Her, Soc: The Next Samellan Program

[Gul Agha <agha@CS.UIUC.EDU>]

I received a draft of the next Sindhi Samellan program from an
organizing committee member (it is marked for my personal information
only so I am not posting it).  While the final shape is yet to be
determined, it promises to be a culturally exciting and educational
event.  The organizers are making a special effort and commitment to
introduce Sindhi culture.  Included in the program will be a start
with the Sindhi National Anthem by Shaikh Ayaz ('hina desa jii
dhartii..'), animated skits telling stories of the heroines in Sindhi
folktales found in Shah Latif's poetry, and a music program dedicated
to the great Sindhi scholar and singer Professor Ram Punjwani.  They
are trying to get musicians from Sindh and India for this program.

This dedication of the program is particularly meaningful for me as
the late Professor Punjwani was a good friend of my father, and
recently I learned that they both lamented their separation at
partition.  I also obtained a tape of Professor Punjwani's final
concert [sufi-aarnii chonkii] on earth, recorded two days before his
demise, from the Indian Institute of Sindhology.  In it, saaiin
Punjwani says his people are the Sindhi people whereever they be and
prays that if God grants him another life, he only wishes that he be
born once again on the banks of Sindhu.  His final public
pronouncement includes an exhortation to the Sindhi people to preserve
their language till the end of time.

Once again, I will be presenting a slide show giving glimpses of Sindh
and tell stories about its people and their culture.  I am working to
update this with new slides and information as I have been asked to
speak for a longer time.  I also hope to further enrich the slide
lecture so that even people who saw it the last time may once more
enjoy it.

sadaaiin ggaddu,

Gul Agha