Bulleh Shah

Punjabi poet

Syed Abdullah Shah Qadri[1] (Punjabi/Urdu: سید عبداللہ شاہ قادری) (Shahmukhi); 1680–1757) famously known as Bulleh Shah (بلھے شاہ), was a Mughal-era Punjabi Islamic philosopher and Sufi poet. His first spiritual teacher was Shah Inayat Qadiri, a Sufi mentor of Lahore

Bulleh Shah
بلھے شاہ(Shahmukhi)
ਬੁੱਲ੍ਹੇ ਸ਼ਾਹ (Gurmukhi)
TitleBulleh Shah
Personal
Born
Syed Abdullah Shah Qadri

1680
Died1757 (aged 77)
Kasur, Bhangi Misl, Sikh Confederacy (now Punjab, Pakistan)
ReligionIslam
SchoolSunni Islam
MovementSufism
Main interest(s)Mysticism, Sufi metaphysics, Poetry
Senior posting
Literary works

Life change

Early life change

He was born in 1680 in the city of Uch, during the Mughal Empire (present day Pakistan). After his early education, he went to Lahore where he met Inayat Arian, and became his student.

Later years and death change

He died in 1757, at the age of 77. He was buried in Kasur, and a shrine was built over his grave. His funeral prayer was led by Qazi Hafiz Syed Zahid Hamdani a great religious personality of Kasur.[2]

Shrine change

He was buried in Kasur when he died in 1757. There is a clean and very huge veranda which leads to the Tomb of Baba Bulleh Shah as you enter the shrine. The ceiling of shrine is decorated with the verses of Bulleh Shah in elegant calligraphy.

Poetry change

Amongst Urdu poets, Bulleh Shah lived 400 miles away from Mir Taqi Mir (1723–1810) of Agra.[source?] Bulleh Shah practised the Sufi tradition of Punjabi poetry .[source?]

The verse form Bulleh Shah which is mainly involved is the Kafi, popular in Western Punjabi and Sindhi poetry.[source?] Many people have put his Kafis to music, from humble street-singers to renowned Sufi singers like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Pathanay Khan, Abida Parveen, the Waddali Brothers and Sain Zahoor, from the synthesised techno qawwali remixes of UK-based Asian artists to the Pakistani rock band Junoon.[source?]

Modern renderings change

Bands and albums change

In the 1990s, Junoon, a rock band from Pakistan, furnished his poems "Bullah Ki Jaana" and "Aleph" ("Ilmon Bas Kareen O Yaar"). In 2004, Indian musician Rabbi Shergill turned the abstruse metaphysical poem "Bullah Ki Jaana" into a rock/fusion song in his debut album Rabbi; the song was a chart-topper in 2005, helping the album to eventually sell over 10,000 copies and became immensely popular in India and Pakistan.[3][4] The Wadali Bandhu, a Punjabi Sufi group from India, have also released a version of "Bullah Ki Jaana" in their album Aa Mil Yaar... Call of the Beloved.

Also in 2016, a collaboration between two EDM artists (Headhunterz and Skytech) named "Kundalini" used words created by Bulleh Shah, as well as having the words Bulleh Shah in the lyrics.[5] Bulleh Shah's verses have been an inspiration to painters as well, as in the two series of paintings (Jogia Dhoop and Shah Shabad) by an Indian painter Geeta Vadhera inspired by the poetry of Bulleh Shah and other Sufi poets and saints. In 2017, British Pakistani singer Yasir Akhtar used Bulleh Shah's poetry in his song "Araam Naal Kar – Take it Easy".[6][7] In 2019, Sona Mohapatra used a Kalam of Bulleh Shah in her song "R.A.T Mashup".[8]

Coke Studio change

In 2009, the season 2 of Coke Studio featured "Aik Alif" performed by Sain Zahoor and Noori. Ali Zafar also used some of Bulleh Shah and Shah Hussain's verses in his "Dastan-e-Ishq".[9] In 2010, the season 3 featured "Na Raindee Hai" and "Makke Gayaan Gal Mukdi Nahi" performed by Arieb Azhar. In 2012, Shah's poetry was featured with Hadiqa Kiani performing "Kamlee".[10][11] In 2016, Ahmed Jahanzeb and Umair Jaswal performed "Khaki Banda";[12] and Rizwan Butt and Sara Haider performed "Meri Meri",[13] In third episode of season 11 Fareed Ayaz, Abu Muhammad Qawal & Brothers performed a Qawwali based on Kalam by Bulleh Shah.[14] In season 12 Hadiqa Kiani used verses of Shah in song "Daachi Waaleya".[15]

Related pages change

References change

  1. The Life of Bulleh Shah
  2. Zia, Sidra (11 May 2017). "My visit to Bulleh Shah's tomb made me feel an otherworldly sense of peace". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  3. Zeeshan Jawed (4 June 2005). "Soundscape for the soul". Calcutta: The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
  4. Bageshree S. (26 March 2005). "Urban balladeer". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2008.
  5. "Headhunterz & Skytech - Kundalini (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  6. "Yasir Akhtar | Araam Naal Kar – Take it Easy ft.Martay M'Kenzy (Official Video)". Yasir Akhtar. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017 – via YouTube.
  7. "Yasir Akhtar, the singing sensation, is back with 'Aram Nal Kar'". Tanveer Khatana. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017 – via Geo News.
  8. "Sona Mohapatra pays EDM-style tribute to India's diversity with her new track R.A.T Mashup". Republic World. 21 December 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  9. "Dastaan-e-ishq, Ali Zafar – BTS, Coke Studio Pakistan, Season 2". Rohail Hyatt. 23 June 2009 – via YouTube.
  10. "Kamlee-HD-Hadiqa-Kiani-Coke-Studio-Season-5 by jm_qasim | Jm Qasim | Free Listening on SoundCloud". Archived from the original on 8 October 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  11. Ata ur Rehman (12 May 2012). "Hadiqa Kiani Kamlee, Coke Studio Season 5 Episode 1". Pakium.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  12. "Watch Coke Studio 9 Episode 3 promo | The News Teller". Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  13. "Watch Coke Studio 9 Episode 6 | The News Teller". Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  14. "Coke Studio releases third episode of Season 11". Nation.com.pk. 25 August 2018. Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  15. "Coke Studio brings love ballads and Sufi poetry from top stars | Pakistani Cinema – Gulf News". Gulfnews.com. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2020.

Further reading change

Other websites change

Works online change