LAHORE: World Punjabi Congress (WPC) Chairman Fakhar Zaman has stressed the need for teaching Sindhi, Balochi and Pashto in Punjab`s educational institutions and Punjabi language in other provinces.

`This will ensure the mutual, cultural and linguistic understanding among all the four federation units,` said Mr Zaman in his keynote speech at the Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Conference arranged on Wednesday by the Pakistan Academy of Letters in collaboration with the WPC and the International Writers Council.

He said that in Sindh he had seen that even Sindhi children knew about Shah Latif and Sachal Sarmast and Shahbaz Qalandar but unfortunately in Punjab the new generation was absolutely unaware of the rich Sufi heritage.

`During my visit to interior Sindh, I hear Shah Latif and Sachal Sarmast poetry spewing out of speakers in roadside dhabaas whereas when you go toPunjab you will see the dhabaas playing Indian music,` said Mr Zaman while reiterating his demand that Sufism be taught from school to university as a compulsory subject and that there should be a radical change in curriculum at all levels with the progressive writings.

The WPC chairman said this was the eighth in the series of 14 conferences on Sufi poets to be held by the end of next month, after which a gala International Conference on Sufism would be held in Lahore in November.

`These largely attended conferences on Sufi poets of provinces are being held for the first time in Pakistan,` said Mr Zaman.

He said Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai had advocated the empowerment of women and struggle against oppression of the privileged.

He said that Hazrat Bhittai in his famous `Sur Marvi` lauded the rebellion of Marvi against the king. `Surs are part and parcel of Bhittai`s poetry. In many Surs like `Sur Sassi`, `Sur Sohni`, `Sur Momal`, `Sur Noori` and `Sur Leela`, Bhittai has praised the fortitude and per-severance of the protagonist of the respective narratives,` said Mr Zaman.

Hazrat Bhittai, time and again, exhorted them to be watchful against the chicanery of men so that they were not misled and exploited as was prevalent then and even now. Hazrat Bhittai openly spoke against the feudallords, Pirs and oppressors in Sindh society and always sided with the downtrodden and multitude of poor people.

Shah Latif Bhittai had a cosmopolitan worldview when he referred in his poetry to Samarkand, Istanbul, Kabul, China, Delhi, Sri Lanka and Java. Shah Latif was a well-traveled poet in Sindh, Balochistan and the south of Punjab. He was adept at Sindhi, Arabic and Persian.

`As is known, Bhittai`s poetry was mainly collected by great historian Mirza Kaleech Beg from oral traditions and profuse dialogues with the people.

This poetry finally appeared into the shape of poetic compendium of this great poet. Shah Latif Bhittai wandered in the deserts of Thar, in the mountains, with yogis and saniyasis and learned the inner meaning of life. His poetry is influencedby Rumi, Saadi, Attar, Kabir and Shah Hussain.

`Hazrat Bhittai uses the metaphors of Thar and the blessed rains which he propounded in `Sur Sarang`. The ubiquitous Tamboora serves as a predominant symbol of his poetry. Hazrat Bhittai was a great advocate of brotherhood, piety, shunning of exhibitionism and affectation, fanaticism. He was a valiant force behind eschewing complacency and struggling for a society bereft of degeneration and dehumanisation. He preached that only selflessness and altruism can steer a nation from the turbulent waters of decadence. Hazrat Bhittai used to contemplate and introspect in his Hujrah in the basement of Shah Latif`s mazaar, which contains his cap, his stick, a cup to drink water, and a prayer mat,` said Mr Zaman.

Dr Imraana Mushtaq related the biography of Hazrat Bhittai and shed light on different dimensions of his Punjabi poetry. She said the dominant theme in Shah`s poetry was the loneliness and devotion to God.

Anees Ahmed traced the culturalbackground of Shah Latif`s writings and recited the Urdu translations of his poetry.

Dr Saima Batool read an article on the shades of Hazrat Bhittai`s poetry, his devotion to God and his abhorrence towards division of 1slam into various sects. She said that Shah`s poetry had many references from the Sufi poets of Punjab.

Sindhi writer Ali Anwar Chandio recited the Sindhi poetry of Shah Latif and said that the Sufi poets of Sindh were the integral part of the cultural ethos of Sindhi people. He dwelt upon the need of popularising Sufi poets at the inter-provincial level.

Poet Zahid Masood talked about the aesthetics in the poetry of Hazrat Bhittai and dwelt upon in a scholarly manner on the development of different dimensions in Shah`s poetry.

Academy of Letters director Asim Butt also praised Shah`s advocacy for the exaltation of women`s status in his poetry. He ensured that such conferences would be continued to be held because this leads to the national unity.