The name and literary stature of Maqsood Gul in the recent past Sindhi literature does not need any formal introduction. He is not only known as a skilful poet, and lyricist, but also as a translator, researcher, journalist, editor, columnist, fiction writer, magazine editor, and children’s writer.
We are focusing on his contribution to children’s literature in Sindhi briefly.
Maqsood Gul wrote several poems, stories and columns for children in the weekly children’s pages, being published in almost all the leading Sindhi newspapers during the decades of 1980s and 1990s, including Daily ‘Hilal-e-Pakistan’, Daily ‘Awami Awaz’ etc. He contributed a lot to Hilal Pakistan’s children’s page, in which his column, titled: ‘Timoon Sharaararti’ (The naughty Timoon) became so popular among the children’s readers and grossed earnest applause from minors as well as adults. For this weekly column series, Maqsood Gul also used to design illustrations/cartoons by himself, which enhanced the layout of the column. He also contributed to ‘Gul Phul’ (Flowers and Flowers) the monthly children’s magazine, published by the Sindhi Adabi Board, frequently.
As far as Maqsood Gul’s books are concerned after his 2 books were published in 1983 and 1985 respectively (among which, one was a compilation and the second one was a translation of short stories by Krishan Chander), his third book appeared as his poetry for children in Sindhi, which was titled: ‘Kirnna Kirnna’ (The beams). This book was published in December 1985 by Sinhrri Kitabi Silsilo, Ratodero, and contains 38 poems.
The foreword of this book is inscribed by Dr Memon Abdul Majeed Sindhi, Eminent Scholar, researcher and historian from Sindh, whereas the publisher note is written by Qazi Abdul Hayee ‘Qaail’. The appealing and meaningful title cover is designed by Fatah Halepoto, who has also written the back title remarks regarding the significance of children’s literature and Maqsood Gul’s contribution in this regard.
“Hatheeli Harnni” (The Proud Deer) is Maqsood Gul’s fifth book in overall order and the second children’s book; while this was his first book of prose for children. This collection of stories by Maqsood Gul contains a total of nine stories.
In all these stories of the book, including characterization, scenery, dialogue etc; all the qualities of traditional fiction are not only incorporated to the fullest but are also balanced so that the reader’s attention while reading them is not moved. This book was published in 1993 by Surhann Publications, Sewhan.
Besides these two books for children, Maqsood Gul also published a quarterly magazine for children in Sindhi, titled: “GULDASTO” (The Vase) purely on non-commercial bases for the progress of children’s literature in Sindh. Maqsood Gul started publishing the children’s academic literary magazine ‘Guldasto’ in May 2002 from Ratodero, district Larkana in Sindh. This demi-size magazine consisted of 12 pages and was published by Abdul Hayee Qazi Model School Ratodero. The special thing about this magazine was that it also assimilated an English section, to which four pages were dedicated at the end of each issue of the magazine. This journal became very popular among children. A total of nine (09) issues of the magazine were published and then it was discontinued. This magazine had a very imperative role in the development and expansion of Sindhi children’s literature.”
Maqsood Gul wrote dozens of children’s songs for television, which were recorded for and aired in children’s weekly Sindhi TV program ‘Roshan Tara’. These songs written by Maqsood Gul were majorly recorded between 1990 till 2010. Shahid Bhutto, an eminent music composer, who composed songs for the said TV program for more than 3 decades claims that he had composed more than 200 songs written by Maqsood Gul for children for the program ‘Roshan Tara’.
Maqsood Gul’s contribution to children’s literature in Sindhi must be much more than measured above, which can only be precisely reckoned by compiling his published works during almost 4 decades (1975-2015) sprinkled in all the children’s magazines and weekly pages, published by eminent newspapers of that time thoroughly.
This very contribution by him will always keep him thriving in the leaves of literary accounts of Sindh.
