Microsoft Word - Shah_Final

1. Profile of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai

Introduction

Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, lovingly called 'Shah Bhittai, is not only known

throughout the length and breadth of Sindh (Pakistan), but in the places all over the world

as well, where Sindhis live, who number over 40 million at present.

Shah Latif is adored by all, irrespective of peoples religious beliefs and

intellectual standing, not only as the greatest and a celebrated poet and a social reformer

but also as a saint, a sufi and a spiritual guide. Perhaps he is the only original poet whose

poetry has passed un-adulterated to us. His is a heroic figure belonging to all ages, all

groups, all races, all classes of people.

The Greeks made no difference between Poets and Prophets. Shah Latif may not

be identified as a prophet but in every way, he can surely be identified as a saint. He was

a true natural and God-gifted poet who composed all his poetry on musical modes and

one can say that he thought musically, he spoke musically, he acted musically, even his

very silence was musical,

Early Life

Shah Latif was born sometime around 1689 A.D, (1102 A.H) in a noble Sayed

family of Matiari at a village called Hala Haveli, Taluka Hala, District Hyderabad, Sindh

(Pakistan).

His father, Syed Habibullah Shah, Son of Abdul Kudus Shah, lived in Hala Haveli

where he passed his early days. Some time later his father went to live in a nearby village

called Kotri where Shah Abdul Latif passed some time of his youth. Later, he cut himself

from the old ties moved to a place with only barren sand dunes at a small hill called Bhit

(sand dune) near Karar Lake. It was later named after his name i.e. Bhitshah.

Bhittai's Education

The tradition is that Shah Bhittai had no regular formal education but had learnt

everything by himself.

He was thus self-educated through observations; travel, living with ascetics and

literate religious personalities. Although he had received scanty formal education, his