By Rehan Ali Khushik
DADU, OCT 29: Taj Mohammad Sahrai is widely considered as a polymath who devoted his entire life for the aim of extending quality education and research especially for the people of District Dadu. He born on Sep 14, 1921 at Shikarpur. He moved from Shikarpur to Dadu city after the creation of Pakistan in 1951 along with his father Mr. Noor Muhammad Memon, Advocate Ali Ahmed Qureshi, Hakeem Saleh Panhwar and others. He passed his simple life and lived at Jagatabad mohalla of Dadu city till his death. He worked as a higher secondary school teacher and conducted research on archeological, historical sites in Sindh especially focused on Dadu district. As a teacher and as an administrator he never compromised on the principles and on the quality of education and is highly regarded and remains alive in the hearts of people.
He instituted and remained the founder headmaster of Talib ul Moula High School Dadu as well as played leading role in establishment of Allama I I Kazi Library Dadu, Dadu Educational Society, Dadu Historical Society, Qalandar Adabi Conference and Sindh Museum. He was an excellent command of poetry of the great poets of Sindh Shah Abdul Bhitai, Sachal Sarmast and Ustad Bukhari. His poetry expresses progressive, liberal and secular views on achieving the human ideals of beloved, beauty and wisdom.
He wrote over a dozen of books on history, archeology, music and education. The Lake of Manchhar is one of his famous books, as described very well on dwellers of Manchhar and civilization. Beside this, he had worked on research on Caves Kai men made caves related with early stone age, historical sites located in Kachho desert belt, Kheer Thar Ranges mountains, world biggest fort Rani Koat, Amri remains, Sehwan fort, and remains of Kalhoroa and Talpur ruler’s era. His research work is cited by researchers and follows his research as a guide line. His work on Indus Civilization is also authenticated.
He also contributed many Sindhi language books i.e. Sindhu Tahzeeb (1989), Pani Lok (1996), Dadu Zilo Geography aen Tareekh je Aienye Main, Kheerthar Jabal and Gorakh Choti. Because of his tremendous knowledge he was also recognized as Encyclopedia of Dadu. He had guided people in backward areas of Sindh specially people of far-flung areas to get education and to enroll their children in schools. As there was no facility of jeepable tracks, he mostly travelled by camels and donkeys towards historical sites for conducting research and stayed for long time months and conducted researches at sites.
World renowned American Archaeologist Dr Loius Flam recognizes Taj Sahrai as the archaeological pioneer of Sindh. He explored and circulated the scientific information about previous to Mohen Jo Daro and previous to Harapian ancient Indus Valley Civilization related to Lake Manchhar, Kohistan, Kaachho and Kirthar through his work on the geography and civilization of Dadu District. As a core searcher with Dr Loius Flam and others, Taj Sehrai discovered the archaeological sites of Jhangara, Dhal, Chaurlo, Bandhri, Damb Buthi, Naing, Gorandi, Ghazi (Gaji) Shah, Tando Rahim Khan, Ali Murad, Nuko Buthi, Kai Buthi, Shah Hassan, Mashak, Lori and almost all archeological site in the surroundings of Dadu District.
During the early years of his life, Mr. Taj Sehrai worked as an active member of Khaksar Tahreek, Hari Thahreek and many other sociopolitical and cultural forums. He was awarded with the presidential national award of pride for his literary contribution on august 14, 1990. Earlier, Taj Mohammad Sehrai had contributed in politics as well as but in 1970 he left politics and contributed towards more to conduct research in education, historical and archeological sites.
In addition to being the pioneer archaeologist of Sindh, Taj Sahrai was also recognized as a great human, prolific writer, poet and teacher. Eminent Sindhi Scholar Muhammad Ibrahim Joyo wrote in the foreword of Professor Aijaz Qureshi’s book on Taj Sehrai that “Remembering persons like Taj Sahrai is akin to loving Sindh, Sindhi culture, art and wisdom”. He died on Oct 28, 2002 at Dadu due to a heart attack and was buried at Lal Hindi graveyard in Dadu city. Due to his great services, he lives in the hearts of people and people observe his death anniversary in various parts of Sindh, Pakistan.
