"Allama I.I Kazi was a great scholar who led his entire life for the development and progress of the University of Sindh, Sindh province and Pakistan by imparting quality education," said incumbent vice chancellor Professor Dr Fateh Muhammad Burfat at a ceremony at the mausoleum of Allama Kazi, organised by the University of Sindh's administration to mark his 49th death anniversary.
He said that Allama I.I. Kazi was not only the founder vice chancellor of the university, but he was also a leading promoter of modern Sindhi language.
He announced that seminars and conferences would be held and relevant chairs would be established in order to provide cutting-edge knowledge to the new generation about the academic efforts of Allama Kazi.
"He was an original genius of apex standard and there is no other intellectual such as him in the contemporary world," Dr Burfat said, adding that Allama Kazi was one of the most innovative and influential scholars and jurists of his time who gave Sindh both great scholars and jurists such as the late G.M. Syed and late A.K. Brohi.
Registrar of the university Dr Muhammad Saleem Chandio said Kazi was a lover of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and was loved by students, respected by scholars as well as readers, and remembered by all those who know him. He said that all willing people may inherit the legacy of Allama I.I. Kazi in the fields of literature, culture, and humanism.
He pointed out that in an effort to earn his livelihood Allama Kazi experimented with a poultry farm and a dairy farm but both failed. He said that youths from those affluent families enjoying the British government's favour in the past such as Nawab Akbar Bugti and Mir Sunder Khan Sunderani fortunately received school education and training directly from Allama I.I Kazi.
Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy Dr Abdullah Dayo said that Imam Ali Imdad Ali Kazi had a German wife Elsa Kazi whom people of Sindh call Mother Elsa who pioneered the University of Sindh to educate and enlighten the children of downtrodden people.
Pointing out that Allama Kazi had devoted every minute of his life for study and research, Muhammad Mashooque Siddiqui said the he had organised All Pakistan Philosophical Congress between March 15 to 18 in 1958 as it was his conviction that Bhittai's poetry was so rich in ideas that may benefit and enlighten other people, as well.
Quoting one memorable event, Dr Azhar Ali Shah said that once, wife of A. K. Brohi presented Elsa Kazi a set of jewellery on her daughter's wedding. Elsa Kazi turned pale and angry and said she had never worn such jewellery.
"She told her that she failed to understand her even after years of association," he said, adding that at this point, Allama Kazi asked her to accept the gift without further argument. Dr Shah said that next day, Justice Hamza Khan M Qureshi met A.K. Brohi and returned the jewellery set to him with a message from Allama Kazi asking if Brohi wanted any gold or jewellery be found in their belongings after their deaths and if they could tolerate this to happen.
"Elsa Kazi passed away on May 28, 1967 after a brief but painful fight against a kidney problem that left Allama Kazi alone. He also departed for eternity to join her, within a year," said Dr Shah.
Engr. Sajjad Shah said that Allama was worried how to promote education and knowledge. He said Kazi was a great philosopher who always struggled to change overall conditions of Muslims because he was an enlightened Muslim.
Earlier, the vice chancellor Professor Dr Fateh Muhammad Burfat and Registrar Dr Muhammad Saleem Chandio laid floral wreaths on the grave of the great educationist.
They and others offered fateha for the departed soul. Dr Abdullah Dayo, Dr Muneeruddin Soomro, Dr Muhammad Mashooque Siddiqui, Engr. Sajjad Hussain Shah, Ghulam Murtaza Siyal, Ghulam Nabi Bhallai and Muhammad Ali Ghanghro were also present.