Rakhyal Morai (9 April 1965) and His Literary Output

 Rakhyal Morai (9 April 1965) and His Literary Output

By Mohammad Habib Sanai

In 2026, two books written and compiled by Rakhyal Morai have been published. The first is an anthology of his original 41 profiles and portraits of writers, friends, and relatives, entitled Shakhsan je Aaspaas (Around the Persons), and the second, Shaikh Ayaz, Nande Khando jo Wado Shaair (Shaikh Ayaz: The Great Poet of the Subcontinent), is an anthology of 44 articles written by Indian and other foreign Sindhi writers about Shaikh Ayaz and compiled by him. Prior to these, ten books, mostly compilations, had been published under his name.

Birth and Early Education

In a small hamlet called Haji Malik Dino Solangi, near Moro, in the house of Jaro Khan Solangi, a boy was born who was named Allah Rakhiyo. He is now well known as Rakhyal Morai, a renowned poet, profiler, compiler, editor and journalist.

Rakhyal received his education up to matriculation in the town of Moro, District Naushoro Feroze. During this time, when he was in the sixth class, he was apprenticed to learn tailoring after school hours. He learned the skill and worked as a tailor, first in Moro and later for some time in Karachi.

He developed a passion for literature at a very young age. His maternal grandfather was a poet. In the profile of his relative Mohammad Saffar Solangi, he admits that he and his mother were the main influences in developing his passion for poetry and literature. In another profile, of Mohammad Hashim Korai, he says that during his apprenticeship in tailoring, Hashim Korai used to play Punjabi folk songs at his shop, which he overheard and enjoyed, as he had recently developed a passion for poetry. Later, renowned poet and nationalist worker Rashid Morai helped hone his skills as a poet.

In the profile of Mohammad Younus Mastoi, he tells us that while he was working as a postman at the Moro Post Office, during that era all senior and junior writers read books earnestly. He also wanted to read books, but did not have the means to purchase books and develop a personal library. Suddenly, a plan came to his mind. He wrote to all Sindhi publishers, asking them to send him five copies of each book at a discount of 33 percent. Out of the five copies, he reserved one copy for his personal library and sold the remaining four books, mostly to Saeen Nazir Qazi, Azeed Sindhi, Qamar Heesbani, Nazeer Rahoojo, Walan Morai, Khadim Bughio, and others. From this venture, he not only obtained a copy for his library but also saved ten to fifteen rupees.

This enterprise worked well for some time. However, if any purchaser did not pay the amount due, he faced difficulties, and sometimes he had to return VPP parcels. Mohammad Younis helped him in his distress by offering to pay the VPP amount after a week. This arrangement worked until 1988, when he left Moro for Karachi.

Since 1988, he has been living in Karachi, which he calls his second mother. He has worked there as a tailor, journalist, editor, and researcher to earn his livelihood. His published literary output includes the following 12 books:

1. Koren Kan Salam (Thousands Pay Tribute) — research and compilation, Culture Department, 2007.
2. Sindh jo Sarmast (Sarmast of Sindh) — research and compilation, Culture Department, 2009.
3. Sindhi Boli ain Lipee jo Itihas (The History of the Sindhi Language and Script) — by Jeramdas Daulatram; compilation, Sindhi Language Authority, 2009.
4. Shah Kareem: Sindhi Shairee jo Wihoo Taro (Shah Kareem: Guiding Star of Sindhi Poetry) — research and compilation, Culture Department, 2012.
5. Maan je Muas Pandh mein (If I Was Assassinated during a Journey) — tribute in poetry, research and compilation, Culture Department, 2012.
6. Shah Latif: Tahqeeqi ain Takhleeqi Ibhhiyaas (Shah Latif: Studies in Research and Creativity) — research and compilation, Culture Department, 2015.
7. Lachman Komal ja Khat (Letters of Lachman Komal to Rakhyal) — compilation, Kaveeta Publications, 2016.
8. Baidal: Hik Ibhhiyaas (Baidal: A Study) — research and compilation, Baidal Yadgar Committee, 2017.
9. Shaeeri mein Jeeandar Shakhs (A Person Living with Poetry) — an anthology of articles about Ahmed Solangi; compilation, Sindhi Adabi Board, Jamshoro, 2018.
10. Noordin Sarki, Hik Shakhs, Hik Kirdar (Noordin Sarki: A Person, a Character) — compilation, Danish Academy, 2023.
11. Shakhsan je Aaspaas (Around the Persons) — collection of profiles, Murk Publications, Karachi, 2026.
12. Shaikh Ayaz, Nande Khando jo Wado Shaair (Shaikh Ayaz: The Great Poet of the Subcontinent) — research and compilation, Culture Department, 2026.

Though his first passion was poetry, no collection of his poetry has yet appeared. According to Encyclopedia Sindhiana, “He is an accomplished poet of the younger generation and has particular command over the ghazal form. His vayun (lyric poems) are also mature and accomplished. His poetry is marked not by artificial alliteration or forced wordplay, but by a natural flow and spontaneity. His poetry and articles continue to appear in well-known literary magazines and journals in Sindh and India. He has also remained associated with the nationalist movement. He has written many critical essays on poetry and is regarded as a good literary critic.”

Relations with Sindhi Writers of India

Very early, he developed contacts and personal relationships with Indian Sindhi writers. He has visited India and has almost become a channel of communication between Sindhi writers of Pakistan and India. It is understood that he has a good collection of books written by Indian Sindhi writers and published there.

His Literary and Journalistic Attachments

Rakhyal Morai has served in various literary and journalistic capacities, including:

• Secretary of Gulzar Publications, Moro
• Secretary of the Moro branch of the Sindhi Adabi Sangat on two occasions
• Joint Secretary of the Karachi branch of the Sindhi Adabi Sangat on two occasions
• Member of the Executive Committee of the Sindhi Adabi Sangat
• Joint Editor of the monthly Saajhaah
• Editor of the monthly International Lines
• Member of the Editorial Board of the monthly Sindh Line Magazine
• Member of the Editorial Board of the monthly Lahroon
• Member of the Editorial Board of the monthly Hamarcho
• Editor of the monthly Sindh Review’s special issues on Ustad Bukhari and Abdul Ghaffar Tabassum
• Sub-editor of the daily Barsaat, Karachi.
• Sub-editor of Kawish Magazine
• Chairman of Danish Academy

Through the Danish Academy, he has published four books. As a literary critic, he has also written prefaces to numerous books.

Awards

He has received several awards in recognition of his literary services, including:

1. The Golden Medal/Award from the Ram Panjwani Literary and Cultural Centre, Mumbai.
2. The Young Poet Award from the Sindhi Adabi Sabha, Pune.
3. The Poet of Sindh Award from the Sindhi Academy, Delhi.
4. The Best Poet Award from the Sindh Cultural Association.
5. The Recognition Award from Sindh Review Publications, Karachi.
6. The Recognition Award from the Moro Historical Society.