Guno Samtani (Samtaney)

Trend setter famous Sindhi writer, Academy Award Winner Guno Samtaney was born on 14 July 1933 at Hyderabad Sindh. Those were the middle years of his teen age when country got freedom from the British rule but at the cast of division of country. This division proved a never forgettable painful experience for the Sindhi community in the shape of undesired and unwilling forced migration to India. 

Education of Guno Samtaney (Samatani) was completed only after migrating to India, He passed exam for B.A. of the Bombay University. Likely soon after his graduation he got opportunity for a job of Maharashtra government.  Guno has worked several years for Government of Maharashtra he was working as Joint Secretary at the time retirement.

Literary life of Guno Samatani was started with publishing of his poems and short stories in local news papers and literary magazines. From the number of books his contribution to Sindhi language and literature might appear lesser but we need to keep this in mind that he has created new standards and define in new way for Sindhi Story writing.  Guno Samtaney was one among the famous trio of Sindhi literature representing the progressive thoughts and a new style of writing, the other two were Mohan Kalpana and Lal Pushp.

Among the lovers of Sindhi literature Guno Samtaney is remembered for his love stories written in Sindhi language with ample Hindi words are used to create good & healthy thought connection with young Sindhi readers. Aparajita, a story collection for which Guno has received Sahitya Akademi Award is collection of six, memorable and beautifully written Sindhi love stories.

Guno Samtaney was basically a story writer and many of his stories are centered with topics like search of true love and complicated human relations. “Aparajita” a story collection, for which he was honored with Academy Award by Sindhi Sahitya Academy in 1972, is collection of six stories portraying one common theme search of true love. I don’t recall exactly but probably it was between 1990-1995 I read translation of one story of Guno Samtaney with title The Boundary Line. In what a effective way he narrated story of an old age woman living at Old age home only because of his Son-in-law, who feels that the flat they were living and was a gift of his mother-in-law was proving insufficient for accommodation of all. 

He was also felicitated with Gaurav Puraskar by Government of Maharashtra for his contribution to Sindhi literature. On 16 August 1997, a few days after celebrating his 64 birthday Guno Samatani passed away. Guno was appointed as secretary of the Maharashtra Sindhi Sahitya Academy from the day it starts functioning and was on the post till 1995.