Shahbaz Sharif condoles the death of Agha Saleem

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the death of Agha Saleem, renowned writer and intellectual.

In a condolence message, the Chief Minister prayed that may Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and strength to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude. The Chief Minister said that services of Agha Saleem for Sindhi literature will be remembered for a long time.

Agha Saleem was a well known story writer, novelist and playwright of Sindhi language. He had written various novels including Ondhahi Dharti Roshan Hath’a and Hama Oost. One of his most renowned poetry books is Pan Chhann Khan Poe. His latest work is the extensive translation into English & Urdu of the Melodies of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, a legendary Sufi saint known for his philosophy of love expressed through poetry.
At the Critical Discourse Session, Agha Saleem highlights the theme of Love & Peace expressed in the great poet’s magnum opus and draws comparisons from works of other poets and writers on similar themes. He also discussed the challenges he faced in translating such a great body of work and his efforts in capturing the essence of the words the way they are meant to be understood rather than just the literal meanings. He used to say that the poetry of Bhittai has sprouted from the soil of Sindh and that translating it is like translating the entire province, its history, geography, folklore, culture and civilization whose roots are deep down in the Indus Valley Civilization.