Review of The Book, “DOOR TIAEEN DASS: LATIF SHANASEE”
(SEARCH TRACE FROM THERE: IDENTIFYING LATIF)
Author: Noor Ahmed Janjhi -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dame Edith Sitwell in her master-piece essay, “How Poetry Stretches Your Mind” writes, ‘Poetry ennobles the heart and the eyes, and unveils the meaning of all things upon which the heart and the eyes dwell. It discovers the secret rays of the universe to us, and restores to us forgotten paradises.’ The true insight of Edith’s commentary on poetry qualifies itself to be an authority to describe the divinely-revealed power upon the poets what is undoubtedly very rare; however, it really exists in universe.
To this rare existence, where human intellect might get lost, and all wit could not agree more to say and believe in the truthfulness of faith and sublimity of submissiveness; there can still be an insight for longing and searching one’s self --- that is no doubt very hard, nonetheless, it is given to some selected souls alone. Such a soul of a high spirit, pious belief and revolutionary echo was found on the peaceful land of Sindh whom the world is by the day calling as the Shah of Bhitt, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai has been a highly-ranked and widely-discussed subject-matter of the whole world literature. Bhittai is said to be the greatest poetical authority with his versatile literary work and the most appropriate use of language, art and expression. Daya Ram Gidumal, an old scholar writes Shah Abdul Latif as the ‘Greatest Poet of Sindh’. Miss Emily Hauze who considers herself an American Sindhyani calls Shah Abdul Latif as marvellous as William Shakespeare. Christopher Shackle, a literary expert who has also translated the Shah Jo Risalo into English suggests that the Risalo might be held as the Quran of Sindhi Literature.
However, Bhittai has been a most attractive and striking figure to have numberless articles, columns, seminars, essays, research papers and books critically written and organised on his matchless pen and pitch.
The auspicious work of Shah Abdul Latif has always been the most favourite subject of literary critics, sufi poets, revolutionary leaders, mighty intellectuals, mature mystics, religious interpreters, human-lovers, and above all, Shah Bhittai has been a centred choice for seekers.
Among such seekers for whom Bhittai’s poetry is more than mere a literary contribution, for whom Bhittai is more than a poet of sublimity and radical revolution, for whom Bhittai is more than an ordinary lover of beauty and temporal attention; the name of Noor Ahmed Janjhi holds a high status, and seems eminently at top in the merit list of The Latif Studies.
Noor Ahmed Janjhi is a highly profiled intellectual, language master and expert in literary philosophies. He has got a very striving soul that is always likely to perform something scholastic, informative and serving to the generations present and to come in the next.
Mr. Janjhi’s contribution in the recent times baggers no comparison in his genres of speciality. His area of grip speaks of his continuous reading and research which he pays off in the form of his day-to-day increasing friends and followers. His scholarly attitude in his writing can be observed and analysed from his master-piece works on Moulana Rumi, Shaikh Ayaz, Baghat Kabeer, and Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. In addition to this, the name of esteemed Noor Ahmed Janjhi is regularly read and published in different newspapers, magazines and social media along with his deep-insight, consciousness and philosophical gems.
One of the best forms of Mr. Janjhi’s labour is his recently published book namely, “Doar Tiaeen Dass: Latif Shanasee”. The book abides by the critical interpretation of Shah’s message containing 27 essays of versatile erudition. The author, in this book, deals with the deep insight of mystic cum philosophical range of Latif Shanasee (identifying Latif) with a view to make it easy and soundly interesting for a layman even. As in the words of an eminent literary critic in the preface to this book: Gul Mohammad Umrani, “The book is a layman’s guide to know the message of the master.”
However, the most amazing quality of this book by Mr. Noor Ahmed Janjhi is its focus on the real message of Shah Abdul Latif more than the morphemic analysis of his textual discourse. From the very first essay to the last one, it can be observed that this book attempts something quite different from what the most of writers do nowadays while writing on Shah’s work.
The book aims at unveiling, untying and unfolding the eruditeness of Shah Abdul Latif in his overwhelming command on textual diction, semantic means, aphoristic attitude, and appropriate literary morals in his poetry.
Mr. Janjhi also depicts feminine characters (heroines) of Shah’s poetry, and discusses Shah’s behaviour as a romantic poet when he talks about Momal, Noori, Sasaee and Mariee in his poetry to turn these love stories more beautiful and universally acknowledged.
Moreover, the religious solemnity of Shah Abdul Latif has been given a centred importance in this book. Bhittai’s belief in Oneness: Wahdat-ul-Wajud (unity of the Creator), his praise for the Prophet (s.a.w), comprehension of the Holy Quran, and impact of Arabic and Persian mystic writers collectively speak of religion being the soul of his literary body.
The social aspects of Shah’s poetry have also been discussed greatly in the book, “Doar Tiaeen Dass” Bhittai’s concept of good and bad, reality of universe, existence of nature, commencement of life, social order, ethnocentric elements, sacrifice, love, patience, peace, freedom, morality and self-esteem can be found accurately judged with a reference of the original textual lines of Shah’s poetry.
Bhittai’s concept of love (Ishq) has been explained very smoothly to comprehend the real gist of what a mystic soul pays to a very pious feeling of love. To Shah, love is not a bet or game; it is the name of full-submissiveness which goes beyond all the temporal boundaries and barriers. Bhittai explains love to be an un-ending flow sacred from worldly values with an intent of unity and Oneness where nothing is known as bi/two/second/or other.
Shah Abdul Latif is a living poet whose work is unknown to the popular death. Bhittai’s vision lies in the memories of his beloved. To him, forgetfulness and vagueness are substitute to death. He soundly believes in insight knowledge which is independent of naked eyes but thirst and inner-consciousness.
In addition, Mr. Janjhi is found brilliantly indulged in identifying Latif to have depicted the supreme picture of humankind under the umbrella of Latifian thought. This book, however, profoundly expresses the reformative and motivational aspects of Shah’s poetry where Shah advises the humanity to strive, to stand, to seek and not to yield. Bhittai believes in hardworking, consistency, boldness, and action. The message of Shah Abdul Latif is free from fear. He considers rest is to waste. He thinks life to be a visionary promise where fulfilment should overcome the selfishness; and standing by should be preferred to bid bye.
Patience in Shah’s poetry is one of the very significant aspects of Latif Studies which the author has carried out to a very scholarly extent. Bhittai has given a very comprehensive image of patience in his poetry. He names it as an ability of human intellect which he agrees to hold a little before his natural will. Shah considers patience a taste that comes to only those who aspire it, not cry for it.
Beauty is an essential of poetry. So does Shah of Bhitt consider… Bhittai works wonders as an aesthetic writer. His mighty depiction of natural beauty is inevitable. He discusses rain, clouds, thunders, hills, animals, birds, and above all, the beholder’s affection that is more healing than anything else on the earth.
This book, in fact, out of a vital intellect covers a wide influence of world civilisations on each other. To this context, the author has analysed the impact of Moulana Rumi with a critical discussion of Rumi’s textual lines that authentically proves Shah to be highly inspired by Moulana Rumi’s art, knowledge and philosophy.
However, this book, “Doar Tiaeen Dass” is an excellent result of the author’s ceaseless labour which he has been carrying out for long. It was no doubt too hard to make out Bhittai’s work and message in such a way before going through this magical and marvellous contribution from the wit and writ of esteemed Noor Ahmed Janjhi. Among the greatest features of this book, the simple flow of ideas, sublime diction, and qualitative interpretation along with authentic citation of Shah’s poetry are extremely praise-worthy.
Besides this, the auspicious English commentary as a preface of the book by a renowned scholar, Honourable Gul Mohammad Umrani, and a very wise discussion as a critical appreciation of the book by a young writer and literature lover, Mir Mansoor Mangrio have adorned the author’s labour to some more extent what this work truly deserves to pay off.
After all, the book is a great literary achievement and valuable accretion in the banquet of Sindhi Literature that shall help all and sundry understand the real worth of Shah Abdul Latif’s message, and identify his thought of true spirit.
Goodly wishes,