LARKANA: Speakers at the 97th birth anniversary of late leftist activist comrade Sobho Gianchandani in Bindi village, his birthplace, 30 kilometres from here, on Wednesday evening paid tribute to the comrade and vowed to follow his humanist mission and keep his philosophy alive.

The programme was jointly organised by the Comrade Sobho Gianchandani Foundation and the Sindhu Vas Foundation.

Rahat Saeed, a communist leader who presided over the programme held at a plot donated by villagers to construct the last abode of the comrade, said that cutting the birthday cake of the comrade at his birthplace spoke volumes for `our love for the comrade and appreciation of his services`.

He said: `We feel he is here with us. The villagers donated 1,700 square feet for the con-struction of the comrade`s samadhi, as his remains had been kept in a temple in Larkana for two years.

Rahat Saeed unveiled the samadhi`s map, which was prepared by comrade Tansneem Rizvi, an architect of Lahore. The Samadhi map envisages a library and a big hall.

Riaz Shah, president of Anjuman Taraqqi Pasand Musannifeen, said that it was the love of the comrade that had pulled them all to his village. `We are followers of the comrade and heirs of his philosophy to which he remained committed throughout his life,` he said.

Engineer Nirmal, the comrade`s son, said that his father had taught him to love the land and its people throughout his life. `I am committed to ..

transferring the vision and wisdom he had been sharing with me,` he said.

Jagdesh Ahuja called the late comrade an asset and said they would continue organising such gatherings to keep the comrade`s philosophy alive.Gulab Pirzado, Anwar Dingraey, biographer of the comrade; Jam Jamali, vice president Anjuman Taraqqi Pasand Musannifeen; Mohammad Ali Pathan, author of seven books, paid tribute to the comrade and vowed to work for his humanist mission.

They said the comrade was a straightforward person and a man of commitment. He was time and again advised toleave Pakistan buthe preferred to live and die in Sindh, they said.

Arts Council of Pakistan, Larkana chapter, held another programme to pay tribute to the comrade on Wednesday night.

It was organised by the Sindhi Adabi Sangat and Sarmad Chandio, a well-known Sindhi poet, presided over it.

The speakers at the programme recalled the services of the comrade in the field of politics, literature and trade unionism, and paid him rich tribute.

Sikandar Hulio, Jahangir Abbasi, Sattar Hulio and others also spoke at the event.