LARKANA: A book of short stories in Sindhi Toofan mein kakhaon ghar (A straw-made hut in a storm) written by prominent playwright, short story writer and poet Mohammad Ali Pathan was launched here under the aegis of University of Sindh Larkana campus the other day.

The gathering was presided over by SU VC Prof Dr Fateh Mohammad Burfat. This was the writer`s 16th bookcataloguedinSindhiliterature.Speaking on the occasion he said that the stories in this book were true representation of the conditions of society. The pain of downtrodden people was painted in the stories in an artistic way which impressed the readers profoundly.

He said that good writers were like libraries and encyclopaedias that acquainted masses with factual phenomenon of society and condition of people who lived in it.

Mr Pathan had a good understanding of history, he said.

History always taught lessons andshowed picture of past. He eulogised Pathanfor his steadfastness in producing literature which was based on his observadon and experiences.

Pathan said that `what I see happening before me, I reflect on it. I can`t compromise with injustice and excesses being meted out to common people. When I see it happening my pen comes into action and thus poetry and stories are produced.

Prof Dr Azhar Ali Shah, focal person of Larkana campus welcomed the audience and said that itwas honour for him for being a host of launching ceremony of valued book of stories written by Pathan.

Prof Abdul Waheed Chandio said that stories in the book were like an X-ray of prevailing situation of the society. The writer of the stories had written them in a simple but communicative language in a manner of dialogue as the English writer Chaucer had painted, as how England was in the 14th century.

Essa Memon, secretary of Sindhi Adabi Sangat (SAS), Larkana chapter, said that the writer`s stories were good examples of modernshort stories in Sindhi.

Rifa Bukhari said that characters in Pathan`s stories were true, adding that his treatment of the main theme of the stories was very good.

Azad Anwer Kandhiro, central spokesman of SAS, said that Pathan was a prolific writer who had written profusely on the issues existing in society. His writings werelikehisheartfeltcommentary on current affairs.

Zulfikar Rajpar, Prof Abdul Fatah Suprio, Adil Shar and others also spoke on the occasion.