t Stop the Winds”. The colours of happiness, sorrow, romance, migration, earth, beauty and nature are prominently scattered on the canvas of his poetry.
Concluding the program, Manzoor Ujjan said that Mazhar Leghari’s poetry reflects the pain of the people and the earth. His poetry is full of hatred and resistance to oppression.
In his welcome remarks, Ramesh Raja introduced the guest poet and said that Mazhar Leghari is a writer who believes in quality and not quantity, he reads more and writes less but the best. His poetry is a confluence of global and local trends. Favourite and preferred columnist and poet of all progressive and liberal people of Pakistan.
