Kamran Khamiso Khowaja
Veteran Historian, Writer, Philosopher, Educationist and Former Vice-Chancellor of Sindh University and Allama Iqbal Open University Dr. Ghulam Ali Allana breathed his last after a brief illness at his residence in Hyderabad. He was 90 Dr. Allana, an eminent literary figure of the country was born on 15 March 1930 at Tarr Khowaja an old but progressive village of Sindh. He received his early education in his village Tarr Khowaja, and then moved first to Mirpur bathoro and Tando Mahommed Khan and then to Karachi for Higher Education. He did his B. A from Government College Hyderabad in 1953, He later did his M.A in Sindhi from University of Sindh in 1955. Following his outstanding performance during his academic career, he was sent to London by the university for further studies. There he not only did his MA in Linguistics from SOAS University London but also researched issues of languages and their solutions. After his return to Pakistan, he carried on with his studies and became the first student to complete a Ph.D. from the University of Sindh in 1971. Initially, Dr. Allana Started Serving as a Lecturer of Sindhi at his alma mater in 1958. Because of his thirst for knowledge and intact commitment towards the Sindhi Language he was appointed the director of the institute of Sidiology in 1963 and remained on the designation till 1983. His tireless efforts for the development of Languages, especially the Sindhi Language took him to Allama Iqbal Open University, where under his guidance and leadership significant work was done on the modernization and improvisation of the Sindhi Language. In 1983 he was appointed the Vice-Chancellor and continued to serve on that post till 1989. “Honorable Dr.. Allana breathed a new soul in the Sindhi Language, he was the one who arranged and improvised the Sindhi Language so that it could run Parallel with other modern Languages of the World, Dr. Mohammad Ali Manjhi Said; The seasoned scholar was also instrumental in the publication of the Sindhi dictionary and the formation of the encyclopedia Sindhiana, a project initiated by the Sindhi language authority for the development of the Sindhi language. He also remained Vice-Chancellor of Sindh University in 1993 and worked peerlessly for the progression and advancement of the institution where he once studied as a student. However,, in the early days he tried a hand in poetry with the pen name “Nashad ”. along with it he also wrote a Sindhi novel “Lash” ( corpse) that was published in 1954. Renowned Environmentalist and his Kinsman, Dr. Mansoor Khuwaja Said that; Today the country has been deprived of the finest Scholar, philosopher, and educationist. His eminent work and Services will always remain a Source of Inspiration for the whole nation; he added. Around 40 books and 60 research papers have been authored by him on different aspects of the Sindhi Language and its teaching methodologies. His Book (Larr Jee Adabi Aen Sakafati Tarekh) is probably considered a marvelous feat substantiated by him. For his meritorious services in the field of Literature and Education, he was bestowed with Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 1993 by the Government of Pakistan. In 1983 Writer Guilds honored him with the award of excellence for his splendid services in the field of literature. People from different walks of life paid him tribute and called his demise an irreparable loss, to Sindhi Language (Courtesy A book written by Khuwaja Bux Ali Shad).
(-The writer is a Law Student and Columnist based in Sujawal.)
