ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan-origin US researcher has claimed that Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, a great poet of the subcontinent, was not a Sufi and his poetry is a result of an evolutionary development.

He said that there was a need to break some of the myths associated with him because the researchers had done inadequate to interpret the true colours of his poetry and the origin of his creative work.

Prof Aftab Kazi, a senior fellow of Johns Hopkins University, Washington, claimed this at a weekly seminar held at Shah Abdul Latif Community Centre of Sindh Graduate Association (SGA) Sunday. SGA has initiated a series of weekly seminar on different topics and this was the third seminar in a row.

This week’s distinguished guest was Prof Kazi who also teaches at Nitze School-SAIS, Central Asia-Caucasus, Institute of Silk Road Studies and Programme Joint Centre with International Institute for Security & Development Policy, Stockholm.

Shah Inayat Shaheed is said to be the pioneer of Sufism in Sindh, and Shah Bhittai was among one of the dedicated followers of him. It is also commonly believed that Sufism in Sindh was rejuvenated by Bhittai and the same is being followed with fervour and passion.

During the seminar, claiming that the native language of Sindh is not Sindhi but Seraiki, Kazi said Shah Bhittai was not a Sufi. “Sufism is part of the Islamic format of mysticism and the institutionalisation of Sufism was originally done by Qalandar Lal Shahbaz,” he added.

“The concept of Sufism is controversial and its existing notion in Sindh is a stereotypical. Most of the Sufis of Sindh were more inclined to rulers of the time but Shah Bhittai challenged their authority,” he claimed.

Kazi said that Shah Bhittai had criticised the role of jogis (ascetic) and Sufis in his poetry and at the same time he was also a victim of Kalhora oppression. Kalhoras were the rules of Sindh for several hundred years. He said that Kalhoras were not independent rulers of Sindh and that they had been paying taxes to Kabul. “Shah Bhittai never appreciated the role of Kalhoras in his poetry,” he said, adding “Sindh is the land of Sufis but the format of Sufism has yet to be determined.”

Referring to his research, Kazi claimed the origin of Sufism was Central Asia not Sindh. “The researchers have not been able to reflect the true message and interpretation of Shah Bhittai’s poetry. Therefore there is a need to do more research because there is a lack of scientific evidence about Sufism in Sindh.”

Kazi said the existing poets and researchers had associated different myths with Shah Bhittai and underestimated him by calling him ‘uneducated.’ He said that there was no evidence available about the chronological creation of Shah Bhittai’s poetry or the happenings of the event or circumstances in which he created his poetry.

He also broke another myth about Bhittai that he loved a girl for the first time at the age of 20. “This is unbelievable myth and has not been proved scientifically,” he said, adding there was a misconception that Shah Bhittai had no descendants. “Actually, he had no desire to become a father and he wanted to live independently.”

Speaking on the occasion, another expert Iqbal Jatoi said that no doubt Sindh was the land of Sufis but there was a minute difference between Sufism and mysticism. He supported the notion that Shah Bhittai was educated because he belonged to an academic and educated family of that time.

He opposed the Persian education system existed at that time and laid stress on Sindhi education in the region. “Bhittai was against the dominance of the Persian language in the region and continued his struggle against the wrong traditions and values that existed in society,” he added.

“Bhittai was not impressed with Qalandar Lal Shahbaz but the reflection of other South Asian saints is evident from his poetry,” Jatoi said, adding Shah’s poetry was not religious but he created it in support of individual human freedom. He held Bhittai was a great Sindhi humanist.

In his welcome address, SGA office-bearer Mohammad Yousuf Memon introduced Prof Kazi and said he belonged to Sindh but now was settled in the United States for several years and had done research work on Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai.

In his closing remarks, SGA President Dr Larik said that one could not view great personalities from one dimension. Shah Bhittai was a revolutionary poet and raised the flag of revolution against the rulers of that time. Dr Larik lauded Kazis’ work, saying there was a need to do more on Sufis to highlight their services to society.

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