Microsoft Word - Shah_Final

Preface

Having served in government job at senior level and having travelled extensively

to different regions of the globe and having met and discussed with the people from

various walks of life, religions, thoughts and experiences, I was inspired to write on some

appropriate area. I also discussed my interest in writing with a number of my friends who

are known writers and who have been honoured from literary bodies like Writers Guild

and Writers Forum etc. After a long thought and consideration the only name could come

to my mind to write on, was none else but Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai - the great saint poet

of Sindh.

Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, a great celebrated poet, a saint, a spiritual guide and a

philosopher of the Indo-Pak subcontinent region, known through out the world, was born

about 300 years ago. He is known as an individual with exceptional spiritual insight,

creativity and powerful expression.Shah Bhittai composed thousands of verses on

different subjects. He has composed quite a large number of these verses in the field of

“SPIRITUALISM”. After conducting a detailed research on his poetry, I have compiled

more then 700 verses on this area and have translated them from Sindhi into English

prose. To simplify this further for the reader, I have divided the topic further into several

sub-topics.

I would like to emphasise that while translating these verses I have taken utmost

care, keeping in view the following factors:

a) It is neither a translation in any poetic verse form nor a detailed explanation but

exclusively a translation into prose;

b) It is a word by word translation without any addition or deletion of any word as is done

while translating holy books;

c) Usage of possible appropriate and closely accurate words of English and proper setting of

prose is aimed to convey the exact message while simultaneously maintaining the poetic

rhythm,

d) Reference of original poem is given below the each translated verse

In my task of compiling and translating this book I am thankful to my friends and

well wishers especially to Mr. Mazhar-ul-Haque Siddiqui, Dr. Fahmida Hussain, Mr.

Kazi Mushtaq Ahmed Qureshi, Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed Mangi, and my son Kashif