Biographical Literature: Beginning, Definition & Importance
Abstract
Biographical literature can be directly linked to modern Sindhi Prose
and the beginning of the Alphabet under the Ellis Committee (1853) imposition
of Sindhi language in Sindh, paved the way for revolutionary success of Sindhi
Prose. Learned scholars of Sindhi language place great importance on the
contribution of biographical literature.
Biographical literature mainly divided into two categories. The first
in which, one writes about the others, while the second in which, one writes
about the life of his own. Seth Nayomal made one of the earliest contributions
to Sindhi biographical literature, when he got written
'Yaadgiryoon' (Memories) in Sindhi, which got translated into English and
then re-translated from English to Sindhi. The first ever complete biography in
Sindhi, is that of Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.), written and published in 1911
by Lalchand Amar Dinomal Jagtiyani. Scholars and writers such as Mirza
Qaleech Baig, Koromal Chandanmal Khilnani, Hakeem Fateh Muhammad are
of the some names that made earliest contributions to biographical literature.
After the great works of these men, biographical literature in Sindhi language
has kept pulling up. Traces of biographical literature are found in religious
books and even in ancient Egyptian graffiti. In recorded history, the first ever
written biography is of St. Augustine. Along with having a
'Aaytaraf' (Confessions) historical significance, biographical form of literature
has a cultural significance. It depicts and represents the culture, traditions and
values of the times in which it was written. It also describes the political and
social conditions, and provides lessons about ethics and morality. It is, hence,
a combination of three things man, history and literature. The individuals experiences, events, moments, happiness, sorrows expressed in biographical
form of literature no longer remain individual. They serve the purpose of enlightening the public at large about lessons from experiences of life.
Hameed Sabzoi. (2014) سوانحي ادب :ابتدا، وصف ۽ اھمیت, Kalachi, Volume 17, Issue 1.
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