Muhammad Siddique Musafir

Muhammad Siddiqui was born on 01 April 1879 at Tando Bago, District Badin, Sindh, Pakistan.[2] His father Bilal Sheedi was from African country Zanzibar. He was sold as a slave to a businessman of Muscat (Oman) Shaikh Hussain. He was then sold to Makhdoom Saber Ali, who was from Tando Bago, Sindh. Bilal Sheedi was a very loyal, honest and hardworking person. His master was so happy with him that he used to call him "Gulab" (means rose). This name became so popular that people forgot his real name Bilal and used to call him Gulab Sheedi.[3]

Muhammad Siddique got early education from his native town Tando Bago and after passing Vernicular examination (i.e. 7th classes) joined as Primary School teacher. Then he was appointed as a teacher at Training College for Men Hyderabad. He started composing poems with his pen name "Musafir". He wrote in almost all formats of poetry including Ghazal, Musnavi, Musadas, Geet, Nazim, Qatio, Munajat and Kafi etc.[4] He assisted Ghulam Muhammad Shahwani in translating "Gulistan Bostan" from Persian to Sindhi language.

He also wrote very valuable literary essays and articles, most of which were published in Akhbar-e-Taleem. He wrote text books for primary education in Sindh. Some of his poems remained part of school curriculum for many years.[5]

On 01 January 1920, the renowned social leader of lower Sindh Khan Bahadur Mir Ghulam Muhammad Talpur established a High School at his home town Tando Bago. Muhammad Siddique Musafir was appointed as first Incharge Head Master of this school.[6] With his hard work and best management, this school became one of the best schools of the Badin District.

Muhammad Siddique retired in 1930 but remained affiliated with this school. When, Mir Ghulam Muhammad opened Girls School, Muhammad Siddique used to help and train female teachers of the school.

He died on 24th September 1961 and was buried in Tando Bago graveyard.[7]

• Akhlaq-e-Muhsini[8]
• Angi Hisab (Mathematics)
• Balghan Ji Taileem[9] (Adult Education)
• Chand Bibi
• Deewan -e- Fazil[10]
• Geometry for Class V, VI and VII
• Ghulami ain Azadia ja Ibratnak Nizara
• Gul Badan (Novel translated from Urdu)
• Gulshan-e-Khayal
• Gulzar-e-Naser o Nazem
• Hadayat-ul-Muslimeen in six volumes
• Hayatia Jay Daur Ji Kunji
• Jametry and Tijarti Hisab (Geometry and Business Mathematics)
• Johar-e-Islam
• Matloob-ul-Momneen
• Mumtaz Damsaz (Translated from Urdu)
• Phool Dani, (Poetry)
• Qurub Qaleech
• Ramooz-ul-Quran (Secrets of Quran)
• Shaheed-e-Karbala
• Sindhi Soonhoon (A Guide to Sindhi text book) in six volumes
• Sindhi Grammer in three volumes
• Sindh Ji Jagraphi (Geography of Sindh)
• Sindh Ji Tareekh, (History of Sindh), Volume IV and V[11]
• Sujaan Zaloon
• Zeb-un-Nissa

He also wrote meaning and explanation of nine Chapters of the poetry of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai[12]