Bulleh Shah facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Syed Abdullah Shah Qadri "Bulleh Shah"
سید عبداللہ شاہ قادری

Religion	Islam
Philosophy	Sufism
Personal
Born	Syed Abdullah Shah Qadri c. 1680 CE Uch, Punjab, Mughal Empire (Now, Punjab, Pakistan)
Died	c. 1757 CE (aged 77) Kasur, Bhangi Misl, Sikh Confederacy (Now, Punjab, Pakistan)
Resting place	Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan
Parents	Shah Muhammad Darwaish (father) Fatima Bibi (mother)
Senior posting
Title	The Father of Punjabi Enlightenment
Influenced	Taimur Rahman, Faiz Ahmad Faiz
Also venerated by many Sikhs and socialists

Syed Abdullah Shah Qadri (1680–1757), famously known as Baba Bulleh Shah, was a Muslim Punjabi philosopher, reformer, and Sufi poet. He lived in the 17th and 18th centuries in a region called Punjab. His family had moved from Bukhara (which is now in Uzbekistan) many years before he was born.

Bulleh Shah learned from a spiritual teacher named Shah Inayat Qadiri in Lahore. He is often called "The Father of Punjabi Enlightenment" because his ideas helped people think differently. He was a brave poet who spoke out against powerful religious, political, and social groups. Because of his bold views, some religious leaders at the time disagreed with him. He spent most of his life and was buried in Kasur, in what is now Pakistan.

Who Was Bulleh Shah?

Bulleh Shah was born around 1680 in a place called Uch, in the Mughal Empire. This area is now part of Punjab, Pakistan. He was very smart and studied Arabic and Persian languages.

His Early Life and Education

Bulleh Shah's father, Shah Muhammad Darwaish, was also a scholar who knew Arabic, Persian, and the Quran. For various reasons, his family moved several times when he was young. They lived in Malakwal and later in Pandoke.

Bulleh Shah's father taught him and the other children in the village. As a child and teenager, Bulleh Shah also worked as a herder, looking after animals. He later went to Kasur for his higher education. Some historians believe he studied at a famous school run by Hafiz Ghulam Murtaza. After finishing his studies, he even taught there for a while.

His Spiritual Journey

After his early education, Bulleh Shah went to Lahore. There, he met Inayat Arian and became his student. This was a very important step in his spiritual journey.

His Passing

Bulleh Shah passed away in 1757 when he was 77 years old. He was buried in Kasur, the city where he had spent most of his life. A special shrine, called a dargah, was built over his grave.

Some strict religious leaders in Kasur had declared him a "non-Muslim" because of his different views. They even said it was wrong to attend his funeral prayer. However, a respected religious leader named Qazi Hafiz Syed Zahid Hamdani led his funeral prayer.

Bulleh Shah's Poetry

Bulleh Shah was a famous Sufi poet who followed in the footsteps of other great Punjabi Sufi poets like Shah Hussain and Sultan Bahu. He lived around the same time as the famous Punjabi poet Waris Shah, who wrote Heer Ranjha.

What is Kafi Poetry?

Bulleh Shah mostly wrote his poems in a style called Kafi. This style was very popular in Punjabi and Sindhi poetry. His poems mix deep spiritual ideas with smart thinking.

Many people have turned his Kafis into songs. You can hear them sung by street singers, famous Sufi musicians like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Abida Parveen, and even modern rock bands like Junoon.

Bulleh Shah is considered one of the most famous and celebrated Punjabi poets. His work has influenced many people, including the famous poet Sir Muhammad Iqbal. It is said that Iqbal was listening to one of Bulleh Shah's Kafis when he passed away.

His Ideas and Beliefs

Bulleh Shah's ideas were not always traditional, and he used simple language. This made his poetry very popular and easy for everyone to understand. He used words that are still common today, which is one reason his poems are still loved.

Key Ideas

Some of the main ideas in his philosophy include:

Humanism: Believing in the value and importance of all humans.
Equality: Treating everyone the same, no matter their background.
Tolerance: Accepting different beliefs and ways of life.
Speaking Out: He rejected people who said one thing but did another. He also encouraged people to question authority and not just blindly follow others. He believed it was important to understand what you were saying, not just repeat words.

Bulleh Shah was a reformer who was very aware of the religious, political, and social issues of his time.

A Revolutionary Poet

In Bulleh Shah's poetry, Sufism wasn't just about spiritual peace. It was also about standing up for what's right and challenging powerful groups. He spoke out against unfair religious, political, and social control. For example, he defied rules against dancing and singing. He also supported the Sikhs, especially Guru Tegh Bahadur and Guru Gobind Singh, in their fight against the Mughal Empire.

Because of this, his version of Sufism is seen as different from some other Sufi saints who focused more on quiet study. Bulleh Shah was a "revolutionary" and "rebel" poet. His ideas have influenced many people who fight for social justice, workers' rights, and women's rights, like Bhagat Singh and Faiz Ahmad Faiz.

Bulleh Shah's focus on humanism is why he is respected by many Muslims, Sikhs, and Hindus in India and Pakistan.

Bulleh Shah in Modern Times

Bulleh Shah's poetry continues to inspire artists and musicians today.

Music and Albums

In the 1990s, the Pakistani rock band Junoon sang his poems "Bullah Ki Jaana" and "Aleph."
In 2004, Indian musician Rabbi Shergill made "Bullah Ki Jaana" into a popular rock song.
The Wadali Bandhu, a Sufi music group from India, also have a version of "Bullah Ki Jaana."
"Dama Dam Mast Qalandar" is one of Bulleh Shah's most famous poems. Many singers from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have performed it, including Noor Jehan and Abida Parveen.
In 2008, Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan sang a version of Bulleh Shah's verse, Aao Saiyo Ral Deyo Ni Wadhai, for his album Tabeer.
In 2016, electronic dance music (EDM) artists Headhunterz and Skytech used Bulleh Shah's words in their song "Kundalini."
In 2019, Sona Mohapatra used a poem by Bulleh Shah in her song "R.A.T Mashup."

Films

Bulleh Shah's verses have been used in many films:

The 1973 film Bobby features a song that starts with his verse.
Songs like "Chaiyya Chaiyya" from the 1998 film Dil Se.. and "Ranjha Ranjha" from the 2010 film Raavan use his poetry.
The 2007 Pakistani movie Khuda Kay Liye includes his poetry in the song "Bandeya Ho."
In 2014, Ali Zafar sang some of his verses for the film Total Siyapaa.
The 2016 Bollywood films Sultan and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil both feature popular songs called "Bulleya," named after him.

Coke Studio (Pakistan)

Bulleh Shah's poetry has also been featured on Coke Studio, a popular music show in Pakistan:

In 2009, Sain Zahoor and Noori performed "Aik Alif."
In 2010, Arieb Azhar performed "Na Raindee Hai" and "Makke Gayaan Gal Mukdi Nahi."
In 2012, Hadiqa Kiani sang "Kamlee."
In later seasons, artists like Ahmed Jahanzeb, Umair Jaswal, and Fareed Ayaz have performed his poems.

His Lasting Legacy

Bulleh Shah's influence is still felt today in many ways.

Roads and Places Named After Him

In 2012, a major road in Lahore, Pakistan, was renamed "Bulleh Shah Road."
In 2021, the Pakistani government also approved naming another road after him.
Pakistan's largest packaging factory is named after him.
There's a housing area in Kasur called "Bulleh Shah Colony" and a road called "Baba Bulleh Shah Road."
A major road junction on the Lahore Ring Road is called "Bulleh Shah Interchange."
An educational school, "Bulleh Shah Institute," has been operating in Badhni Kalan, India, since 2003.

Political Influence

In the 1960s and 1970s, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who later became Prime Minister of Pakistan, used Bulleh Shah's ideas to connect with common people. He used the slogan "Roti Kapra aur Makan" (Bread, Cloth, and House), which was inspired by Bulleh Shah's message. Bhutto also used the phrase "Dama Dam Mast Qalandar" to talk about upcoming political changes.

Memorials and Tributes

In 2013, a memorial called "Yadgar-e-Baba Bulleh Shah" was opened in Kasur.
In 2015, then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif even recited a verse by Bulleh Shah in a speech.
In 2006, the Chief Minister of Punjab, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, said that Bulleh Shah and other Sufis were not just spiritual teachers but also historians of society.

Many people, including famous cricketer Shoaib Akhtar, have called Bulleh Shah "Punjabi's greatest spiritual poet ever."

His Works

Bulleh Shah never officially published his poems himself. However, many of his works have been saved and published in books in India, Pakistan, and other countries.

Famous Works

Dama Dam Mast Qalandar is one of the most famous Sufi songs. It was originally written by Amir Khusrau and later changed by Bulleh Shah. Many famous singers have performed Bulleh Shah's version.

Images for kids

Bulleh Shah's Shrine
Grave of Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah
Bulleh Shah's grave
A view of the shrine
Shrine of Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah