LARKANA: The twoday `Lahoti Melo` got under way at the Police Training School here on Saturday with focus on climate change, eco-tourism and sustainability. The well-attended festival, with the theme of `Eco not ego`, was inaugurated by Sindh Minister for Culture andTourismSyedZulfikar Ali Shah, along with Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal BhuttoZardari`s political secretary MPA Jamil Soomro.

The first session, devoted to literature and history of Larkana, started with the sad news of the death of leading Sindhi poets Zulfikar Siyal and Askash Anasri.

The minister paid homage to the poets and termed their demise a great loss to the Sindhi literature.

The minister drew a wide-angle canvass of Larkana covering a variety of its qualities ranging from literature to music and to politics.

Touching the pre-historic and historical imageof Larkana, he said Mohenjo Daro stood witness to the fact that no weapon was unearthed from this ancient site.

`This speaks of the stature of peace of the Indus Civilisation ... Sindh is the land of Sufis who had always preached peace and love,` he remarked.

Another two sessions devoted to the history of Larkana under the title, Larkano sah saibano, and water issue, were held on the sidelines of the main stage. The panelists of the literary session were Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Medical University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nusrat Shah, Dr Sikandar Mughal, Prof Sikandar Abbasi, Prof Muhktiar Sammo and poet Rubina Abro. Renowned writer Rizwan Gul moderated the session.

Jamil Soomro, in his talk, encompassed contributions of giant literary figures Pir Hussamudin Rashidi, Pir Ali Mohammed Rashidi, Sobho Gianchadani and Haider Bakhsh Jatoi; and eulogised the services rendered by Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto, Nawab Nabi Bakhsh Bhutto, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, Ayoub Khuhro, Qazi Fazlullah and BarristerJan Mohammed Junejo in politics. While discussing music and judiciary, he commended contributions of folk singer Abida Parveen and retired Justice Rana Baghwandas, respectively.

Prof Mukhtiar Sammo minutely traced Larkana`s history right from Mohenjo Daro age to date.

He noted that the first educational institution in this region was founded in Mohenjo Daro which speaks of its commitmentto education. Referring to different periods of Argun and Turkhans, he touched upon the Kalhora, Soomro, Sama and Talpur dynasties and said that traditional schools and madressahs were present during those periods in Larkana. He said both Muslims and Hindus were running madressahs, dharamashalas and patshalas.

In 1864, he said, the first boys school was opened in Larkana whichwas later on converted to a vernacular school. He with references traced the evolution of education in Larkana and did not miss to speak about medical university and other institutions.

SMBBMU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nusrat Shah also talked about medical education and traced the history of Chandka Medical College, established in 1973, and medical university and their contributions to the healthsector. She noted that the university had signed memorandums of understanding with Malaysia, Turkey, Indonesia and Canada to enhance research trends.

Dr Sikandar Mughal, the author of 15 books covering different science topics, said his focus was on providing youth with scientific information beyond textbooks to broaden their perception.

It was a gigantic task to get books published, he remarked.

Poet Rubina Abro, summarising the role and contribution of late poet Akash Ansari, said he was known as the `poet of resistance` and his very quality shined till his death.

She pointed out that luminaries including Benazir Bhutto, Abida Parveen, Begum Ashraf Abbasi, Dr Hamida Khuhro and Fatima Bhutto hailed from Larkana.

Prof Sikandar Abbasi recounted contributions of Comrade Sobho Gianchandani, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Abdul Razzak Soomro and Maulvi Jan Mohammed Abbasi. He lamented that institutions are established but later neglected which is a big tragedy.