Today, many, the world over are struggling to come to terms with themselves and their environment. Wars, famines, starvation, environment pressures, manmade calamities, flood, drought & wildfire have made humans wonder, if the contemporary world is any different from Biblical times. The common man is bewildered.
External & Internal Conflicts are rife. Irrationality has become the norm. There is rudderless existence of man. Most alarmingly amongst the recently born, Gen Z & Gen Alpha. Burnouts and social exits are common. There is intense angst. Many are becoming chronic offenders. Social units like family or community, political units like a country or United Nation are unable to hold back breakdowns. Religion, which Marx said was the opium of masses, also seems to be fighting a losing battle.
Mother earth is becoming more and more unlivable. Most of it, is the making of mankind itself. A significant query today is whether species – Homo Sapiens Sapiens, really superior? In this entropial, dark universe, many have sought answers in the ageless wisdom of a Punjabi Philosopher and Sufi Poet – Sayyid Abdullāh Shāh Qādrī (1680–1757), popularly known as Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah.
Bulleh Shah belonged to the Sufi tradition of Punjabi poetry established by poets like Shah Hussain (1538–1599), Sultan Bahu (1629–1691) and Shah Sharaf (1640–1724). The verse form Bulleh Shah primarily employed, is the Kafi, popular in Punjabi and Sindhi poetry.
Though, yours truly does not claim to have any knowledge of Sufism, Islamic Mysticism or Punjabi/Urdu Language but some of his poetry seems to be so amazingly relevant in modern day. And one cannot but marvel at them. Enjoy.
On Self Realization (People need to look inside honestly, see their own wrongs)
Parh parh aalim fazil hoya Kade apnay ap nun parhyai nai
Ja ja warda mandir masiti Kadi man apnay wich warya he nai
Awen roz shetan nal larda ayen Kadi nafas apnay nal larya he nai
Bulleh shah asmani urdian pharda ayen Jedha ghar betha ohnun phariya he nai
Loosely translated it means:
You have read numerous books and become a scholar But never read your own self
You keep running into mandirs and masjids But never entered your own soul
Fruitlessly, daily you keep fighting the devil But never have you fought with your inner person
Bulleh Shah says you keep trying to catch what flies in the sky But you have never tried to catch what is sitting inside your own home
On everyone giving advice to another & religious pretences (Most relevant for all big political leaders – Trump,Putin, Zelensky)
Bulleh nu loki matti dende bulleya aaja vich masiti
Vich masiti te ki kuch honda je dilo namaz na meeti
Bhahayo dhooye latte gode andro rahi paleeti
Tera dil khidave munde kuriya, sajde kare maseeti
Duniyadara raab ne naal vi char sau vi tu kitti
People advice Baba Bulleh Shah to come to the mosque
Bulleh Shah replies what’s the use of going to the mosque If you are not praying from the heart or soul
What’s the use of cleansing the body with water and kneeling in front of the lord when inside is still impure,
Boys and girls your heart plays you, but you prostrate in the masjid
Not only with the world, you have cheated with the lord too
On being optimistic and having the never say die spirit (Especially applicable to the current disillusioned youth)
Charde suraj dhaldy wekhy Bujhe deway balday wekhay
Heeray da koi mul na paway Khote sikay chalday wekhy
Jinan da na jag te koi O wi putar pal de wekhy
Oh de rehmat nal Banday pani utay chalday wekhy
Loki kehndy dal ni galdi Main te pathar galday wekhay
Jinhan qadar na keeti yar di Hath khali oh malday wekhy
Loosely translated it means:
I have seen the rising sun setting, I have seen the extinguishing lamps burning
Nobody found the cost of diamonds worthy, Have seen counterfeit coins working
Those who had no one in this world, Those sons, I have seen growing up
With His grace, I saw people walking on water
People say pulses don’t soften, I have seen stones melt
Those who didn’t value their friends, I have seen them rubbing their empty hands.
I am a mere mortal lacking ability to even pen a conclusion Requesting humanism and contemplation from all. By-Sidhartha Mukherjee
