By Mohsin Babbar, "Researcher debunks myth Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai was a Sufi poet" - The Post - Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Monday, May 5, 2008
Researcher debunks myth Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai was a Sufi poet
Says native language of Sindh is Seraiki
Islamabad: A Pakistan-origin US researcher has claimed that Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, a great poet of the subcontinent, was not a Sufi and his poetry is a result of an evolutionary development.
He said that there was a need to break some of the myths associated with him because the researchers had done inadequate to interpret the true colours of his poetry and the origin of his creative work.
Prof Aftab Kazi, a senior fellow of Johns Hopkins University, Washington, claimed this at a weekly seminar held at Shah Abdul Latif Community Centre of Sindh Graduate Association (SGA) Sunday.
SGA has initiated a series of weekly seminar on different topics and this was the third seminar in a row. This week's distinguished guest was Prof Kazi who also teaches at Nitze School-SAIS, Central Asia-Caucasus, Institute of Silk Road Studies and Programme Joint Centre with International Institute for Security & Development Policy, Stockholm.
Shah Inayat Shaheed is said to be the pioneer of Sufism in Sindh, and Shah Bhittai was among one of the dedicated followers of him.
It is also commonly believed that Sufism in Sindh was rejuvenated by Bhittai and the same is being followed with fervour and passion.
During the seminar, claiming that the native language of Sindh is not Sindhi but Seraiki, Kazi said Shah Bhittai was not a Sufi. "Sufism is part of the Islamic format of mysticism and the institutionalisation of Sufism was originally done by Qalandar Lal Shahbaz," he added.
"The concept of Sufism is controversial and its existing notion in Sindh is a stereotypical. Most of the Sufis of Sindh were more inclined to rulers of the time but Shah Bhittai challenged their authority," he claimed.
(...)
Speaking on the occasion, another expert Iqbal Jatoi said that no doubt Sindh was the land of Sufis but there was a minute difference between Sufism and mysticism. He supported the notion that Shah Bhittai was educated because he belonged to an academic and educated family of that time.
(...)
Jatoi said that Shah's poetry was not religious but he created it in support of individual human freedom. He held Bhittai was a great Sindhi humanist.
In his welcome address, SGA office-bearer Mohammad Yousuf Memon introduced Prof Kazi and said he belonged to Sindh but now was settled in the United States for several years and had done research work on Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai.
In his closing remarks, SGA President Dr Larik said that one could not view great personalities from one dimension. Shah Bhittai was a revolutionary poet and raised the flag of revolution against the rulers of that time.
Dr Larik lauded Kazis' work, saying there was a need to do more on Sufis to highlight their services to society.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
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Saturday, May 10, 2008
A Great Sindhi Humanist
Monday, May 5, 2008
Researcher debunks myth Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai was a Sufi poet
Says native language of Sindh is Seraiki
Islamabad: A Pakistan-origin US researcher has claimed that Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, a great poet of the subcontinent, was not a Sufi and his poetry is a result of an evolutionary development.
He said that there was a need to break some of the myths associated with him because the researchers had done inadequate to interpret the true colours of his poetry and the origin of his creative work.
Prof Aftab Kazi, a senior fellow of Johns Hopkins University, Washington, claimed this at a weekly seminar held at Shah Abdul Latif Community Centre of Sindh Graduate Association (SGA) Sunday.
SGA has initiated a series of weekly seminar on different topics and this was the third seminar in a row. This week's distinguished guest was Prof Kazi who also teaches at Nitze School-SAIS, Central Asia-Caucasus, Institute of Silk Road Studies and Programme Joint Centre with International Institute for Security & Development Policy, Stockholm.
Shah Inayat Shaheed is said to be the pioneer of Sufism in Sindh, and Shah Bhittai was among one of the dedicated followers of him.
It is also commonly believed that Sufism in Sindh was rejuvenated by Bhittai and the same is being followed with fervour and passion.
During the seminar, claiming that the native language of Sindh is not Sindhi but Seraiki, Kazi said Shah Bhittai was not a Sufi. "Sufism is part of the Islamic format of mysticism and the institutionalisation of Sufism was originally done by Qalandar Lal Shahbaz," he added.
"The concept of Sufism is controversial and its existing notion in Sindh is a stereotypical. Most of the Sufis of Sindh were more inclined to rulers of the time but Shah Bhittai challenged their authority," he claimed.
(...)
Speaking on the occasion, another expert Iqbal Jatoi said that no doubt Sindh was the land of Sufis but there was a minute difference between Sufism and mysticism. He supported the notion that Shah Bhittai was educated because he belonged to an academic and educated family of that time.
(...)
Jatoi said that Shah's poetry was not religious but he created it in support of individual human freedom. He held Bhittai was a great Sindhi humanist.
In his welcome address, SGA office-bearer Mohammad Yousuf Memon introduced Prof Kazi and said he belonged to Sindh but now was settled in the United States for several years and had done research work on Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai.
In his closing remarks, SGA President Dr Larik said that one could not view great personalities from one dimension. Shah Bhittai was a revolutionary poet and raised the flag of revolution against the rulers of that time.
Dr Larik lauded Kazis' work, saying there was a need to do more on Sufis to highlight their services to society.
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saints and shrines
By Mohsin Babbar, "Researcher debunks myth Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai was a Sufi poet" - The Post - Lahore, Punjab, PakistanMonday, May 5, 2008
Researcher debunks myth Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai was a Sufi poet
Says native language of Sindh is Seraiki
Islamabad: A Pakistan-origin US researcher has claimed that Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, a great poet of the subcontinent, was not a Sufi and his poetry is a result of an evolutionary development.
He said that there was a need to break some of the myths associated with him because the researchers had done inadequate to interpret the true colours of his poetry and the origin of his creative work.
Prof Aftab Kazi, a senior fellow of Johns Hopkins University, Washington, claimed this at a weekly seminar held at Shah Abdul Latif Community Centre of Sindh Graduate Association (SGA) Sunday.
SGA has initiated a series of weekly seminar on different topics and this was the third seminar in a row. This week's distinguished guest was Prof Kazi who also teaches at Nitze School-SAIS, Central Asia-Caucasus, Institute of Silk Road Studies and Programme Joint Centre with International Institute for Security & Development Policy, Stockholm.
Shah Inayat Shaheed is said to be the pioneer of Sufism in Sindh, and Shah Bhittai was among one of the dedicated followers of him.
It is also commonly believed that Sufism in Sindh was rejuvenated by Bhittai and the same is being followed with fervour and passion.
During the seminar, claiming that the native language of Sindh is not Sindhi but Seraiki, Kazi said Shah Bhittai was not a Sufi. "Sufism is part of the Islamic format of mysticism and the institutionalisation of Sufism was originally done by Qalandar Lal Shahbaz," he added.
"The concept of Sufism is controversial and its existing notion in Sindh is a stereotypical. Most of the Sufis of Sindh were more inclined to rulers of the time but Shah Bhittai challenged their authority," he claimed.
(...)
Speaking on the occasion, another expert Iqbal Jatoi said that no doubt Sindh was the land of Sufis but there was a minute difference between Sufism and mysticism. He supported the notion that Shah Bhittai was educated because he belonged to an academic and educated family of that time.
(...)
Jatoi said that Shah's poetry was not religious but he created it in support of individual human freedom. He held Bhittai was a great Sindhi humanist.
In his welcome address, SGA office-bearer Mohammad Yousuf Memon introduced Prof Kazi and said he belonged to Sindh but now was settled in the United States for several years and had done research work on Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai.
In his closing remarks, SGA President Dr Larik said that one could not view great personalities from one dimension. Shah Bhittai was a revolutionary poet and raised the flag of revolution against the rulers of that time.
Dr Larik lauded Kazis' work, saying there was a need to do more on Sufis to highlight their services to society.
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