HYDERABAD: The “5th Memorial Conference of Khalifa Nabi Bakhsh Qasim”, a multilingual poet, was held at the Institute of Sindhology, Sindh University, on Tuesday, where speakers discussed Qasim’s poetry and said he had represented the voice of the people of his era.

It was chaired by SU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Fateh Mohammad Marri, while Sindhi Language Authority (SLA) Chairman Dr Sher Mehrani was the chief guest. It was organised by the Khalifa Nabi Bakhsh Qasim Memorial Committee in collaboration with SU’s Sindhi department and the SLA.

The VC said Khalifa Nabi Bakhsh’s poetry was a continuation of the Latifi tradition, and that he was an important poet of his time, who carved out a distinct and unique place for himself by composing poetry in different languages simultaneously.

He said Khalifa’s poetry was rich in aesthetic colours, and that whatever he saw and felt, he expressed in poetry. The VC termed him a bold poet, adding that all the surs of his Risalo represented the voice of the people and reflected the conditions of that era.

The VC offered SU’s support for the republication of Khalifa’s Risalo. He urged SU students to conduct research on his poetry and create paintings based on his poetic concepts to carry forward his poetic thought, and said such conferences played an important role in introducing their scholarly and literary contributions to the new generation.

Dr Sher Mehrani said Khalifa Nabi Bakhsh Qasim’s poetry was a great asset, containing prominent aesthetic and resistance elements. He said Khalifa was unique in his time but did not receive the recognition he deserved. He said the SU VC was a visionary personality and that significant changes could be seen at the university since his arrival. He said they were working in mutual collaboration to organise an international conference on Shah Latif, to be held soon.

Convener of the Khalifa Nabi Bakhsh Memorial Committee, Dr Mohammad Ismail Kumbhar, highlighted the objectives of the conference, saying that the voice of the land was reflected in Khalifa’s poetry and that further work was needed on his available poetic works. Committee Secretary and journalist Dodo Chandio shed light on Khalifa’s poetry and shared his memories associated with the university.

Dr Mohammad Ali Manjhi said Qasim’s style of presentation was unique. His poetry was deeply influenced by Shah Latif, while his metaphors were a treasure trove of words.

Dr Rehana Mallah said imagination was clearly visible in Khalifa’s poetry. His poetry contained an intensity of love and longing to meet his beloved. His major identity was patriotism and resistance.

Dr Tufail Ahmed Chandio said Khalifa Nabi Bakhsh Qasim was a poet who was a custodian of civilisation. His poetry reflected the rebellious Sufi tradition of Mansoor bin Hallaj, while his Saraiki poetry bore the influence of Baba Fareed.

Mukhtiar Abro said that since ancient times, Sindh had maintained a strong tradition of tolerance and harmony, while playing a strong role of resistance for its survival. He said Khalifa had brilliantly documented the Battle of Khariri.

Writer Taj Joyo presented his paper on Khalifa, mentioning that each of his surs reflected the aesthetic qualities and beauty of thought.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2026