Microsoft Word - Shah_Final

The history goes that just before his passing away; he threw the manuscripts of his

work into the Karar Lake, adjacent to his abode at the Bhit (sand dune). He did this,

fearing that people may not be able to understand the main theme and purpose of his

message in the verses and they may misunderstand him. By this action, his disciples were

disappointed and extremely grieved. With deep love for his people and being kind at

heart, considerate and benevolent, he could not see his disciples in sorrow. Therefore, he

allowed them to prepare another manuscript from the manuscripts that were in possession

of some of his disciples. The main contributor to this collection was a lady by the name

of Mai (lady) Niamat, a devoted disciple of his, who had memorised most of his verses.

As she sang the verses, in different surs, his disciples recorded them into manuscripts.

A copy of the recorded collection of his verses known as "Ganj" was retained at

the mausoleum. The original copy disappeared sometime in 1854. It was in 1866, 114

years after the poet's death, that Ernest Trumpp, a German scholar who knew Sindhi as

well as many other languages of India, compiled the "Risalo" and got it printed from

Germany.

Characteristics of His Poetry

Shah was a missionary and believed in practical learning. It is through his

journeys that he acquired the background for most of his poems with many unique

characteristics such as:

a) He received scanty formal education only, but he had the sound knowledge and

command and was well versed in Sindhi, Sanskrit, Seraiki, Arabic, and Persian

languages. Besides, the books like Holy Qur'an, the Hadith, the Masnawi of

Maulana Jalaluddin Roomi, were always his constant companions where from

the references in verbatim numbering 113 have been made at different places in

his poetry.

b) The verses of his poetry have a unique beauty, they are lyrical, spiritual

descriptive and historical, The language is rich and picturesque.