Sindhi culture and overall psyche of people can be determined through three things..
Devotion of Qalandar Laal Shahbaz - Sufi saint of Sehwan Sharif. Sindhi people adore him irrespective of their religion, sect. Their folklore is full of songs expressing their love for this saint.
River Sindh- survival of Sindh. Anyone can play with emotions of people by referring to this river. Its just more than a water reservoir. Its the matter of honor and pride. Old cities and civilisation of Sindh like Moen Jo Daro, Bhanbhor, etc flourished due to this river. Its not less sacred than Ganga and Zamzam
Last but not the least is Shah Latif, his poetry and characters he mentioned in his poetry. His characters belonged to almost all areas of Sindh.
What makes Shah Latif so adorable for Sindhi society is the topic of this thread.
Shah Latif can be said the first feminist of the region. He portrayed characters of courageous females like Marvi, Sassi, etc in beautiful way.
Sassi is still the symbol of courage and determination in Sindhi society. This 14th century girl traveled from Bhanbhore (Sindh) to Lasbela (Balochistan) in search of her husband Punhoo (the prince of Kech Makraan). The story symbolises human search of God irrespective of difficulties he has to face in this way. Shah Latif's through poetry in Sur-Sassi emphasizes on un-ending struggle.
O mountain, though you hot have grown
you cannot harm me now;
You may be made of hardest stone
my limbs are iron-made-
't is no one's fault, it is my own
my own strange destiny.
can you share some poetry of shah latif where he encouraged women or urged women rights?
Shah Latif does give more importance to female characters over male characters and he portrays their bravery, courage, patriotism. In Sur Marvi, he portrayed Marvi ( a girl from Malir - Thar) as committed and patriot girl in a way that made name Marvi an alternate name for commitment and loyalty in Sindh even todate. Marvi was abducted by Umar Soomro ( King of Sindh during 13th century) , but the girl rejected all worldly offers for comittment with her people and land. In Shah Latif's words, she said:
If looking to my native land
with longing I expire;
My body carry home, that I
may rest in desert-stand;
My bones if Malir reach, at end,
though dead, I'll live again.
abdullah shah ghazi was arab, right? There are a lot of things associated with him protecting karachi in the past wars.
yes. Abdullah Shah was Arab and some historians believe that he was the Commander of troops who fought with Raja Dahir before MBQ. Whereas, Shah Latif's ancestors migrated from Afghansiatn to Sindh.
can you share some poetry of shah latif where he encouraged women or urged women rights?
Talking of women rights in 18th Century was a totally different phenomenon as compared to today. Shah Latif's poetry is way different than the thesis and dialogues uttered by so called feminist NGOs today. Shah Latif's female characters ( seven surmis of Shah) got status due to their humbleness, courage, simplicity, commitment, loyalty with the people and land they belong to.
Shah latif stories are normally female oriented, but the male characters of 'Shah Jo Risalo', have a common quality and that is they came down from their social status to achieve their love. Be it Punnhu (Sassi Punnhu) who was prince of Ketch Makran who fall in love with the daughter of a Dhobi (Washer man), Izzat Baig (Mehwal) who was son of a rich trader and fall in love with Sohni, daughter of Kumhar (Potter). Same is the case with Samma ruler Jaam Tamachi, who became immortal in history by coming down from his status to achieve his love Noori, daughter of a fisher man.
It is the presence of these concepts that we didn't see class differences in Sindh based on creed / sects to the extent as in other parts of the sub-continent. Sindh had sizable Hindu population before partition and unlike other parts of Pakistan, migration ratio of Hindus from Pakistan to India remained low in Sindh due to this harmony.
Talking of women rights in 18th Century was a totally different phenomenon as compared to today. Shah Latif's poetry is way different than the thesis and dialogues uttered by so called feminist NGOs today. Shah Latif's female characters ( seven surmis of Shah) got status due to their humbleness, courage, simplicity, commitment, loyalty with the people and land they belong to.
this, you got my point now :)
to me, female's comittment and loyalty to land has nothing special
to discuss as male are to supposed to be same as female are. But, then he must had urged women to be loyal to thier husbands or lovers, no?
this, you got my point now :)
to me, female's comittment and loyalty to land has nothing special
to discuss as male are to supposed to be same as female are. But, then he must had urged women to be loyal to thier husbands or lovers, no?
Female characters of Shah Latif are not static like show-piece type females depicted in today's media. They had substance in their characters. Will to achieve something (Sassi journey and struggle for Punhoo), Determination and standing for ones identity ( Marvi's longing for her land), rejection of superficial worldly things ( Noori's simplicity) makes these females Surmis (heroines) of Shah Latif.
I knew about Point #1, but never had any idea about Points #2 and #3. So Shah Latif is as big to Sindhis as Baba Farid or Guru Nanak is to us Punjabis?
I knew about Point #1, but never had any idea about Points #2 and #3. So Shah Latif is as big to Sindhis as Baba Farid or Guru Nanak is to us Punjabis?
Yes Shah Latif is adored in Sindh like Baba Farid and Guru Nanak in Punjab
undivided Punjab. some how Pakistani Punjab lost connection to Baba Guru Nanak due to so called heavy Islamisation, but Indian Punjab still adore Bulleh Shah, Waris Shah, Baba Farid equally