My Book ADH-MULAKAAT (Letter Writing is Half Meeting) is launched

[Zulfiqar Halepoto]

Dear Friends Finally Book is launched by ROSHNI PUBLISHER, Hyderabad. Book is now available at all main book stores  of Sindh. I am again delighted to share this news with you that another book (forth in the series) of mine ‘ADH-MULAKAAT’ (half meeting) is now launched in the market. This 300 pages book is published by Pakistan’s leading publishing house ROSHANI Publishers Hyderabad. Forward is written by renowned writer, educationist and chairperson Sindhi Language Authority, Dr Fehmida Hussain. Introduction of the writer is written by young critic and columnist Ali Aakash. Beautiful title is conceived and crafted by Kaptan Abro. In Sindhi literature the tradition of letter writing has always got great attention and space by political thinkers, writers, intellectuals, poets, social workers and philanthropists. Before the encroachment of technological advancement in the shape of the culture of text messaging, Skype and email, there used to be a rich culture of writing letters to each other. This practice has provided a qualitative portion of excellent writing by the political leadership, intellectuals, writers and academia of Sindh. There was a time when a substantial portion of the knowledge about socio- cultural, economic and political development is documented in the shape of letter-writings. The letters of G.M Sayyed to different people of sub-continent, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s, letters to her beloved Pinky (Shaheed Benazir Bhutto), letters of Allama I.I. Kazi, Miran Muhammad Shah, Muhammad Ibrahim Joyo, Karim Bux Nizamani, Dr Nabi Bux Khan Baloch, Rashdi brother, Abdul Qadir Junejo and others have occupy a great space in the sindhi literature (both fiction and political). If we bestow a cursory look at the literature of Sub Continent we will find that the literary limb of Letter writing ‘KHAT NAWISEE’ enjoys an exclusive place and position in literature, almost in all the major languages of the region. Some renowned Sindhi and Urdu writers got a wholesome legroom in this particular field. Letters from GHALIB to FAIZ are exceptional piece of writing. Today, unfortunately this rich literary form of writing is declining due to the influence of technological advancement but if we look at the written literature, it gives us an encouragement to continue with this tradition and form of writing. In this regard, I have written letters to people who have influenced my life and to those who impressed me through their work and contribution. These people have influenced the fields of politics, literature and social activism and played their role in the transformation of their respective societies through their work. Some letters are written symbolically to those who are not alive but they are addressed in a literary manner and were praised for their great contributions. My letters are written to the following great personalities of Sindh and sub-continent. 1. Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Saheba (martyr, political leader and author) 2. Muhammad Ibrahim Joyo (scholar, author and living legend) 3. Comrade Sobho Gianchandani (living legend- graduate of SHANTI NIKATIN) 4. Dr Nabi Bux Khan Balouch (educationist, anthropologist and linguist) 5. Shaikh Ayaz (great poet of sub-continent) 6. Sami (great secular poet of Sindh) 7. Mirza Ghalib (poet of every century) 8. Faiz Ahmed Faiz (another great poet) 9. Siraj ul Haque Memon (novelist, critic and analyst) 10. Arundhoty Roy (anti-dam movement icon and writer) 11. Aasma Jahangir (president Pakistan Bar Council and human rights defender) 12. Amina Sayyed (head of Oxford University Press, Pakistan) 13. Murad Ali Mirza (novelist, broadcaster and an exceptional reader) 14. Sassui Palijo (minister culture, government of Sindh) 15. Dr Sono Khangharani (development practitioner, friend and mentor) 16. Nazir Memon (water expert and human rights activists) 17. Irshad Laghari (my best friend, writer and connoisseur on Shah Latif Bhittai) 18. Gul Hasan Kalmati (travelogue writer, anthropologist and surveyor) 19. Zahoor Ahmed Khan (director Fiction House Publications Lahore) 20. Last sunset of year 2010 Love Zulfi