Allama Iqbal Open University releases CD on Bhittai’s life, poetry

Staff Report, Tuesday, February 09, 2010, Daily Times (Pakistan)
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\02\09\story_9-2-2010_pg11_8

ISLAMABAD: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) on Monday released a 100 minutes compact disk (CD) on the life, poetry and philosophy of saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.

The CD was released during a function organised by the AIOU Department of Pakistani Languages and Literature in collaboration with Institute of Educational Technology (IET) on the university’s premises.

The chief guest, International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) Rector Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik, said Bhittai’s poetry and music was not meant to bring him in the limelight but to convey his philosophy to people.

He said Bhittai was born into a well-respected family but turned away from the comforts of life. He said Bhittai always carried with him a poetic collection of Maulana Rumi and the Holy Quran.

Malik said the CD was a must watch for people interested in knowing about Bhittai.

Chairman of National Language Authority Iftikhar Arif said teachings of Abdul Latif Bhittai were in line with the will of Almighty Allah. He said people liked reading work of foreign writers and poets but avoid studying writings of local poets and authors. He said Bhittai made folktales a subject of his poetry and gave Sufi touch to his work.

AIOU Vice Chancellor Dr Mehmudul Hassan Butt said Bhittai was a devout Muslim saint, but Muslims and Hindus had a high opinion of his spirituality. He said Bhittai was a great poet and saint.

Butt said the Pakistani Languages and Literature Department had completed research on Sufi poets, classical poetry and classical documentary in 18 languages of Pakistan and thus, opening ways for the country’s other educational institutions in the field of research.

Dean of the AIOU Social Sciences Department Dr Abdul Hafeez and Chairman of the Pakistani Languages Department Dr Inaamul Haq Javed also spoke on the occasion.

They said the department earlier released documentary on the works of Waris Shah.