Well Versed

The poetry,written by Sufi saints like Baba Bulleshah,Amir Khusrau and many others,constitutes a major part of Punjabi literature in the sixteenth and seventeenth century. No wonder then,that the verses found their way in to film-maker and painter Muzaffar Ali’s fourth coffee-table book titled The Sufis of the Punjab (Rs 2,500,Rumi Foundation) in the Hu-The Sufi series. The book was released by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s wife,Gursharan Kaur on Friday,and is about the poets of undivided Punjab,whose works bind them in a common literary tradition. “This volume highlights the cultural and spiritual connection between the two countries when India and Pakistan were one. We are only khadims of those who have taken the message of love. As people who revere arts,we should celebrate them,” said Ali who is also the founder member of the Capital-based music festival— Jahan-e-khusrau. Incidentally,the first and the second volume of the series were devoted to scholars like Amir Khusrau and Rumi respectively,while the third volume brought into focus the heritage and tradition of sufis from Kashmir. “Sufism is a path that can defeat the forces of fundamentalism even today and strengthen communal harmony. I am grateful to Muzaffar sahab for this effort,” commented Kaur

The book provides insight into the lives of great Sufi mystics like Bulleshah,Baba Farid,Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti,apart from a range of poetry written by them. It opens with the history of Punjab and by a judicious selection of verses that have been carefully translated,Ali brings out the main characteristics of each poet,with regard to their literary style and the doctrines they preached. “Sufi poetry bridges the treacherous divide between the borders. Baba Farid or Guru Nanak — they unite us through the beautiful poetry they wrote,” said Ali.