HYDERABAD: Speakers paid rich tributes to educationist and linguist Shamsuddin Ursani for his services in the fields of education and literature, on his Erst death anniversary held at a local hotel the other day. His book Dil ji gaalh was also launched at the event.

Sindh Graduates Association (SGA) founder Dr Suleman Shaikh regretted that Sindhi language had not been given due importance in provincial e ducational institutions.

He said the government should not consider education a political matter, adding that threats to languages in the world were due to unwillingness to teach mother languages in the education system.He said that as long as a child did not learn mother language, he would fail to understand nature.

He called for moving the court of law to force private schools to impart Sindhi language. He stated that like a private company`s schools, all other private schools should teach mother language.

Sindhi language would keep facing threats unless it became the language of education and parents should also give it due importance, he added.

He observed that since children were being taught English at the nursery level, they did not understand the Sindhi language. He said Shamsuddin Ursani had himself become a `movement` to ensure imparting of education in Sindhi language at the school and collegelevels. He said that around 6,000 languages were spoken in the world and in near future around 50 per cent to 90pc of them would become extinct.

He called for a struggle aimed at saving Sindhi language. He said that instead of Sindhi, ef forts were under way at the government level to impart Chinese language. He said that youth faced greater challenges today which must be accepted. He said he was happy to see a Bheel community youth as Chinese interpreter in Thar coal project; the youth must cash in on such opportunities.

He urged the youth to love their mother tongue as it would help understand other languages more easily. He said Ursani earned a name by studying in a governmentschool of Hala. He said the institution that Ursani had established had become an exemplary one.

He said Saleem Ursani, who livedintheUS,andDrShamsuddin Ursani together had established educational institutes for Sindhi and English languages in villages and cities where scientific education was being imparted.

Shoukat Ujjan, a researcher, said Shamsuddin Ursani was a big linguist and critic. He said he used to distinguish old and new languages. He maintained that he always tried to build educational institutions and he remained steadfast for promotion of Sindhi language and literature.

Taj Joyo, a writer, said Ursani had written extensively on all subjects and worked on children`s lit-erature besides producing scientific content. Mr Ujjan said Ursani used to write a column in an Urdu daily, courageously highlighting harmony between Urduand Sindhi-speaking communities. He stated that he had worked on Sindhi language`s social aspects.

A researcher, Altaf Memon, pointed out that he was a linguist and had preserved literary assets.

He said Ursani had worked on modern philosophy and scientific evolution in an easy way.

Zulfiqar Halepoto, a writer, stated that there was a difference in the thinking of rural and urban Sindhis and this gap should be filled.

A drama, Shaig Latifi penned by Dr Shamsuddin was also staged on the occasion.