Microsoft Word - Shah_Final

poems clearly show that he was well versed not only in Sindhi, Sanskrit, Seraiki, Arabic,

and Persian languages but also with the Holy Quran, Hadith, Mathnawi of Maulana Rumi

and verses of Shah Karim of Bulri. These books were always his constant companions;

the references of which have been made in his poetry on many occasion.

Soon after the death of his father in 1742, Shah Latif shifted all his family

members from Kotri to Bhitsah. His father was burried there. For the last eight years of

his remarkable life, Shah Latif lived at Bhitshah.

Towards the end of his life, he went into seclusion in his hujra (room) for 20 days.

During this time he occasionally ate a few morsels or drank a few sips of water. He began

to sing what would be his final composition. On the twenty-first day, he came out and

took a bath. It is said that the verse "On what count am I here” was on his lips. Latif

asked the fakirs (desciples) at the Bhit to play music and sing verses, and he threw a

white sheet over himself as he sat in contemplation,

For three consecutive days, his faqirs engaged themselves in reciting, singing and

playing music. When they stopped they discovered that Shah's soul had flown to the

abode of Eternal Bliss. He suffered from no sickness or pain of any kind. Thus he died, at

the age of sixty-three, on 14th Safar 1165 Hijra i.e. 1752 A.D. He was burried in

Bhitshah.

Since his death, his poems are being recited and sung weekly on every Thursday

night at the mausoleum, which draws thousands of people from all over the country.

Every year his death anniversary is celebrated with holding a grand Mela - a fair at

Bhitshah where he is remembered and paid tributes by his countrymen who consider him

a saint and sage as well as as a guide, a reformer and above all the greatest poet of all

times.