Born in 1924, Shad started as a romantic poet at the raw age of fourteen. Later his poetry came under the influence of the Quit India Movement, and ranged further, from the agony of partition to progressivism.
In 1957, he published “Aun ghityun jo gaeendar” (I am the Street – singer). By then he had already won the first prize in All India Poetry competition.
His literary career soared higher as he tread past one position to another; professor, editor, Member of Board of Sindhi studies and the Film Censor Board, Chairmanships of various prestigious institutions like the NCERT, NFDC and the Sindhi Department in Bombay University, and also the first ever doctorate in sindhi gazal without a guide.
He won the celebrated Soviet Nehru Peace Award thrice, especially for his translation of Russian poems plus the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar for his poetic collection “Andho Doonhon”.
Shad’s ghazals are lyric expressions of his various perceptions where he leaves the stamp of his own individuality, a commitment to life alone, as he feels that life is larger than any ism or dogma.
In recognition of his contribution to Sindhi literature and teaching achievements, he was recently awarded an honorary position specially instituted for him in Jai Hind College as Professor Emeritus. Immediately after his superannuating, Dr. Shad became the first – ever Principal Investigator for Major Research Project on Post – Partition Sindhi Literature, granted by the University Grants Commission.
Today Sindh proudly remembers him as a perfect Sindhi ideal worth pursuing.
A. J. UTTAM
One of the Trimurti of Sindhi literature and culture A.J. Uttam has played a very important role in the development of Sindhi language and culture. Inclined to the Marxist ideology he is the backbone of 'Nai Duniya' a magazine published in Sind and revived in India. Author of several books of short stories novels and many articles in journals A.J. Uttam is till date an active contributor of analytical articles for 'Jhulelal' Weekly. A veritable encyclopaedia storehouse of information and collector of books on Sindhi art language and culture he is at present engaged in writing a book on the 'Fifty Years of Sindhiyat'.
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