Summary
- General Secretary of District Bar Association Sujawal Syed Ali Imran Shah, poet Ayaz Ammar Sheikh, Mahboob Brohi, Zahid Ishaque Soomro, Ramzan Memon and others expressed deep grief over his demise and termed it an irreparable loss to Sindhi literature.
- Former SSP Sujawal Ameer Saud Magsi, former Culture Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah and former Governor Imran Ismail had made efforts for his treatment and rehabilitation.
- Noted historian Dr Muhammad Ali Manjhi and journalist Iqbal Jakhro had repeatedly called Kamlani a man of multiple qualities and an avid reader of Urdu and English literature who had minutely observed Sindhi society, but lamented that apathy of society and government functionaries pushed him into oblivion.
Sujawal: Seasoned short story writer and novelist Mushtaque Kamlani passed away at a private hospital in Makli, Thatta on Sunday afternoon after a prolonged illness. His death has sent shockwaves across Sindh and left thousands of his admirers dejected.
He was brought to his ancestral village Timani, near Sujawal, for funeral and burial.
General Secretary of District Bar Association Sujawal Syed Ali Imran Shah, poet Ayaz Ammar Sheikh, Mahboob Brohi, Zahid Ishaque Soomro, Ramzan Memon and others expressed deep grief over his demise and termed it an irreparable loss to Sindhi literature.
Kamlani, 70, belonged to the generation of writers who dominated Sindhi literature in late 70s and mid-80s. Born in 1955 in village Timani, 8 kilometers from Sujawal, in a poor family, he was inspired by literary figures like Sarvech Sujawali, Muhammad Khan Majeedi and his elder brother Dr Muhammad Khan Makhmoor.
After graduating from University of Sindh, Jamshoro in 1979, he developed close association with iconic Sindhi novelist Ali Baba, which shaped his writing.
Better known by his pen name Kamlani – “the one who can do wonders” – he rose to fame through captivating short stories published in leading Sindhi dailies and magazines including Sujaag, Suhini, Maheran and Ibrat. His stories were also aired on Radio Pakistan and Akashwani India Radio. His story _Gungo Menh (Dumb Rain)_ won best short story prize from Akashwani India Radio in 1987.
His famous works include _Gungho Menh, Timbiyal Rat (Stained Blood), Thado Garo (Cold Pot), Hua-She, Gutiyal Hawa (Suffocating Wind), Laash (Corpse), Zameer Khatir_ and _Tuhnje Naale Jivan_ written during General Ziaul Haq’s era.
Despite his popularity, Kamlani vanished from literary circles and spent last more than a decade in destitution, wandering and begging on roads of Thatta and Sujawal and sleeping on footpaths.
His family claims his mental condition deteriorated after a legal battle to regain possession of his plot from land grabbers on outskirts of Sujawal. His close friends claim he was abducted by unknown men on his way back from Hyderabad around 15 years ago and kept in detention for three months where he was subjected to mental torture.
Former SSP Sujawal Ameer Saud Magsi, former Culture Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah and former Governor Imran Ismail had made efforts for his treatment and rehabilitation. In 2019, he remained under treatment at a private hospital in Karachi for three months and showed improvement, but could not sustain.
Noted historian Dr Muhammad Ali Manjhi and journalist Iqbal Jakhro had repeatedly called Kamlani a man of multiple qualities and an avid reader of Urdu and English literature who had minutely observed Sindhi society, but lamented that apathy of society and government functionaries pushed him into oblivion.
No book of his stories has been published so far, though promises were made by literary organizations.
He is survived by his brother Ahmed Khan.
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