Bulleh Shah

Sayyid Abdullāh Shāh Qādrī (Punjabi: [ˈsəˈjəd əbdʊ‿ˈláː ʃáː kaːdᵊɾiː]; c. 1680–1757), popularly known as Baba Bulleh Shah and vocatively as Bulleya, was a Punjabi revolutionary philosopher, reformer and Chishti Sufi poet, regarded the 'Father of Punjabi Enlightenment'; and one of the greatest poets of the Punjabi language. He criticised powerful religious, political, and social institutions; and is revered as the 'Poet of the People' amongst Punjabis.

Born in Uch, Subah of Multan, Bulleh Shah belonged to a family of religious scholars. In his juvenile years, his family moved to Malakwal, and later Pandoke, in the Subah of Lahore; where he got his early education from his father, while working as a herder, in the village. He received his higher religious education at Kasur from Hafiz Ghulam Murtaza; and later studied in Lahore under Shah Inayat Qadiri.

Bulleh Shah’s poetry resonated with a wide audience due to the use of colloquial language; employing metaphors and imagery to convey complex spiritual ideas to those outside formal religious circles. He became known for his mystic poetry, which blended his philosophy of oneness of god, divine love, humanism, social equality and tolerance; and critiqued social norms and institutions for exploiting the ordinary people. His poetry caused the spread of reformist ideas throughout the Punjab, which included calls for social, religious and political reforms. Bulleh Shah's works also left an impact on the Punjabi language, marking a new era of Punjabi literature which helped propagate a literary variety of Punjabi, based on colloquial speech, employing nuances from various local forms of the language.

He spent most of his life in Kasur, where he died at the age of 77. He is revered as the 'Sheikh of Both Worlds' amongst Punjabi Muslims. His poetry has been ingrained in Punjabi proverbs, qisse, and folk traditions; and has been recited at many cultural events, particularly his kafis, including one organized by UNESCO. It has also brought fourth many modern renditions, particularly in the form of qawwali.