Discourses of Learning and Love: Sufi Paths in Pakistan

  • Mahwash Shoaib
Chapter
Part of the Postcolonialism and Religions book series (PCR)

Abstract

In versions of a song popular through three centuries, Sufi poet Bulleh Shah sings of a love that makes him dance with such aban-don that only his beloved can come and heal his agony. That Bulleh Shah, born to a prestigious family, had chosen for his spiritual guide someone from a lower class was disgraceful enough, but what he did next to win his teacher’s heart was outrageous. Annoyed by his arrogance that prevented his disciple from overcoming his ego, his teacher Shah Inayat had banished Bulleh Shah from his company. Bulleh Shah learned the dances and idioms of dancing girls; then, discovering that Shah Inayat would be attending a festival at the shrine of a saint, he dressed himself in women’s clothing and danced and sang before his teacher for forgiveness.2 The woman in his song becomes a symbol of the soul yearning to reach its destination, union with God, and ready to endure any pain to do so. She pines for her beloved, drinking the cup brimful of the poison of separation; regretful, she is willing to give her life for a glimpse of her master at whose bidding she didn’t come; she is willful enough to break away from family and tradition for her love; she is by turns coquettish, “the sun hides, the blush remains,” and, ultimately, content at reaching fulfillment of her desire.

Keywords

Female Voice Female Protagonist Patron Saint Male Singer Folk Artist 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Notes

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Copyright information

© David Joy and Joseph F. Duggan 2012

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  • Mahwash Shoaib

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