Ali Hassan Mallah: The Man Who Digitalized the Soul of the Sindhi Language- by Sher Muhammad Baloch

 
Ali Hassan Mallah: The Man Who Digitalized the Soul of the Sindhi Language

Sher Muhammad Baloch

In Today's world, technology and artificial intelligence are changing everything very fast. Languages are either keeping up or falling behind. For languages like Sindhi, being part of the internet is a big challenge. The Sindhi language and the culture of its people are very important to the people of Sindh.It was not an easy task to bring Sindhi in line with technology. It needed a clear vision, strong determination, and deep love for the language.

 Ali Hassan Mallah was fully committed to this challenge. He was not driven by personal gain or support from institutions. What really moved him was his deep love for the Sindhi language.Ali Hassan Mallah was a software engineer, poet, and writer. Above all, he was a strong advocate for the Sindhi language. He was the first to develop Sindhi computing, even when many organizations were hesitant to do so. He did all this without any financial help. His motivation was simply his love for his mother tongue and homeland.

I first met Ali Hassan Mallah in 1997 at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro. He was enrolling for his Master's degree in the Department of Mass Communication. At first glance, he seemed simple and humble. But as he started talking, you could sense his vast knowledge and depth.His talent was so strong that it shone even among experienced people.My friendship with Ali Hassan Mallah grew over time. We talked about a lot of things—politics, society, literature, IT, and AI. To me, he was not just a friend, but also a mentor. He taught me many things during my time at university.Ali Hassan Mallah had a special quality: he always wanted to do something meaningful for society. It seemed like God gave him great potential. At that time, we were supposed to work on our theses. He decided to write about the controversial Kalabagh Dam, which was rejected by the Department chairman due to its controversial nature. But he didn't lose hope. Instead, he wrote an outstanding thesis on the Deutsche Welle Urdu Service (Voice of Germany). Even today, students in Mass Communication wouldn't be able to produce such high-quality work. When I visited him in Jamshoro, we would spend a lot of time discussing various topics. He would sit in internet cafes for hours, spending nights awake working and learning. At that time, internet was very expensive—around 200 rupees per hour. Despite this, he spent a lot on searching for knowledge. He was also working as a teacher at a school, teaching students.

His use of the internet and his vision for using technology were far ahead of what people expected at that time. Even though he was criticized by many, including some of his teachers and friends, he believed strongly in the future of information technology. This belief made him always say that the future would be led by those who use technology.

After completing his Master's in Mass Communication, he pursued a diploma in software engineering from Mehran University. This marked the beginning of his career in the IT field. His experiments and learning led him to create websites for different organizations. With the arrival of Android technology, he expanded his knowledge and got into mobile app development .One of his biggest contributions was the development of a mobile application that included a Sindhi children's book. This was the first app to have a full Sindhi children's book on a mobile platform.

Through this app, he provided a unique and valuable service to the Sindhi language and people, something that even big organizations with large budgets couldn't achieve. Despite his outstanding and pioneering work, he did not receive the recognition he deserved. His contributions to the Sindhi language and people were not appreciated by any major organization in Sindh. This is a problem among the people of Sindh and Pakistan as a whole. They don't value the individuals who help improve their country and people.

He was also a linguist who knew many languages. He wrote for leading newspapers like Kawish and others in Sindhi and English. Through his columns, he shared his thoughts, ideas, and vision.He was not just a man; he was a source of knowledge and a learning center for his friends, students, and young professionals. He helped many people achieve success in their lives. He always encouraged young minds to follow IT and AI, and to stay updated with the times. His death was not only a loss to his family and friends but also a massive loss to the Sindhi people. He represents a great loss to all young minds who want to have a future in IT and AI. He has left a huge gap in our lives, one that can never be filled. In his life, Ali Hassan Mallah has shown us the importance of dedication, service, and vision. He has shown that one person, with a heart devoted to his work, can change the direction of a language, culture, and society. He has left a legacy for future generations, reminding them that we can always move forward in the field of innovation and technology while keeping our identity.