22/01/2024
Launching Ceremony of Historical Books and Research Web Portal by Sindh Archives
In a momentous ceremony held on the 19th of January 2024, at the Mohammad Ibrahim Joyo Auditorium, Liaqat Library Karachi, Sindh Archives proudly launched six historical books and a Research Web Portal, marking a significant milestone in preserving and disseminating the rich historical heritage of the region. The distinguished guests present at the ceremony included Dr. Syed Junaid Ali Shah, Minister for Culture, Antiquities, Archives, Sports & Youth Affairs, and His excellency Engineer Sami Abdullah Salim Al Khanjari, Consul General of the Sultanate of Oman in Karachi, Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The ceremony commenced with a welcome speech by Mr. Munawar Ali Mahesar, Director General Culture, who provided an overview of the event and introduced the attendees to the historical books and the Research Web Portal. Expressing gratitude, he extended thanks to all participants and distinguished guests for their presence.
The following historical books, long-awaited and eagerly anticipated, were officially launched during the ceremony:
1. Survey of River Indus (map series 1920 to 1930) – A selection from the records of Sindh Archives, compiled by Mahdi Shah.
2. Alphabetical Catalogue of the contents of the Pre-Mutiny Records of the commissioner in Sind 1857. (Reproduced)
3. General Administration Report of the Shikarpur Collectorate 1898-99. – (Original compiled by H. C. Mules Esquire, Collector of Shikarpur, Edited by Mahdi Shah.
4. Maktaba’e Ma’aroofia Matiari (مکتبہ معروفیہ مٹیاری) (A Research catalogue of manuscripts) | Compiled by Abdul Qadeer Rajpar.
5. Karachi in British Rule (انگريز راڄ ۾ ڪراچي) – Written by Bahram Sohrab Rustamji, Translated by: Prof. Aijaz Qureshi & Prof. Abdul Sattar Baloch.
6. Masjid Manzilgah (The Test Case for Hindu-Muslim Relations in Sindh – Compiled by Mukhtiar Ahmed Mallah)
Prior to the book launch, Honorable Minister Dr. Syed Junaid Ali Shah presented souvenirs to the Chief Guest, His excellency Engineer Sami Abdullah Salim Al Khanjari, Consul General of the Sultanate of Oman in Karachi, Islamic Republic of Pakistan. These exquisite gifts were adorned with the rare seals of Sindh’s collectorates, rulers & Kalhora regime.
In the midst of the session, the audience was captivated by the enchanting music of Mohenjo Daro, “Borendo,” played on the ancient musical instrument made of clay, by Mr. Zulfiqar Lund.
Mr. Amar Fayaz Buriro, Director of the Abdul Majid Bhurgri Institute of Language Engineering, showcased the Research Web Portal of Sindh Archives. The portal, accessible at archives.sindhculture.gov.pk, provides an online catalog of over 300,000 records from the British Raj era, along with PDF versions of books published by Sindh Archives. Mr. Buriro highlighted that more than 1.6 million documents have been scanned and will soon be available online for public access.
Honorable Minister Dr. Syed Junaid Ali Shah commended the tireless efforts of Mr. Roshan Ali Kanasro, the Director of Sindh Archives, who played a pivotal role in making these developments possible. Dr. Shah acknowledged Mr. Kanasro’s dedication and multifaceted involvement in various projects, emphasizing the consistent delivery of fruitful outcomes for the betterment of the Sindh province. In expressing his appreciation, he stated: “I am delighted to lead a team comprised of visionary and innovative developers, such as Mr. Amar Fayaz Buriro, whose concept and dream for this online web portal project has materialized.” He further remarked, “I apologize for not mentioning specific names from our dedicated team; however, I must emphasize that I am fortunate to have an extensive team in the Culture Department.”
Dr. Syed Junaid Ali Shah underscored the historical significance of the launched books, describing them as windows to the past. He noted that these publications, particularly the survey of the Indus River, offer valuable insights into the region’s history, illustrating the changing course of the river before the development of the irrigation system. The Minister expressed confidence that these books would serve as crucial reference material for students of history and researchers.
The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks offered by Mr. Yasir Qazi, who expertly moderated the entire session, expressing gratitude to all involved in making the event a resounding success.
