Baba Bulleh Shah
Mir Bulleh Shah Qadiri Shatari , often referred to simply as Bulleh Shah (1680 – 1757) (a shortened form of Abdullah Shah) lived in what is today Pakistan. His family was very religious and had a long tradition of association with Sufis. Bulleh Shah's father was especially known for his learning and devotion to God, raising both Bulleh Shah and his sister in a life of prayer and meditation. The verse form Bulleh Shah primarily employed is called the Kafi , a style of Punjabi, Sindhi and Siraiki poetry used not only by the Sufis of Sindh and Punjab, but also by Sikh gurus. Bulleh Shah’s poetry and philosophy strongly criticizes Islamic religious orthodoxy of his day . At the time worldy corruption had been taken over as opposed to the true teachings of Islam. ---- Few lines from his poetry are: ---- ਪੜ ਪੜ ਇਲਮ ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਕਿਤਾਬਾਂ, ਕਦੀ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਪ ਨੂੰ ਪੜਿਆ ਨਹੀ ਜਾ ਜਾ ਵੜਦੈਂ ਮੰਦਿਰ ਮਸੀਤੀਂ, ਕਦੀ ਮਨ ਆਪਣੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੜਿਆ ਨਹੀ ਐਵੇਂ ਲ਼ੜਦਾ ਏ ਸ਼ੈਤਾਨ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ਼ ਬੰਦਿਆ, ਕਦੀ ਲਫ਼ਜ਼ ਆਪਣੇ ਨਾਲ ਲੜਿਆ ਨਹੀ ਆਖੇ ਬੁੱਲੇ ਸ਼ਾਹ,ਅਸਮਾਨੀ ...