The prolific and empathetic lyric poet and writer Haq Nawaz alias Imam Bux Mangi has been remembered for his outstanding collection of luminous poems which are suffused with a great sense of history, storytelling skills, passion and promise of joy.
He was born on December 7 in 1948 in Shikarpur, and started writing in 1965 under the guidance of Azar Nayab Siddiqui.
He wrote under the pen name, ‘Naqsh Nayab Mangi’, and was one of the founding members of the Mehran Publication.
He further laid down the foundation of Kitab Mahal Publication Shikarpur, and formed the Shikarpur Historical Society and the Sindhi Writer Yadgar Committee with an aim to protect literature and culture.
His body of work is expansive including “Shikarpur Tareekh Jay Aienay Main”, “Shikarpur Hik Abhyaas”, “Shikarpur Sadiyan Kha” and “Asan Ja Adeeb, Asan Ja Shair” with a remarkable influence on young poets and readers.
He worked in the Irrigation department and rendered his services in Shikarpur, Kashmore and Rohri town of Sukkur district.
Following paralysis and illness in 2005, he could not complete many books including “The Wells and the Khohiyoon”, which refers to a form of small and deep wells usually dug by Shikarpur’s people in their homes, “The Temples and the Marhiyoon, which refers to small temples where at least eight to ten people can offer prayers according to Hinduism under a Pojari of Shikarpur, “The Tombs and the Graveyards of Shikarpur”, and “The Mohallas and Havellies of Shikarpur.”
Meanwhile, his son Haseeb Nayab Mangi has become a well noted personality in Shikarpur for continuing his father’s work by collecting relevant data and improving his insight, and consequently earned a lot of respect for possessing historical knowledge.
He described his father as “a singularly adept, seemingly effortless, absolutely exemplary, lyric poet, author of numerous volumes.”
He recalled his memories, and said that his father permitted youths to access his personal library.
He died after a protracted illness at his residence on October 7 in 2011.
People of Shikarpur have paid rich tributes to him on his birth and death anniversaries.
Published in Daily Times, September 11th 2018.
