BY Kazi Javed

The News , 05-09-04

Pearls of Spiritual Wisdom
Great Sufi Wisdom: Bulleh Shah

Professor Saeed Ahmad

Published by Adnan Books, Dubai Plaza, 6th Road Chowk, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan

Pages: 112, Price Rs. 35

Saeed Ahmad has translated selected poetry of some Punjabi sufi poets into English and published them in the form of separate books under the general title of Great Sufi Wisdom. He has so far brought out such books on Baba Farid, Shah Hussain, Waris Shah, Sultan Bahu and Mian Muhammad Bakhsh. These books have been well received in Pakistan as well as the outside world. In fact, they have attracted a number of foreign scholars who are interested in Sufism and Islamic spiritual teachings. One of them, Celine Chamberland, has translated Saeed Ahmad's book on Waris Shah into French which is her mother language. Pauceanu Alexandrina has translated four books of the series into the Romanian language. They include books on Baba Farid, Shah Hussain, Waris Shah and Mian Muhammad Bahksh.

Saeed Ahmad has now come out with an English translation of Bulleh Shah's selected poetry. It has been edited by Christine White, and English scholar who "loves the Punjab, Punjabi and admires the great humanistic thoughts of our Punjabi sufis."

Having gone through books on Bulleh Shah's poetry and message by scholars like Mangit Singh Rattu, Maqsood Saqib, Anwar Rohtaki, Asif Khan, Dr Nazir Ahmad and Dr Faqir Muhammad Faqir, Saeed Ahmad has rightly concluded that it is not easy to find the original text of Bulleh Shah's poetry. He, however, seems to have preferred collections compiled by Dr Nazir Ahmad and Asif Khan for making selections. His translations are, on the whole, simple and easy.

Saeed Ahmad has undertaken this project with the belief that Bulleh Shah's poetry can go a long way in bringing about a big change in our part of the world where "unfortunately we are used to magnifying differences and have hindered our own progress as a result. Bulleh Shah is a pivotal poet, equally popular amongst all faiths of this region. Due to his humanistic poetry he can be called a poet of South Asia or of the modern world which is in search of peace. I also believe that the day will come when the great thoughts of our sufi poets will be recognised and valued by all honest caring members of humanity, regardless of race or creed."

By: Kazi Javed - The News, September 5, 2004