Mystical Poetry of Shah Latif Bhittai

Shah Latif Bhittai. Bhittai was a great and celebrated spiritual poet and a philosopher of Sindh, in the Indo-Pak subcontinent region. Born about 300 years ago in the village of Hala Haveli, Sindh in old India days, Bhittai was gifted with exceptional spiritual insight, creativity, and powerful expression. He composed about 3,300 verses in his famous book known as "e;Shah Jo Risalo"e; (Book of Shah) on different subjects 750 of which have been translated from Sindhi to English prose in this research while simultaneously maintaining the poetic rhythm. Shah Latif is adored by all as a Sufi and spiritual guide, irrespective of people s religious beliefs and intellectual standing. His is a heroic figure belonging to all ages, all groups, all races, all classes, all occasions, having been among the villagers, among the gypsies, among the ascetics, among the soldiers, among the learned doctors, among the religious congregations, among the sensualists - in fact, people of the different nature and mind. Shah Latif may not be identified as a prophet, but in every way he can surely be identified as a saint. The ancients made no difference between Poet and Prophet, and perhaps in the case of no other poet can these remarks be more applicable than this Shah Latif who may not be identified as prophet but in every way, can be surely identified as saint. He was a true natural and God-gifted poet who composed all his poetry on musical modes. One can say that he was a true natural and God gifted poet who thought musically; he spoke musically, he acted musically, even his very silence was musical. Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai s poetry is not just a paramount of Sindh; it is the very soul of Sindh. Had he been born in the Middle East somewhere near Mecca or Bethlehem they would have proclaimed him a prophet. If he would have surfaced in England, they would have made him a Poet Laureate nobody would have known Shakespeare, Byron, Keats or Shelley. He is adored irrespective of people s religious beliefs and intellectual standing, not only as the greatest and a celebrated poet but also as a saint, a Sufi and a spiritual guide as well. Perhaps he is the only original poet whose poetry has passed unadulterated and has become a part of the literature. He was a spiritual guide, while living and a poetical saint, and even while dead. In his quest of spiritual knowledge, Shah Bhittai traveled to many parts in his search for truth, peace, and harmony he traveled for many years as a jog