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{{short description|18th-century Punjabi philosopher and poet}}
{{short description|Punjabi philosopher and poet (1680–1757)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox religious biography
{{Infobox religious biography
| name              = Syed Abdullah Shah Qadri<br/>"Bulleh Shah"
| name              = Bulleh Shah
| native_name        = {{nq|سید عبداللہ شاہ قادری}}
| native_name        = {{nobold|{{nq|بُلّھے شاہ}}}}
| native_name_lang  = Punjabi
| native_name_lang  = pnb
| image              = File:BullehShah.jpg
| image              = Bulleh Shah's Shrine.JPG
| image_size        = 150px
| image_size        = 180px
| caption            =  
| caption            = The tomb of Bulleh Shah in [[Kasur]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]]
| titles            = The Father of Punjabi Enlightenment
| title              =  
| birth_date        = c. 1680 [[Common Era|CE]]
| birth_date        = {{circa|1680}}
| birth_place        = [[Uch]], [[Punjab]], [[Mughal Empire]] <br> {{small|(present-day [[Punjab, Pakistan]])}}
| birth_place        = [[Uch]], [[Subah of Multan|Multan Subah]], [[Mughal Empire]]
| death_date        = c. 1757 [[Common Era|CE]] (aged 77)
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|1757|08|30|1680|||df=yes}}
| death_place        = [[Kasur]], [[Bhangi Misl]], [[Sikh Confederacy]] <br>{{small|(present-day Punjab, Pakistan)}}
| death_place        = [[Kasur]], [[Subah of Lahore|Lahore Subah]], [[Mughal Empire]]
| philosophy        = [[Sufism]]
| philosophy        =  
| lineage            =  
| lineage            =  
| resting_place      = [[Kasur]], [[Punjab]]
| resting_place      = [[#Tomb|Darbar Baba Bulleh Shah, Kasur]]
| attributes        =  
| attributes        =  
| patronage          =  
| patronage          =  
| issues            =  
| issues            =  
| influences        =  
| influences        = [[Shah Hussain]]<br/>[[Shah Inayat Qadiri]]<br/>[[Baba Farid]]<br/>[[Sultan Bahu]]
| major_works        =  
| major_works        =  
| religion          = [[Islam]]
| religion          = [[Islam]]
| footnotes          = *Also venerated by many [[Sikhs]]
| footnotes          =  
| denomination      =  
| denomination      =  
| birthname          = Syed Abdullah Shah Qadri
| birth_name        = Sayyid Abdullāh Shāh Qādrī
| Sufi_order        = [[Qadiriyya]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1519937|title=The mystic and Sufi behind the rise and rise of Bulleh Shah|website=www.dawn.com|date=2 December 2019}}</ref>
| Sufi_order        =  
| main interests     = [[Tassawuf]], [[ishq]], philosophy, [[Sufi poetry|poetry]], [[Love_of_God#Islam|divine love]]
| main_interests     = {{Hlist|''[[Tassawuf]]''|''[[ishq]]''|[[philosophy]]|[[Sufi poetry|poetry]]|[[Love of God#Islam|Divine love]]|[[humanism]]}}
| father            = Shah Muhammad Darwaish
| father            = Shah Muhammad Darwaish
| mother            = Fatima Bibi
| mother            = Fatima Bibi
| influenced        = [[Mian Muhammad Bakhsh]]<br/>[[Khwaja Ghulam Farid]]<br/>[[Bhagat Singh]]<br/>[[Muhammad Iqbal]]<br/>[[Ali Arshad Mir]]<br/>[[Faiz Ahmad Faiz]]<br/>[[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]]<br/>[[Pathanay Khan]]<br/>[[Jam Saqi]]<br/>[[Abida Parveen]]<br/>[[Taimur Rahman]]
| teachers          = [[Shah Inayat Qadiri]]
| module            = {{Infobox writer |embed=yes
| genre            = {{Hlist|[[Love]]|[[divine love]]|[[Sufi poetry|Islamic mysticism]]|[[social commentary|society]]|[[nature]]|[[self-reflection]]|''[[Nazm]]''|''[[Kafi]]''}}
| notableworks    =
| pseudonym          = {{hlist|''Bulleh Shāh''|''Bulleyā''}}
| language          = [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]
}}
}}
}}
{{Sufism}}
{{Sufism}}
{{Punjabis}}
{{Punjabis}}
'''Sayyid Abdullāh Shāh Qādrī'''{{efn|{{langx|pnb|{{nq|سید عبداللہ شاہ قادری}}}}, {{IPA|pa|ˈsəˈjəd əbdʊ‿ˈláː ʃáː kaːdᵊɾiː|pron}}}} ({{circa|1680}} – 1757), popularly known as [[Baba (honorific)|Baba]] '''Bulleh Shah'''{{efn|also [[Romanization|romanised]] as '''Bullhē Shāh'''; {{langx|pnb|{{nq|بُلّھے شاہ}}}}, {{IPA|pa|ˈbʊlːèː ʃáː|pron}}}} and [[Vocative case|vocatively]] as '''Bulleya''',{{efn|also [[Romanization|romanised]] as '''Bullhēyā'''; {{langx|pnb|{{nq|بُلھیا}}}}, {{IPA|pa|bʊlːè'(j)aː|pron}}}} was a [[Punjabis|Punjabi]] revolutionary [[philosopher]], [[reformist|reformer]] and poet, regarded as one of the greatest [[List of Punjabi-language poets|poets]] of the [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] language and revered as the 'Father of Punjabi Enlightenment'. His [[#Poetry|literary oeuvre]], comprising ~150 ''[[kafi]]'' and 94 other [[poetry|poetic compositions]], reflect themes of [[Sufism|Sufi]] and [[Humanism|humanist]] [[philosophy]] — for which he is regarded as 'Poet of the People' among Punjabis.{{efn|{{langx|pnb|{{nq|لوکاں دے شاعر}}|Lōkāñ dē śā'ir}}<ref name=Poetry>{{cite web|url=https://www.sikhawareness.com/topic/10305-bulleh-shahs-poetry-mentions-of-dasam-patshah/ |title=Bulleh Shah's Poetry (mentions of Dasam Patshah) - Islam |website=sikhawareness.com|author=shaheediyan |date=26 January 2008 |access-date=29 October 2025}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |title=Comparative theology in the millennial classroom : hybrid identities, negotiated boundaries |date=2016 |editor1=Mara Brecht |editor2=Reid B. Locklin |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-51250-9 |location=New York |oclc=932622675}}</ref><ref name=APNA>{{cite web|url=http://www.apnaorg.com/poetry/bullahn/ |title=The Life of Bulleh Shah|website=Academy of the Punjab in North America (APNA) website|author=J.R. Puri |author2=T.R. Shangari|access-date=18 May 2020}}</ref>}}


'''Syed Abdullah Shah Qadri'''<ref name=APNA>{{cite web|url=http://www.apnaorg.com/poetry/bullahn/ |title=The Life of Bulleh Shah|website=Academy of the Punjab in North America (APNA) website|author=J.R. Puri and T.R. Shangari|access-date=18 May 2020}}</ref> ({{lang-pa|{{nq|سید عبداللہ شاہ قادری}}}} {{small| ([[Shahmukhi]])}}; {{lang|pa|ਸੱਈਦ ਅਬਦੁੱਲਾਹ ਸ਼ਾਹ ਕ਼ਾਦਰੀ}} {{small|([[Gurmukhi]])}}; 1680–1757), known popularly as '''Bulleh Shah''' ({{lang-pa|{{nq|بُلّھے شاہ}}}} {{small| ([[Shahmukhi]])}}; {{lang|pa|ਬੁੱਲ੍ਹੇ ਸ਼ਾਹ}} {{small|([[Gurmukhi]])}}) and '''Bulleya''', was a [[Punjabis|Punjabi]] [[philosopher]] and [[Sufi poetry|Sufi poet]] during 17th-century [[Punjab]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kumar |first=Raj |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e8o5HyC0-FUC&dq=bl&pg=PA190 |title=Encyclopaedia of Untouchables, Ancient, Medieval and Modern |date=2008 |publisher=Kalpaz Publications |year=2008 |isbn=978-81-7835-664-8 |location=Delhi, India |pages=190 |language=English |oclc=277277425 |quote=It is said that from among the ancestors of Bulleh Shah, Sayeed Jalaluddin Bukhari came to Multan from Surakh-Bukhara three hundred years earlier.}}</ref> His first spiritual teacher was [[Shah Inayat Qadiri]], a [[Sufism|Sufi]] [[murshid]] of [[Lahore]]. He was a mystic poet and is universally regarded as "The Father of Punjabi Enlightenment". He lived and was buried in [[Kasur]].
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, Lahore|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 [[Colloquialism|colloquial language]]; employing [[metaphors]] and [[imagery]] to convey complex spiritual ideas to those outside formal religious circles.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-08 |title=Poet Of The People: The Time And Kalam Of Bulleh Shah |url=https://www.thefridaytimes.com/2022/04/08/poet-of-the-people-the-time-and-kalam-of-bulleh-shah/ |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=The Friday Times |language=en}}</ref> He became known for his [[Sufi literature|mystic poetry]], which blended his [[philosophy]] of [[Tawhid|oneness of god]], [[Love of God#Islam|divine love]], [[social equality]]; and critiqued social norms and institutions for exploiting the ordinary people. 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 [[Punjabi dialects|local forms]] of the language.<ref name="RefQ">{{Cite book |last=Snehi |first=Yogesh |title=Spatializing popular Sufi shrines in Punjab : dreams, memories, territoriality |date=2019 |isbn=978-0-429-51220-9 |location=Abingdon, Oxon |publisher=Routledge |oclc=1098274711}}</ref><ref name="RefL">{{Cite book |url=https://academic.oup.com/book/3685 |title=Travels of Bollywood Cinema: From Bombay to LA |date=2012-02-01 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-807598-1 |editor-last=Roy |editor-first=Anjali Gera |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198075981.001.0001 |editor-last2=Huat |editor-first2=Chua Beng}}</ref>
 
He spent most of his life in Kasur, where he died at the age of 77.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Abbas |first=Sadia |title=At Freedom's Limit : Islam and the Postcolonial Predicament |date=2014 |isbn=978-0-8232-5786-7 |location=New York, NY |publisher=Fordham University Press |oclc=1204032457}}</ref> His poetry has been ingrained in Punjabi proverbs, ''[[Punjabi Qisse|qisse]]'', and [[Punjabi folklore|folk traditions]]; and has been recited at many cultural events, particularly his ''[[kafi]]s'', including one organized by [[UNESCO]].<ref name=":8" /> The songs based on his lyrics have been sung on important occasions, including one at [[White House]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-22 |title=A cappella group Penn Masala perform Bollywood songs at White House before PM Modi's arrival |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/music/a-cappella-group-penn-masala-perform-bollywood-songs-at-white-house-before-modis-arrival-8680706/ |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> It has also brought forth many modern renditions, particularly in the form of ''[[qawwali]]''.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=The Oral and intangible heritage of South Asia: Performances by 40 dancers and musicians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000160005 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=unesdoc.unesco.org}}</ref>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
He was born in 1680 in Uch, Mughal Empire (present day [[Pakistani Punjab|Punjab , Pakistan]]). After his early education, he went to [[Lahore]] where he met [[Shah Inayat Qadiri|Inayat Arian]], and became his disciple.<ref name=APNA/> Due to unexplained reasons Shah Darwaish had to move to [[Malakwal]], a village of [[Sahiwal]]. Later, when Bulleh Shah was six years old, his family moved to [[Pandoke, Lahore|Pandoke]], which is 50 miles southeast of Kasur. Bulleh Shah was schooled by his father, along with the other children of the village. Most sources confirm that Bulleh Shah had to work as a child and adolescent [[herder]] in the village. It is confirmed that he received his higher education in Kasur. Some historians claim that Bulleh Shah received his education at a highly reputed madrassa run by [[Hafiz Ghulam Murtaza]] where he taught for some time after his graduation. After his early education, he went to [[Lahore]] where he met [[Shah Inayat Qadiri|Inayat Arian]], and became his disciple.<ref name="APNA" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-11-25|title=Bulleh Shah|url=https://sufipoetry.wordpress.com/poets/bulleh-shah/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Sufi Poetry|language=en}}</ref>
===Early life and education===
There is no consensus on Bulleh Shah's real name. While mainstream historians assert it was 'Abdullah,' some scholars argue that it was 'Bu Ali.'<ref>{{Cite web |last=Soofi |first=Mushtaq |date=2021-07-19 |title=Punjab Notes: Fazal Farid Laleka: Bullah's name and Khawaja Farid's Masnavi |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1635870 |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>
 
Bulleh Shah was born around 1680 in [[Uch]], [[Subah of Multan]], in [[History of Punjab#Mughal Empire|Mughal Punjab]] into a [[Sayyid]] family.
 
Bulleh Shah's father, Shah Muhammad Darwaish, was well-versed in [[Arabic]], [[Persian language|Persian]], and the [[Quran]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Kumar |first=Raj |year=2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e8o5HyC0-FUC&dq=bl&pg=PA190 |title=Encyclopaedia of Untouchables, Ancient, Medieval and Modern |publisher=Kalpaz Publications |isbn=978-81-7835-664-8 |location=Delhi, India |page=190 |language=English |oclc=277277425 |quote=It is said that from among the ancestors of Bulleh Shah, Syed Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari came to Multan from Surakh-Bukhara three hundred years earlier. [...] Bulleh Shah's family, of being Sayyiad caste, was related to prophet Muhammad [...] Bulleh Shah's father, Shah Mohammed Dervish, was well versed in Arabic, Persian and the holy Qura'n. [...] There is a strong historical evidence to show that Bulleh Shah was an eminent scholar of Arabic and Persian.}}</ref> For unknown reasons, in his early life, his family moved to [[Malakwal]], a village near [[Sahiwal]]. Bulleh Shah had at least one sister who was also [[Sufism|Sufi]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":10">{{Cite book |last=Shāh |first=Bullhe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hic3XnRU-VgC |title=The Mystic Muse |date=1996 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-81-7017-341-0 |language=en}}</ref> Both siblings never married.<ref name=":10" /> According to another account, he had two sisters and none of them ever married.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Journal of Punjab Studies (Vol. 3) (1996) |url=https://www.google.com/search?q=sister+of+bullhe+shah&tbm=bks |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=www.google.com}}</ref>
 
Later, when Bulleh Shah was six years old, his family moved to [[Pandoke, Lahore|Pandoke]], which is 50 miles southeast of [[Kasur]]. Bulleh Shah was schooled by his father along with the other children of the village. Most sources confirm that Bulleh Shah had to work, as a child and adolescent, as a [[herder]] in the village. It is confirmed that he received his higher education in Kasur. Some historians claim that Bulleh Shah received his education at a highly reputed madrassa run by [[Hafiz Ghulam Murtaza]], where he taught for some time after his graduation. After his early education, he went to [[Lahore]] where he studied with [[Shah Inayat Qadiri]], a [[Sufism|Sufi]] [[murshid]] of Lahore.<ref name="APNA" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-11-25|title=Bulleh Shah|url=https://sufipoetry.wordpress.com/poets/bulleh-shah/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Sufi Poetry|language=en}}</ref> Bulleh Shah later became an eminent scholar of [[Arabic]] and [[Persian language|Persian]].<ref name=":0" />
 
By [[Social class|social stratum]], Bulleh Shah was a [[peasant]].<ref name=":10" /> He had at least one unmarried sister.<ref name=":13">{{Citation |last=Mobeen |first=Shahid |title=The Imaginatively Constituted I-Center and Fana (Annulment of Egoic-I) for a Sustainable Future in the Islamic Philosophy of Bulleh Shah |date=2024 |work=Eco-Imagination towards a Sustainable Future: Perspectives from Philosophies in Islam |series=Islamic Philosophy and Occidental Phenomenology in Dialogue |volume=8 |pages=143–154 |editor-last=Quintern |editor-first=Detlev |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-67659-8_11 |access-date=2025-08-03 |place=Cham |publisher=Springer Nature Switzerland |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-031-67659-8_11 |isbn=978-3-031-67659-8 |editor2-last=Verducci |editor2-first=Daniela|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Among his friends included Darshi Nath, a [[Hindus|Hindu]] [[fakir]].<ref name=":13" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lineamenti Di Antropologia Filosofica - Ales Bello Angela Mobeen S.: 9788872330913 - AbeBooks |url=https://www.abebooks.com/9788872330913/Lineamenti-Antropologia-Filosofica-Ales-Bello-8872330912/plp |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=www.abebooks.com |language=en}}</ref>
 
One of the oldest texts to mention him is Gazetteer of the Multan District (1901–02) prepared and published by [[Edward Douglas MacLagan]] in 1902.<ref name=":14">{{Cite book |last=Maclagan |first=E. D. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.181748 |title=Gazetteer Of The Multan District (1901-02) |date=1902}}</ref> The text identified Shah as the "best known, and it is said the first, writer of [[kafi]]s."<ref name=":14" /> However, his kafis were published for the first time as "Qanun-i-Ishq", in 1889, by Anwar Ali in [[Lahore]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Janoo |first=Yahya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D5fiAAAAMAAJ |title=The Pride of the East: Profile of Two Hundred Eminent Personalities of East |date=1996 |publisher=Owais Enterprise |language=en}}</ref>
 
===Persecution===
There is a fort-like [[Gurdwara]] in [[Daftuh]] that was built in the 18th century by the Sikh Chieftainess [[Bibi (title)|Bibi]] Isher Kaur, who donated 80 squares of land for its construction.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Indiablooms |title=Pakistan 'neglects' Gurdwara dedicated to Baba Bulleh Shah {{!}} Indiablooms - First Portal on Digital News Management |url=https://www.indiablooms.com/world-details/SA/41262/pakistan-neglects-gurdwara-dedicated-to-baba-bulleh-shah.html |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=Indiablooms.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite book |last=Qaiṣar |first=Iqbāl |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y3nXAAAAMAAJ |title=پاكستان وچ سكھاں دياں تواريخى پوتر تھاواں |date=1998 |publisher=Punjabi History Board |language=pa}}</ref> Bulleh Shah took refuge in this Gurdwara after a group of Islamic fundamentalists started threatening his life.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-25 |title=An ode to Baba Bulleh Shah, historic gurdwara in Pakistan falls to nature's vagaries, govt's apathy |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/sufi-poet-baba-bulleh-shah-gurdwara-sahib-in-pakistan-punjab-heritage-8858407/ |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":9" />
 
In his bad times, when even his family looked down upon him (for accepting a lower-caste [[Shah Inayat Qadiri]] as a teacher), his sister loved him and stood with him.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":0" />


He died in 1757, at the age of 77 and was buried in [[Kasur]], where he had spent most of his life. A [[dargah]] was built over his grave. He was declared non-Muslim by a few literalist "[[Mullah]]" of Kasur and they had claimed it was prohibited to offer the funeral prayer of Bulleh Shah due to [[Kafir|Kufr]] [[fatwa]] (allegations) put on him by extremists. His funeral prayer was led by Qazi Hafiz Syed Zahid Hamdani, a great religious personality of Kasur.<ref name=Dawn>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1332459|title=My visit to Bulleh Shah's tomb made me feel an otherworldly sense of peace|last=Zia|first=Sidra|date=17 June 2019|website=Dawn|location=Pakistan|language=en|access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref>
During his lifetime, he was outcast as [[kafir]] (non-believer) by some Muslim clerics.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Waheed |first=Sarah Fatima |title=Hidden histories of Pakistan : censorship, literature, and secular nationalism in late colonial India |date=2022 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-108-99351-7 |location=Cambridge, United Kingdom |oclc=1263249486}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ghulam |first=Chatha Akbar |title=Faith, Not Religions : a Collection Of Essays. |date=2012 |publisher=iUniverse.Com |isbn=978-1-4759-6461-5 |oclc=1124524187}}</ref>


He was buried in Kasur when he died in 1757.<ref name="indiatimes1"/> There is a clean and very huge [[veranda]] which leads to the [[Tomb]] of Baba Bulleh Shah as you enter the shrine. The ceiling of shrine is decorated with the verses of Bulleh Shah in elegant calligraphy.<gallery>
===Death===
File:Bulleh Shah's Shrine.JPG
He died in 1757, at the age of 77.<ref name="indiatimes1" /> He was buried in [[Kasur]], where he had spent most of his life. As he was declared a [[kafir]] (a non-believer), religious fundamentalists of Kasur claimed it was prohibited to offer the prayer at his funeral. He was then buried on the outskirts of Kasur and his funeral prayer was led by Syed Zahid Hamdani, a renowned religious personality of Kasur.<ref name="Dawn">{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1332459|title=My visit to Bulleh Shah's tomb made me feel an otherworldly sense of peace|last=Zia|first=Sidra|date=17 June 2019|website=Dawn|location=Pakistan|language=en|access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref>
File:Grave of Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah.jpg
 
File:Bulleh Shah's grave.JPG
===Tomb===
File:Bullay Shah ibsisayndija2.jpg
A [[dargah]] was built over his tomb in the following decades. It is now, officially, a protected monument under regulation of the [[Government of Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab government]]. The tomb's premises are too small to accommodate the large number of visitors it receives each year. In 2024, due to overcrowding, the local government canceled several events and had to restrict entry to manage the overwhelming influx of people.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Ansari |first=Afzal |date=2024-09-02 |title=Bulleh Shah Urs: Kasur officials struggle to deal with devotees' influx |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1856232 |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>
File:Shrine Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah.jpg
</gallery>


== Poetry ==
== Poetry ==
Bulleh Shah lived after the Punjabi Sufi poet and saint [[Fariduddin Ganjshakar]] (1179–1266) and lived in the same period as other Punjabi Sufi poet [[Sultan Bahu]] (1629–1691). His lifespan also overlapped with the Punjabi poet [[Waris Shah]] (1722–1799), of ''[[Heer Ranjha]]'' fame and the Sindhi Sufi poet Abdul Wahab (1739–1829), better known by his pen name [[Sachal Sarmast]]. Amongst [[Urdu]] poets, Bulleh Shah lived 400 miles away from [[Mir Taqi Mir]] (1723–1810) of [[Delhi]].<ref name=Dawn/>
Bulleh Shah lived after the Punjabi Sufi poet and saint [[Fariduddin Ganjshakar]] (1179–1266), and lived in the same period as other Punjabi Sufi poet [[Sultan Bahu]] (1629–1691). His lifespan also overlapped with the Punjabi poet [[Waris Shah]] (1722–1799), who is famous for ''[[Heer Ranjha]]'', the Sindhi Sufi poet [[Sachal Sarmast]] (1739–1829), and the Pashto poet [[Khushal Khattak]] (1613–1689). Amongst [[Urdu]] poets, Bulleh Shah lived 400 miles away from [[Mir Taqi Mir]] (1723–1810) of [[Delhi]].<ref name=Dawn/>


Bulleh Shah practised the Sufi tradition of Punjabi poetry established by poets like [[Shah Hussain]] (1538–1599), [[Sultan Bahu]] (1629–1691), and [[Shah Sharaf]] (1640–1724).<ref name=Dawn/>
Bulleh Shah practised the Sufi tradition of Punjabi poetry established by poets like [[Shah Hussain]] (1538–1599), [[Sultan Bahu]] (1629–1691), and [[Shah Sharaf]] (1640–1724).<ref name=Dawn/>


The verse form Bulleh Shah primarily employed is the [[Kafi]], popular in [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] and [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]] poetry.<ref name=APNA/>
The verse form Bulleh Shah primarily employed is the [[Kafi]], popular in [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] and [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]] poetry.<ref name=APNA/> His poetry is a mixture of traditional mystic thought and intellectualism.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1987 |isbn=9788126018031 |location=New Delhi |pages=600 |language=English}}</ref>
 
Many people have put his [[Kafi]]s to music, from humble street-singers to renowned Sufi singers like [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]], [[Fareed Ayaz]], [[Pathanay Khan]], [[Abida Parveen]], the [[Waddali Brothers]], [[Iqbal Bahu]] and [[Sain Zahoor]], from the synthesised techno [[qawwali]] remixes of UK-based Asian artists to the Pakistani rock band [[Junoon (band)|Junoon]].<ref name="indiatimes1"/>
 
Among the most distinguished persons to be influenced by Bulleh Shah's poetry had been [[Muhammad Iqbal]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sud |first=Kider Nath |url=https://archive.org/details/iqbalhispoemsare0000unse |title=Iqbal and His Poems - A Reappraisal |publisher=Sterling Publishers |year=1969 |location=Delhi |pages=41 |language=English}}</ref> It is maintained that Iqbal took his last breath while listening to his kafi.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Indian Horizons; Volumes 26-27 |publisher=[[Indian Council for Cultural Relations]] |year=1977 |location=New Delhi |pages=43 |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Duggal |first=Kartar Singh |title=Literary Encounters; Volume 1 |publisher=Marwah Publications |year=1980 |location=India |pages=8 |language=English}}</ref>
 
He is the "most famous and celebrated" Punjabi poet<ref name="RefQ"/> and is widely recognized as "poet par excellence".<ref name="RefL"/> A sample of his poetic work is presented below:
 
'''Verse 1:'''
 
"''The [[mullah]] and the torch-bearer''
 
''Hail from the same stock;''
 
''They give light to others,''
 
''And themselves are in the dark.''"<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bullhe |first=Shāh |date=1986 |url=http://archive.org/details/bullehshah0000unse |title=Bulleh Shah : the love-intoxicated iconoclast |editor-first1=J.R. |editor-last1=Puri |editor-first2=T.R. |editor-last2=Shangari |publisher=Radha Soami Satsang Beas |location=Punjab |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>
 
'''Verse 2:'''
 
"''Let anyone who calls me [[Sayyid]] be punished''
 
''with the tortures of hell;''
 
''And let him revel in the pleasures of heaven,''
 
''who labels me an [[Arain]]''."<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Shāh |first1=Bullhe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QQE2AAAAMAAJ |title=Bulleh Shah: The Love-intoxicated Iconoclast |last2=Puri |first2=J. R. |date=1986 |publisher=Radha Soami Satsang Beas |language=en}}</ref>
 
'''Verse 3:'''
 
'''“'''''Not a believer in the'' ''[[mosque]] am I,''
 
''Nor a disbeliever with his rites am I.''
 
''I am not the pure amongst the impure,''


Many people have put his [[Kafi]]s to music, from humble street-singers to renowned Sufi singers like [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]], [[Fareed Ayaz]], [[Pathanay Khan]], [[Abida Parveen]], the [[Waddali Brothers]] and [[Sain Zahoor]], from the synthesised techno [[qawwali]] remixes of UK-based Asian artists to the Pakistani rock band [[Junoon (band)|Junoon]].<ref name="indiatimes1"/>
''I am neither [[Moses]] nor [[Pharaoh]]''.”
 
== Philosophy and views ==
Bulleh Shah's non-orthodox views and simple language played important role in popularization of his poetry. It has been noted in literature that "one reason for his all-time popularity is his relatively modern vocabulary."<ref>{{Cite book |title=Crossing boundaries |date=1997 |publisher=Orient Longman |author=Geeti Sen |isbn=81-250-1341-5 |location=New Delhi |oclc=38257676}}</ref>  Among the core tenets of his philosophy includes humanism, equality, tolerance, rejection of double standards, and defiance to the authority of [[Ulama]] and blind faith in their authority. For his criticism of replication of beliefs (blind faith and following), the "Oxford Textbook of Spirituality in Healthcare" compared Bulleh Shah with [[Percy Bysshe Shelley]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cobb |first=Mark |title=Oxford Textbook of Spirituality in Healthcare. |date=2012 |publisher=OUP Oxford |others=Christina M. Puchalski, Bruce Rumbold |isbn=978-0-19-150218-7 |location=Oxford |oclc=867929609}}</ref> For his "ruthless [analysis of] human society" and an "unending quest" to change it, he is often compared with [[Karl Marx]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Soofi |first=Mushtaq |date=2019-08-26 |title=Punjab Notes: Bulleh Shah: beyond caste and its polluting touch |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1501710 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref> Among major taboos in his philosophy was reciting words without comprehending them.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Knight |first=Michael Muhammad |title=Journey to the End of Islam. |date=2009 |publisher=Soft Skull Press |isbn=978-1-59376-552-1 |location=Berkeley |oclc=826853777}}</ref> He was a reformer with very much conscious of the contemporary religious, political and social situations.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Dhillon |first=Harish |title=First Raj of the Sikhs : the Life and Times of Banda Singh Bahadur. |date=2013 |publisher=Hay House, Inc |isbn=978-93-81398-39-5 |location=Carlsbad |oclc=858762739}}</ref>
 
In Bulleh Shah's poetry, [[Sufism]] can be seen as an indigenous philosophy of political activism and class struggle<ref name="Inam">{{Cite web |last=Inam |first=Moniza |date=2018-03-11 |title=IN MEMORIAM: THE SUFI COMMUNIST |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1394228 |access-date=2023-02-16 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref> and resistance to powerful institutions like religion and imperialism.<ref name=":1" /> Through his poems he spoke against "religious, political and social patriarchal high handedness" of his time.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Gaur |first=I. D. |title=Martyr as bridegroom : a folk representation of Bhagat Singh |date=2008 |publisher=Anthem Press |isbn=978-81-905835-0-3 |location=New Delhi, India |oclc=227921397}}</ref> This side of his poetry is evident from his defying of the imperial ban on dancing and singing,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bullhe Shāh,?-1758? |title=The mystic muse |date=1996 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |others=Kartar Singh Duggal |isbn=81-7017-341-8 |location=New Delhi |oclc=35151781}}</ref> and support for [[Sikhs]], in general, and [[Guru Tegh Bahadur]]<ref name=":2" /> and [[Guru Gobind Singh]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lakshman Singh |first=Bhagat |title=Short sketch of the life and work of Guru Govind Singh, the 10th and last guru of the Sikhs |date=1995 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=81-206-0576-4 |location=New Delhi |oclc=858588727}}</ref> in particular, in their struggle against the imperialist [[Mughal Empire]]. Thus, his version of Sufism is usually considered opposite to that of [[Ali al-Hujwiri|Ali Hajweri]] and other 'more spiritual' Sufis who were confined to their libraries and schools and rarely participated in public discourse.<ref name=":3" />
 
Bulleh Shah was a "revolutionary" and "rebel" poet who spoke against powerful religious, political and social institutions of his time<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":4" /> and, thus, his influence can be seen on many noted socialists, progressives and workers and women rights activists like [[Jam Saqi]],<ref name="Inam"/> [[Taimur Rahman]],<ref>{{Citation |title=Loye Loye Bhar Ly Kurye Sung By Taimur Rehman, LAAL Band. | date=14 August 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOlN8tghs0g |language=en |access-date=2023-02-16}}</ref> [[Bhagat Singh]],<ref name=":4" /> [[Faiz Ahmad Faiz]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wolf |first=Richard K. |title=The voice in the drum : music, language, and emotion in Islamicate South Asia |date=2014 |isbn=978-0-252-09650-1 |location=Urbana |oclc=894227410 |publisher=University of Illinois Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Husain |first=Imdad |title=An introduction to the poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz |date=1989 |publisher=Vanguard Books |isbn=969-402-000-X |location=Lahore |oclc=21322031}}</ref> [[Madeeha Gauhar]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-09-12 |title=Ajoka holds festival to mark 9/11 |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1042289 |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref> and Major Ishaque Muhammad.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kazmi |first=Sara |title=Of subalterns and Sammi trees: Echoes of Ghadar in the Punjabi literary movement |url=https://socialiststudies.com/index.php/sss/article/download/27242/20156/69627 |journal=[[Socialist Studies (Society for Socialist Studies journal)|Socialist Studies]] |year=2018 |volume=13 |issue=2 |pages=114–133|doi=10.18740/ss27242 |s2cid=150355584 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
 
[[Humanism]] is the key attribute of the life and works of Bulleh Shah.<ref>{{Cite book |editor-first=Amin |editor-last=Asfari |date=2020 |title=Civility, Nonviolent Resistance, and the New Struggle for Social Justice |isbn=978-90-04-41758-8 |location=Leiden |publisher=Brill |oclc=1130904784}}</ref>


==Modern renderings==
==Modern renderings==
===Bands and albums===
===Bands and albums===
In the 1990s, [[Junoon (band)|Junoon]], a rock band from Pakistan, rendered his poems "[[Bullah Ki Jaana]]" and "Aleph" ("Ilmon Bas Kareen O Yaar"). In 2004, [[India]]n musician [[Rabbi Shergill]] turned the abstruse metaphysical poem "Bullah Ki Jaana" into a rock/fusion song in his debut album ''[[Rabbi (album)|Rabbi]]''; the song was a chart-topper in 2005, helping the album to eventually sell over 10,000 copies and became immensely popular in India and Pakistan.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050604/asp/calcutta/story_4806895.asp| title = Soundscape for the soul| author = Zeeshan Jawed| website = The Telegraph (Kolkata newspaper)| location = Calcutta| date = 4 June 2005| access-date = 20 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/04/11/stories/2005041100540100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105132448/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/04/11/stories/2005041100540100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2012| title = Urban balladeer| author = Bageshree S.| date = 11 April 2005|work=[[The Hindu]]| access-date = 20 May 2020}}</ref>
In the 1990s, [[Junoon (band)|Junoon]], a rock band from Pakistan, rendered his poems "[[Bullah Ki Jaana]]" and "Aleph" ("Ilmon Bas Kareen O Yaar"). In 2004, [[India]]n musician [[Rabbi Shergill]] turned the classical poem "Bullah Ki Jaana" into a rock/fusion song in his debut album ''[[Rabbi (album)|Rabbi]]''; the song was a chart-topper in 2005, helping the album to eventually sell over 10,000 copies and became immensely popular in India and Pakistan.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050604/asp/calcutta/story_4806895.asp|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171011175204/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1050604/asp/calcutta/story_4806895.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 October 2017| title = Soundscape for the soul| author = Zeeshan Jawed| website = The Telegraph (Kolkata newspaper)| location = Calcutta| date = 4 June 2005| access-date = 20 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/04/11/stories/2005041100540100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105132448/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/04/11/stories/2005041100540100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2012| title = Urban balladeer| author = Bageshree S.| date = 11 April 2005|work=[[The Hindu]]| access-date = 20 May 2020}}</ref>


The [[Wadali brothers|Wadali Bandhu]], a Punjabi Sufi group from India, have also released a version of "Bullah Ki Jaana" in their album ''Aa Mil Yaar... Call of the Beloved''. Another version was performed by [[Lakhwinder Wadali]] and entitled "Bullah".{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} [[Dama Dam Mast Qalandar]], a [[qawwali]] composed in honour of [[Shahbaz Qalandar]], has been one of Bulleh Shah's most popular poems and has been frequently rendered by many Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi singers including [[Noor Jehan]], [[Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]], [[Abida Parveen]], [[Sabri Brothers]], [[Wadali brothers]], [[Reshman]] and [[Runa Laila]]. Other qawwali songs by Bulleh Shah, include "[[Sade Vehre Aya Kar]]" and "[[Mera Piya Ghar Aaya]]".<ref name="indiatimes1"/> In 2008, a version of Bulleh Shah's famous verse, ''Aao Saiyo Ral Deyo Ni Wadhai'', was sung by [[Shafqat Amanat Ali|Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan]], for his debut solo album, ''[[Tabeer (album)|Tabeer]]''. Ali named the song "Bulleh Shah" in honor of the poet.
The [[Wadali brothers|Wadali Bandhu]], a Punjabi Sufi group from India, have also released a version of "Bullah Ki Jaana" in their album ''Aa Mil Yaar... Call of the Beloved''. They also worked with British-Punjabi music composer, [[Mukhtar Sahota]], to create their own rendition of a famous [[Folk music of Punjab|Punjabi folk song]], "Charkha" which was released in May 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFAHyGWc1AY  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/FFAHyGWc1AY|archive-date=2024-03-24 |url-status=live|title=Charka - Mukhtar Sahota & Wadali's - Unpredictable |via=YouTube |date=4 May 2007 |access-date=24 March 2024}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Another version was performed by [[Lakhwinder Wadali]] and entitled "Bullah".{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} [[Dama Dam Mast Qalandar]], a qawwali composed in honour of [[Shahbaz Qalandar]], has been one of Bulleh Shah's most popular poems and has been frequently rendered by many Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi singers including [[Noor Jehan]], [[Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]], [[Abida Parveen]], [[Sabri Brothers]], Wadali brothers, [[Reshma (Pakistani singer)|Reshman]] and [[Runa Laila]]. Other qawwali songs by Bulleh Shah, include "[[Sade Vehre Aya Kar]]" and "[[Mera Piya Ghar Aaya]]".<ref name="indiatimes1"/> In 2008, a version of Bulleh Shah's famous verse, ''Aao Saiyo Ral Deyo Ni Wadhai'', was sung by [[Shafqat Amanat Ali|Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan]], for his debut solo album, ''[[Tabeer (album)|Tabeer]]''. Ali named the song "Bulleh Shah" in honor of the poet.


Also in 2016, a collaboration between two EDM artists ([[Headhunterz]] and Skytech) named "Kundalini" used words created by Bulleh Shah, as well as having the words Bulleh Shah in the lyrics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8zB7QKU87c  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/e8zB7QKU87c |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Headhunterz & Skytech – Kundalini (Official Music Video) |via=YouTube |date=10 May 2016 |access-date=17 January 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Bulleh Shah's verses have been an inspiration to painters as well, as in the two series of paintings (''Jogia Dhoop'' and ''Shah Shabad'') by an Indian painter [[Geeta Vadhera]] inspired by the poetry of Bulleh Shah and other Sufi poets and saints. In 2017, British Pakistani singer Yasir Akhtar used Bulleh Shah's poetry in his song "Araam Naal Kar – Take it Easy".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l9kI5-aiGQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/0l9kI5-aiGQ |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=<nowiki>Yasir Akhtar | Araam Naal Kar – Take it Easy ft.Martay M'Kenzy (Official Video)</nowiki>|date=3 February 2017|access-date=16 February 2017|via=YouTube|publisher=Yasir Akhtar}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/130751-Yasir-Akhtar-the-singing-sensation-is-back-with-Aram-Nal-Kar|title=Yasir Akhtar, the singing sensation, is back with 'Aram Nal Kar'|date=11 February 2017|access-date=16 February 2017|via=Geo News|publisher=Tanveer Khatana}}</ref> In 2019, [[Sona Mohapatra]] used a [[Kalam]] of Bulleh Shah in her song "R.A.T Mashup".{{Cn|date=November 2021}}
In 2016, a collaboration between two EDM artists ([[Headhunterz]] and Skytech) named "Kundalini" used words created by Bulleh Shah, as well as having the words Bulleh Shah in the lyrics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8zB7QKU87c  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/e8zB7QKU87c |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Headhunterz & Skytech – Kundalini (Official Music Video) |via=YouTube |date=10 May 2016 |access-date=17 January 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Bulleh Shah's verses have been an inspiration to painters as well, as in the two series of paintings (''Jogia Dhoop'' and ''Shah Shabad'') by an Indian painter [[Geeta Vadhera]] inspired by the poetry of Bulleh Shah and other Sufi poets and saints. In 2017, British-Pakistani singer [[Yasir Akhtar]] used Bulleh Shah's poetry in his song "Araam Naal Kar – Take it Easy".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l9kI5-aiGQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/0l9kI5-aiGQ |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=<nowiki>Yasir Akhtar | Araam Naal Kar – Take it Easy ft.Martay M'Kenzy (Official Video)</nowiki>|date=3 February 2017|access-date=16 February 2017|via=YouTube|publisher=Yasir Akhtar}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/130751-Yasir-Akhtar-the-singing-sensation-is-back-with-Aram-Nal-Kar|title=Yasir Akhtar, the singing sensation, is back with 'Aram Nal Kar'|date=11 February 2017|access-date=16 February 2017|via=Geo News|publisher=Tanveer Khatana}}</ref> In 2019, [[Sona Mohapatra]] used a verse of Bulleh Shah in her song "R.A.T. Mashup".{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}


===Films===
===Films===
The 1973 movie [[Bobby (1973 film)|Bobby]] song by [[Narendra Chanchal]] starts with the verse ''Beshaq mandir masjid todo, Bulleh Shah ye kahta''. Some of Bulleh Shah's verses, including "[[Tere Ishq Nachaya]]", have been adapted and used in [[Bollywood]] film songs including "[[Chaiyya Chaiyya]]" and "Thayya Thayya" in the 1998 film ''[[Dil Se..]]'', "Tere Ishq Nachaya" in the 2002 film ''[[Shaheed-E-Azam]]'' and "Ranjha Ranjha" in the 2010 film ''[[Raavan]]''.<ref name="indiatimes1">{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Bulleh-Shahs-poetry-in-present-day/articleshow/14098893.cms |title=Bulleh Shah's poetry in present day|website=Times Of India|date=13 June 2012 |access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref> The 2007 Pakistani movie ''[[Khuda Kay Liye]]'' includes Bulleh Shah's poetry in the song "Bandeya Ho". The 2008 [[Bollywood]] film, ''A Wednesday'', included a song titled "Bulle Shah, O Yaar Mere". In 2014, [[Ali Zafar]] sung some of his verses as "[[Chal Bulleya|Chal Buleya]]" for Bollywood soundtrack album ''[[Total Siyapaa]]'', and the song was reprised by Zafar same year in ''[[Pakistan Idol]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/556499-lady-dadas-nightmare |title=Lady Dada's Nightmare – I &#124; Instep |work=The News International |date=15 June 2014 |access-date=17 January 2020}}</ref> The 2016 Bollywood films "[[Sultan (2016 film)|Sultan]]" and ''[[Ae Dil Hai Mushkil]]'' feature the song "Bulleya", sung by Papon and Amit Mishra respectively, which is short for Bulleh Shah.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}} Poetry of Bulleh Shah was also used in 2015 film ''[[Wedding Pullav]]'' composed by [[Salim–Sulaiman]].<ref name="indiatimes1"/> A song "Hun Kis Theen" based on his poetry was also featured in Punjabi animated film ''[[Chaar Sahibzaade: Rise of Banda Singh Bahadur]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/sikh-history-hasnt-been-documented-well-and-some-of-the-versions-available-are-inaccurate-4365320/ |title=Sikh history hasn't been documented well and some of the versions available are inaccurate &#124; Cities News,The Indian Express |work=The Indian Express |date=9 November 2016 |access-date=17 January 2020}}</ref>
The 1973 movie [[Bobby (1973 film)|Bobby]] song by [[Narendra Chanchal]] starts with the verse ''Beshaq mandir masjid todo, Bulleh Shah ye kahta''. Some of Bulleh Shah's verses, including "[[Tere Ishq Nachaya]]", have been adapted and used in [[Bollywood]] film songs including "[[Chaiyya Chaiyya]]", which featured [[Shah Rukh Khan]], and "Thayya Thayya" in the 1998 film ''[[Dil Se..]]'', "Tere Ishq Nachaya" in the 2002 film ''[[Shaheed-E-Azam]]'' and "Ranjha Ranjha" in the 2010 film ''[[Raavan (2010 Hindi film)|Raavan]]''.<ref name="indiatimes1">{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Bulleh-Shahs-poetry-in-present-day/articleshow/14098893.cms |title=Bulleh Shah's poetry in present day|website=Times Of India|date=13 June 2012 |access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref> In a 2002 [[BBC]] poll, people from 155 countries voted "[[Chaiyya Chaiyya]]" as one of the best songs of all time, as it ranked 9th out of over 7,000 songs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mouli |first=Chandra |date=2025-03-12 |title=SRK's song Chaiyya Chaiyya and its Sufi connection |url=https://www.siasat.com/srks-song-chaiyya-chaiyya-and-its-sufi-connection-3193150/ |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=The Siasat Daily |language=en}}</ref> The song inspired the soundtrack of the [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] movie [[Inside Man]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blanchard |first=Terence |title=The Official Terence Blanchard Website > Discography > Inside Man (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |url=http://www.terenceblanchard.com/discography/inside-man-original-motion-picture-soundtrack |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524162840/http://www.terenceblanchard.com/discography/inside-man-original-motion-picture-soundtrack |archive-date=2013-05-24 |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=www.terenceblanchard.com |language=en}}</ref>
 
The 2007 Pakistani movie ''[[Khuda Kay Liye]]'' includes Bulleh Shah's poetry in the song "Bandeya Ho". The 2008 [[Bollywood]] film, ''[[A Wednesday!|A Wednesday]]'', included a song titled "Bulle Shah, O Yaar Mere". In 2014, [[Ali Zafar]] sung some of his verses as "[[Chal Bulleya|Chal Buleya]]" for Bollywood soundtrack album ''[[Total Siyapaa]]'', and the song was reprised by Zafar same year in ''[[Pakistan Idol]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/556499-lady-dadas-nightmare |title=Lady Dada's Nightmare – I &#124; Instep |work=The News International |date=15 June 2014 |access-date=17 January 2020}}</ref> The 2016 Bollywood films ''[[Sultan (2016 film)|Sultan]]'' and ''[[Ae Dil Hai Mushkil]]'' feature the song "Bulleya", sung by Papon and Amit Mishra respectively, which is short for Bulleh Shah.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}} Poetry of Bulleh Shah was also used in 2015 film ''[[Wedding Pullav]]'' composed by [[Salim–Sulaiman]].<ref name="indiatimes1" /> A song "Hun Kis Theen" based on his poetry was also featured in Punjabi animated film ''[[Chaar Sahibzaade: Rise of Banda Singh Bahadur]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/sikh-history-hasnt-been-documented-well-and-some-of-the-versions-available-are-inaccurate-4365320/ |title=Sikh history hasn't been documented well and some of the versions available are inaccurate |work=The Indian Express |date=9 November 2016 |access-date=17 January 2020}}</ref>


===Coke Studio (Pakistan)===
===Coke Studio (Pakistan)===
In 2009, the [[Coke Studio (Pakistani season 2)|season 2]] of ''[[Coke Studio (Pakistani TV program)|Coke Studio]]'' featured "Aik Alif" performed by [[Sain Zahoor]] and [[Noori]]. Ali Zafar also used some of Bulleh Shah and [[Shah Hussain]]'s verses in his "Dastan-e-Ishq".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr8NGEGTK6Q |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/Zr8NGEGTK6Q |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Dastaan-e-ishq, Ali Zafar – BTS, Coke Studio Pakistan, Season 2|date=23 June 2009|via=YouTube|publisher=Rohail Hyatt}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2010, the [[Coke Studio (Pakistani season 3)|season 3]] featured "Na Raindee Hai" and "Makke Gayaan Gal Mukdi Nahi" performed by [[Arieb Azhar]]. In 2012, Shah's poetry was featured with [[Hadiqa Kiani]] performing "Kamlee".<ref>{{cite web|author=Ata ur Rehman |url=http://www.pakium.com/2012/05/13/hadiqa-kiani-kamlee-coke-studio-season-5-episode-1 |title=Hadiqa Kiani Kamlee, Coke Studio Season 5 Episode 1 |date=12 May 2012 |publisher=Pakium.com |access-date=17 January 2020}}</ref> In 2016, [[Ahmed Jahanzeb]] and [[Umair Jaswal]] performed "Khaki Banda";<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thenewsteller.com/showbiz/watch-coke-studio-9-episode-3-promo/38529/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=20 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009082017/http://www.thenewsteller.com/showbiz/watch-coke-studio-9-episode-3-promo/38529/ |archive-date=9 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Rizwan Butt]] and [[Sara Haider]] performed "Meri Meri",<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thenewsteller.com/showbiz/watch-coke-studio-9-episode-6/38744/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=4 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927021000/http://www.thenewsteller.com/showbiz/watch-coke-studio-9-episode-6/38744/ |archive-date=27 September 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In third episode of [[Coke Studio (Pakistani season 11)|season 11]] Fareed Ayaz, Abu Muhammad Qawal & Brothers performed a [[Qawwali]] based on [[Kalam]] by Bulleh Shah.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nation.com.pk/25-Aug-2018/coke-studio-releases-third-episode-of-season-11 |title=Coke Studio releases third episode of Season 11 |work=The Nation|location=Pakistan |date=25 August 2018 |access-date=17 January 2020}}</ref> In [[Coke Studio (Pakistani season 12)|season 12]] [[Hadiqa Kiani]] used verses of Bulleh Shah in the song "Daachi Waaleya".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/pakistani-cinema/coke-studio-brings-love-ballads-and-sufi-poetry-from-top-stars-1.68060545 |title=Coke Studio brings love ballads and Sufi poetry from top stars &#124; Pakistani Cinema|work=Gulf News |date=25 November 2019 |access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref>
In 2009, the [[Coke Studio (Pakistani season 2)|season 2]] of ''[[Coke Studio (Pakistani TV program)|Coke Studio]]'' featured "Aik Alif" performed by [[Sain Zahoor]] and [[Noori]]. [[Ali Zafar]] also used some of Bulleh Shah and [[Shah Hussain]]'s verses in his "Dastan-e-Ishq".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr8NGEGTK6Q |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/Zr8NGEGTK6Q |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Dastaan-e-ishq, Ali Zafar – BTS, Coke Studio Pakistan, Season 2|date=23 June 2009|via=YouTube|publisher=Rohail Hyatt}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2010, the [[Coke Studio (Pakistani season 3)|season 3]] featured "Na Raindee Hai" and "Makke Gayaan Gal Mukdi Nahi" performed by [[Arieb Azhar]]. In 2012, Shah's poetry was featured with [[Hadiqa Kiani]] performing "Kamlee".<ref>{{cite web|author=Ata ur Rehman |url=http://www.pakium.com/2012/05/13/hadiqa-kiani-kamlee-coke-studio-season-5-episode-1 |title=Hadiqa Kiani Kamlee, Coke Studio Season 5 Episode 1 |date=12 May 2012 |publisher=Pakium.com |access-date=17 January 2020}}</ref> In 2016, [[Ahmed Jahanzeb]] and [[Umair Jaswal]] performed "Khaki Banda"; In third episode of [[Coke Studio (Pakistani season 11)|season 11]] Fareed Ayaz, Abu Muhammad Qawal & Brothers performed a [[Qawwali]] based on [[Kalam]] by Bulleh Shah.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nation.com.pk/25-Aug-2018/coke-studio-releases-third-episode-of-season-11 |title=Coke Studio releases third episode of Season 11 |work=The Nation|location=Pakistan |date=25 August 2018 |access-date=17 January 2020}}</ref> In [[Coke Studio (Pakistani season 12)|season 12]] [[Hadiqa Kiani]] used verses of Bulleh Shah in the song "Daachi Waaleya".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/pakistani-cinema/coke-studio-brings-love-ballads-and-sufi-poetry-from-top-stars-1.68060545 |title=Coke Studio brings love ballads and Sufi poetry from top stars &#124; Pakistani Cinema|work=Gulf News |date=25 November 2019 |access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref>
 
==Legacy==
===Academic and literary circles===
 
The journalist [[Najam Sethi]] attempted to translate the verses of Bulleh Shah into English.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |last=Aslam |first=Irfan |date=2015-05-15 |title=How Bulleh Shah was translated into English |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1182060 |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref> However, his friend [[Taufiq Rafat]] published the finest translation of Bulleh Shah's selected poems.<ref name=":11" />
 
The work of Bulleh Shah influenced and inspired many other poets and artists, such as [[Muhammad Iqbal]], [[Faiz Ahmad Faiz]], [[Ali Arshad Mir]], and [[Mian Muhammad Bakhsh]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Desk |date=2023-12-01 |title=The Universal Appeal of the Poetry of Bulhe Shah |url=https://republicpolicy.com/the-universal-appeal-of-the-poetry-of-bulhe-shah/ |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Republic Policy |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
For over three decades, the Bulleh Shah Conference has been held at the saint's tomb. During the event, scholars have presented research papers on Bulleh Shah's poetry and life, while prominent politicians—such as [[Qamar Zaman Kaira]] and Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed—have delivered speeches.<ref name=":12" />
 
===Socio-economics===
 
In 2012, the [[Government of Punjab, Pakistan|government of Punjab]], most populous province of Pakistan, renamed an important road in the provincial capital Lahore to "Bulleh Shah Road".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hasnain |first1=Khalid |title=Roads, intersections' naming: Shahbaz approves CDGL's summary |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/782532/roads-intersections-naming-shahbaz-approves-cdgls-summary |access-date=27 July 2022 |work=DAWN.COM |publisher=Dawn |date=31 January 2013 |language=en}}</ref> In 2021, the government of Pakistan also approved his name for a road in the country.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hasnain |first1=Khalid |title=Lahore streets, intersections to be named after famous personalities |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1640853 |access-date=27 July 2022 |work=DAWN.COM |publisher=Dawn |date=16 August 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Pakistan's "largest renewable packaging facility" is also named after him.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home |url=http://www.bullehshah.com.pk/ |website=www.bullehshah.com.pk |publisher=Bulleh Shah Packaging (Pvt.) Limited |access-date=27 July 2022}}</ref> There is a housing community in Kasur called "Bulleh Shah Colony." Also, a road in Kasur is called "Baba Bulleh Shah Road." A roadway junction on [[Lahore Ring Road]] is called "Bulleh Shah Interchange." In 2023, a public hospital in Kasur was renamed to "Baba Bulleh Shah Hospital."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-07 |title=DHQ hospital named after Baba Bulleh Shah |url=https://pakobserver.net/dhq-hospital-named-after-baba-bulleh-shah/ |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Pakistan Observer |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-04 |title=Kasur DHQ Hospital renamed after Baba Bulleh Shah |url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/04-Aug-2023/kasur-dhq-hospital-renamed-after-baba-bullay-shah |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=Daily Pakistan Global |language=en}}</ref>
 
An educational institute called "Bulleh Shah Institute" is operating in [[Badhni Kalan]], India, since 2003. Another educational institute called "Bulleh Shah Law College" (affiliated with [[University of the Punjab]]) operates in Kasur.<ref>{{Cite web |title=University of the Punjab- Affiliated Colleges - Bulleh-Shah-Law-College-Main-Sadar-Diwan-Road-Kasur |url=http://pu.edu.pk/affiliation/collegeinfo/1304/Bulleh-Shah-Law-College-Main-Sadar-Diwan-Road-Kasur |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=pu.edu.pk}}</ref> In 2007, Pakistani senator Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed raised the proposal for establishment of Bulleh Shah University in Kasur.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 August 2007 |title=Demand for Bulleh Shah university |language=en |work=DAWN.COM |publisher=Dawn |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/263177/demand-for-bulleh-shah-university |access-date=27 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shaikh |first1=Ahsan ul haq |date=9 January 2022 |title=UNIVERSITY IN CHUNIAN |language=en |work=DAWN.COM |publisher=Dawn |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1668469 |access-date=27 July 2022}}</ref> In 2023, the [[National Assembly of Pakistan]] passed a bill, proposed by [[Asiya Azeem]], for the establishment of "Bulleh Shah International University" in [[Kasur]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=NA passes 26 bills to set up new universities, institutes amid criticism about quality education |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1094931-na-passes-26-bills-to-set-up-new-universities-institutes-amid-criticism-about-quality-education |access-date=2023-08-19 |website=www.thenews.com.pk |date=28 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref> In 2024, Pakistani President [[Asif Ali Zardari]] reiterated the establishment of Bulleh Shah International University in Kasur.<ref>{{Cite web |last=APP |date=2024-09-01 |title=President proposes Bulleh Shah varsity |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2492657/president-proposes-bulleh-shah-varsity |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref>
 
The renowned Pakistani businessman [[Syed Babar Ali]] mentioned Bulleh Shah in his autobiography, and the role played by his team in publishing his works.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Babar Ali |first=Syed |url=https://lums.edu.pk/sites/default/files/sba-biography.pdf |title=Learning From Others |publisher=Topical Printers, Lahore |year=2017 |isbn=978-969-9251-71-9 |edition=2nd |location=[[Lahore]] |pages=99 |language=English}}</ref>
 
===Politics===
 
In the 1960s and 1970s, [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]] exploited the rising popularity of the ideas of Bulleh Shah, and the slogan of "Roti Kapra aur Makan" (that inspired the film [[Roti Kapda Aur Makaan]]) among the common masses and emerged as a populist leader who eventually became the ninth Prime Minister of Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-05 |title=Bhutto's ideology is need of the hour |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/533378/bhuttos-ideology-is-need-of-the-hour-daily-times/ |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=Daily Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Bhutto used the term “[[Dama Dam Mast Qalandar]]” (a song adapted by Bulleh Shah) in 1973 to predict the political turmoil ahead.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharjeel |first=Shahzad |date=2019-12-06 |title=The myriad interpretations of Sufi anthem 'Mast Qalandar' |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/opinion/columnists/061219/the-myriad-interpretations-of-sufi-anthem-mast-qalandar.html |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=Deccan Chronicle |language=en}}</ref>
 
In February 2006 then Chief Minister of Punjab [[Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi]] addressed a conference at the [[University of the Punjab]], in which he said, Bulleh Shah and other Sufi's "were not only preachers, but also historians of social history."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Drage |first=Teresa Ann |url=https://researchdirect.westernsydney.edu.au/islandora/object/uws%3A34696/datastream/PDF/view |title=The National Sufi Council: Redefining the Islamic Republic of Pakistan through a discourse on Sufism after 9/11 (PhD thesis) |publisher=[[University of Western Sydney]] |year=2015 |pages=130 |language=English}}</ref>
 
In March 2013, [[Hamza Shahbaz]] (on the behalf of Punjab's chief minister [[Shehbaz Sharif]]) inaugurated "Yadgar-e-Baba Bulleh Shah" (a memorial to Bulleh Shah) in Kasur.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10151519973642931&set=a.10151519972877931.1073741835.352666212930 |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=www.facebook.com}}</ref> In 2015, in his address the Prime Minister [[Nawaz Sharif]] recited a verse of Bulleh Shah.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-08-20 |title=PM Nawaz Recties Bulleh Shah Poetry While Addressing Parsi Community - video Dailymotion |url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x32ekk8 |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=Dailymotion |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-05-10 |title=Nawaz pledges equal status to minorities |url=https://nation.com.pk/10-May-2013/nawaz-pledges-equal-status-to-minorities |access-date=2023-02-18 |website=The Nation |language=en}}</ref>
 
In 2015, the cricketer-turned-politician [[Imran Khan]] (former Prime Minister) called Bulleh Shah "the great Sufi inspirational heritage of our region."<ref>{{Cite twitter |number=637122777665765376 |user=ImranKhanPTI |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=Twitter |language=en |title=Today is the Urs of the great Sufi poet Baba Bulleh Shah. He is part of the great Sufi inspirational heritage of our region. |first=Imran |last=Khan}}</ref>
 
In August 2023, the caretaker [[chief minister]] of Punjab [[Mohsin Raza Naqvi]] laid the foundation stone of the extension project of the [[dargah]] of Bulleh Shah. He said, the teachings of Bulleh Shah are "an enlightening as well as an illuminating chapter for us."<ref>{{Cite web |title=CARETAKER CM MOHSIN NAQVI VISITS MAZAR OF SUFI SAINT HAZRAT BABA BULLEH SHAH (RA) AND LAYS FOUNDATION STONE OF ITS EXTENSION PROJECT |url=https://dgpr.punjab.gov.pk/node/24400 |website=Directorate General Public Relations, Government of the Punjab}}</ref> Among the attendees were [[Nayyar Ali Dada]].
 
[[Aseff Ahmad Daula]], former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, was an admirer of Bulleh Shah. In one of his essays, he equated "[[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]" with the language of Bulleh Shah.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-07-18 |title=A question of identity: The Pakistani Southasian |url=https://www.himalmag.com/a-question-of-identity-the-pakistani-southasian/ |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=Himal Southasian |language=en-GB}}</ref> Another Foreign Minister [[Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri]] praised Bulleh Shah for "always projecting truth in his verses."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-04-19 |title=KASUR: Tribute paid to Bulleh Shah |url=http://beta.dawn.com/news/356788/kasur-tribute-paid-to-bulleh-shah |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>
 
In January 2026, a shrine dedicated to Bulleh Shah in Uttarakhand was vandalised by an estimated group of 25 to 30 people.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |title=Sufi Poet Baba Bulleh Shah's Shrine Vandalised in Mussoorie, FIR Filed |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/breaking-news/sufi-poet-baba-bulleh-shahs-shrine-vandalised-in-mussoorie-fir-filed |work=The Quint |language=en |date=27 January 2026 |access-date=30 January 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sharma |first=Manraj Grewal |title=Bulleh Shah's shrine vandalised in Mussoorie: How the Sufi poet blended religious beliefs, challenged orthodoxy |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/bulleh-shah-shrine-mussoorie-10499499/ |website=The Indian Express |access-date=30 January 2026 |language=en |date=28 January 2026}}</ref> The group Hindu Raksha Dal has claimed responsibility.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hindu Raksha Dal vandalises shrine of Sufi poet Baba Bulleh Shah in Uttarakhand |url=https://maktoobmedia.com/india/hindu-raksha-dal-vandalises-shrine-of-sufi-poet-baba-bulleh-shah-in-uttarakhand/ |website=Maktoob media |access-date=30 January 2026 |date=26 January 2026}}</ref>
 
==Works==
Bulleh Shah never published his works. However, a significant part of his work has been preserved and published formally in India, Pakistan and abroad. The following is a list of books and book chapters containing his poetic works (or its translation).
 
'''Works in [[English language|English]]:'''
* ''Sufi Lyrics: Selections from a World Classic'' (Publisher: [[Harvard University Press]]), '''2021'''. English Translation by: [[Christopher Shackle]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |first=Bullhe |last=Shāh |title=Sufi lyrics |date=2015 |editor=C. Shackle |translator=C. Shackle |isbn=978-0-674-25966-9 |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |publisher=Oxford University Press |oclc=1240164691}}</ref>
* ''Bulleh Shah: A Selection'' (Publisher: [[Oxford University Press]]), '''2016'''. English Translation by: [[Taufiq Rafat]].<ref>{{Cite book |first=Bullhe |last=Shāh |title=Bulleh Shah : a selection |date=2015 |translator=Taufiq Rafat |isbn=978-0-19-940288-5 |location=Karachi, Pakistan |publisher=Oxford University Press |oclc=927190615}}</ref>
* Baba Bulleh Shah (in ''Islamic Mystical Poetry: Sufi Verse from the Mystics to Rumi)'' (Publisher: [[Penguin Books]]), '''2009'''. Author: Mahmood Jamal''.''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mahmood Jamal |url=http://archive.org/details/islamic-mystical-poetry-by-mahmood-jamal |title=Islamic Mystical Poetry - Sufi Verse from the Early Mystics to Rumi |isbn=9781101488348}}</ref>
* ''Bulhe Shah: Volume 141'' (Publisher: [[Sahitya Akademi]]), '''1987''' (reprinted in 1990). Author: Surindar Singh Kohli.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kohli |first=Surindar Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CloGAAAAMAAJ |title=Bulhe Shah |date=1987 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |language=en}}</ref>
* ''Bulleh Shah: The Love-intoxicated Iconoclast'' (Publisher: [[Radha Soami Satsang Beas]]), '''1986'''. Authors: J. R. Puri and T. R. Shangari<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Puri |first1=J. R. |url=http://archive.org/details/bulleh-shah-the-love-intoxicated-iconclast_202303 |title=Bulleh Shah The Love Intoxicated Iconclast |last2=Shangari |first2=T. R. |publisher=[[Radha Soami Satsang Beas]]}}</ref>
 
'''Works in [[Gurmukhi]] (Punjabi):'''
 
* ''Bulleh Shah Jeevan Te Rachna'' [The Life and Career of Bulleh Shah] (Publisher: [[Punjabi University]], Patiala, India), '''2010'''. Editor: Jeet Singh Sital.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jeet Singh Sital |url=http://archive.org/details/bulleh-shah-jeevan |title=Bulleh Shah Jeevan |date=2010}}</ref>
* ''Kalam Bulle Shah'' [The Verses of Bulleh Shah], '''2009'''. Editor: Gurdev Singh.<ref>{{Cite book |last=www.DiscoverSikhism.com |url=http://archive.org/details/KalamBullehShah |title=Kalam Bulleh Shah |language=Punjabi}}</ref>
* ''Bulleh Shah: A Sufi Poet'' [Collection of Verses], [[Oxford University Press]], 2010. Edited by Shabnam Virmani.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Admin |date=2024-10-29 |title=Best 2 Lines Love Shayari in Punjabi - Express Your Emotions |url=https://shayari2u.com/love-shayari-in-punjabi/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113224928/https://shayari2u.com/love-shayari-in-punjabi/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=13 November 2024 |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=Shayari2u |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
'''Works in [[Shahmukhi]] (Punjabi):'''
 
* ''Kalam Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah'' [The Verses of Saint Bulleh Shah] (Publisher: Karmanwala Book Shop), '''2009'''. Editor: Sami Ullah Barkat.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/bulle-shah |title=Bulle Shah}}</ref>
* ''Bulleh Shah Kehende Nain'' [Bulleh Shah says], '''1987'''. Editor: Maqbool Anwar Dawoodi.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/bulleh-shah-kehende-nain |title=Bulleh Shah Kehende Nain |language=Malay}}</ref>
 
'''Works in [[Urdu]]:'''
 
* ''Sayin Bulleh Shah'' [Master Bulleh Shah] (Publisher: [[Radha Soami Satsang Beas]]), '''2000'''. Authors: T. R. Shangari and J.R. Puri.<ref>{{Cite book |last=T.R. Shangari and J.R. Puri |url=http://archive.org/details/sain-bulleh-shah |title=Sain Bulleh Shah |date=1987}}</ref>
* Bulleh Shah (Publisher: [[Sahitya Akademi]]), '''1992'''. Author: Surinder Singh Kolhi. Translator: Kamil Qureshi.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Surinder Kolhi |url=http://archive.org/details/bullehshah_202002 |title=Bulleh Shah |date=1992 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]]}}</ref>
* ''Tazkara'' [Discussion], '''1984'''. Author: Mian Akhlaq Ahmad.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mian Akhlaq Ahmad |url=http://archive.org/details/tazkera-hazrat-shah-inayat-qadiri-shattari |title=Tazkera Hazrat Shah Inayat Qadiri Shattari |date=1984}}</ref>
* ''Kulliyat Bulleh Shah'' (Publisher: Zahid Basheer Printers, Lahore). Editor: Faqir Muhammad Faqir.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/kulliyat-bulleh-shah |title=Kulliyat Bulleh Shah |language=Urdu}}</ref>
* ''Ramooz e Irfan: Kafyan Hazrat Bulleh Shah'' [Secrets of Sainthood: The [[Kafi]]s of Saint Bulleh Shah] (Publisher: Kashmir Research Institute, Srinagar). Translator: Fiza Jokalwai.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hazrat Bulle Shah |url=http://archive.org/details/rafooz-e-irfan-kafyan-urdu-hazrat-bulle-shah |title=Rafooz E Irfan Kafyan Urdu Hazrat Bulle Shah}}</ref>
 
'''Work in [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]]:'''
 
* Bulleh Shah Joon Kafiyoon [The [[Kafi]]s of Bulleh Shah], '''1983'''. Editor: Noor Haider.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Noor Haider |url=http://archive.org/details/bullehshahjoonkafiyoon |title=Bulleh Shah Joon Kafiyoon |date=1983}}</ref>
 
'''Works in [[Hindi]]:'''
 
* ''Sai Bulle Shah Radha Swami Satsang Vyas'' (Publisher: [[Radha Soami Satsang Beas]]), '''1995'''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Radha Swami Satsang Vyas |url=http://archive.org/details/sai-bulle-shah-radha-swami-satsang-vyas |title=Sai Bulle Shah Radha Swami Satsang Vyas}}</ref>
* ''Kafian Baba Bulleh Shah'' [The [[Kafi]]s of Bulleh Shah] (Publisher: Sri Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji eLibrary/ Namdhari eLibrary).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Baba Buley Shah |url=http://archive.org/details/kafian-baba-bulleh-shah |title=Kafian Baba Bulleh Shah}}</ref>
 
'''Other works:'''
 
"[[Dama Dam Mast Qalandar]]" is one of the most famous Sufi songs in India and Pakistan. It was originally written by [[Amir Khusrau]], and was modified by Bulleh Shah. The version composed by Bulleh Shah was sung by [[Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan]], [[Abida Parveen]], [[Laal (band)]] and numerous other singers from India and Pakistan.
 
"[[Tere ishq Nachaya]]," a popular poem by Bulleh Shah, has been sung numerous times  both in public and film industry, e.g., the popular song [[Chaiyya Chaiyya]] is derived from its lyrics.
 
"[[Bullah Ki Jaana]]," one of the most popular poems by Bulleh Shah, has been sung by numerous singers in India and Pakistan.
 
A brief biographical sketches of him are found in "Encyclopaedia of Untouchables : Ancient Medieval and Modern" (2008)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kumar |first=Raj |title=Encyclopaedia of untouchables ancient, medieval and modern |date=2008 |publisher=Kalpaz Publications |isbn=978-81-7835-664-8 |location=Delhi |oclc=277277425}}</ref> and "Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature" (1987).<ref name=":6" />


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[List of Punjabi language poets]]
* [[List of Punjabi language poets]]
* [[Sufism]]
* [[Sufism]]
* [[Waris Shah]]
* [[Hafiz Ghulam Murtaza]]
* [[Shah Inayat Qadiri]]
* [[Tere ishq Nachaya]]
* [[Chaiyya Chaiyya]]
* [[Bullah Ki Jaana]]
== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}


== References ==
== References ==
{{Notelist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


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== External links ==
== External links ==
{{commons category|Bulleh Shah}}
{{commons category|Bulleh Shah}}
 
{{wikiquote}}
* [http://www.wichaar.com/news/239/ARTICLE/7115/2008-05-18.html Biography of Bulleh Shah]{{Dead link|date=June 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080916225455/http://www.wichaar.com/news/239/ARTICLE/7115/2008-05-18.html Biography of Bulleh Shah]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051031002735/http://www.sikhspectrum.com/082004/punjabi.htm Littérateurs of the Punjabi language]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20051031002735/http://www.sikhspectrum.com/082004/punjabi.htm Littérateurs of the Punjabi language]}}
* [https://www.scribd.com/doc/67768216/kalam-e-Bulleh-Shah-complete-in-Shahmukhi/complete Complete poetry of Bulleh Shah in Shahmukhi]
* [http://www.studybee.net/bulleh-shah-punjabi-poetry/ Punjabi Poetry of Bulleh Shah]
* [https://www.punjnud.com/PageList.aspx?BookID=11945&BookTitle=Kulliyat-e-Bulleh-Shah/ Kulliyat e Bulleh Shah]
 
=== Works online ===
* [http://onetruename.com/bullehshah.htm Bulleh Shah Ki shairi]
* [http://www.apnaorg.com/poetry/bullahn/ Articles on Bulleh Shah's life and poetry (apna.org)]
* [http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/Poets/B/BullehShah/ Bulleh Shah: Poems (English translations) and Biography (poetry-chaikhana.com)]


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{{South Asian Muslim Saints}}
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[[Category:People from Kasur District]]
[[Category:People from Kasur District]]
[[Category:Punjabi Sufis]]
[[Category:Punjabi-language poets]]
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Latest revision as of 13:21, 27 March 2026


Bulleh Shah
بُلّھے شاہ
The tomb of Bulleh Shah in Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan
Personal
Born
Sayyid Abdullāh Shāh Qādrī

c. 1680
Uch, Multan Subah, Mughal Empire
Died30 August 1757(1757-08-30) (aged 76–77)
Kasur, Lahore Subah, Mughal Empire
Resting placeDarbar Baba Bulleh Shah, Kasur
ReligionIslam
Parents
  • Shah Muhammad Darwaish (father)
  • Fatima Bibi (mother)
Main interest(s)
TeachersShah Inayat Qadiri
Muslim leader
Writing career
Pen name
  • Bulleh Shāh
  • Bulleyā
LanguagePunjabi
Genre
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Punjab portal

Sayyid Abdullāh Shāh Qādrī[lower-alpha 1] (c. 1680 – 1757), popularly known as Baba Bulleh Shah[lower-alpha 2] and vocatively as Bulleya,[lower-alpha 3] was a Punjabi revolutionary philosopher, reformer and poet, regarded as one of the greatest poets of the Punjabi language and revered as the 'Father of Punjabi Enlightenment'. His literary oeuvre, comprising ~150 kafi and 94 other poetic compositions, reflect themes of Sufi and humanist philosophy — for which he is regarded as 'Poet of the People' among Punjabis.[lower-alpha 4]

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.[4] He became known for his mystic poetry, which blended his philosophy of oneness of god, divine love, social equality; and critiqued social norms and institutions for exploiting the ordinary people. 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.[5][6]

He spent most of his life in Kasur, where he died at the age of 77.[7] 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.[8] The songs based on his lyrics have been sung on important occasions, including one at White House.[9] It has also brought forth many modern renditions, particularly in the form of qawwali.[8]

Biography[edit | edit source]

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

There is no consensus on Bulleh Shah's real name. While mainstream historians assert it was 'Abdullah,' some scholars argue that it was 'Bu Ali.'[10]

Bulleh Shah was born around 1680 in Uch, Subah of Multan, in Mughal Punjab into a Sayyid family.

Bulleh Shah's father, Shah Muhammad Darwaish, was well-versed in Arabic, Persian, and the Quran.[11] For unknown reasons, in his early life, his family moved to Malakwal, a village near Sahiwal. Bulleh Shah had at least one sister who was also Sufi.[11][12] Both siblings never married.[12] According to another account, he had two sisters and none of them ever married.[13]

Later, when Bulleh Shah was six years old, his family moved to Pandoke, which is 50 miles southeast of Kasur. Bulleh Shah was schooled by his father along with the other children of the village. Most sources confirm that Bulleh Shah had to work, as a child and adolescent, as a herder in the village. It is confirmed that he received his higher education in Kasur. Some historians claim that Bulleh Shah received his education at a highly reputed madrassa run by Hafiz Ghulam Murtaza, where he taught for some time after his graduation. After his early education, he went to Lahore where he studied with Shah Inayat Qadiri, a Sufi murshid of Lahore.[3][14] Bulleh Shah later became an eminent scholar of Arabic and Persian.[11]

By social stratum, Bulleh Shah was a peasant.[12] He had at least one unmarried sister.[15] Among his friends included Darshi Nath, a Hindu fakir.[15][16]

One of the oldest texts to mention him is Gazetteer of the Multan District (1901–02) prepared and published by Edward Douglas MacLagan in 1902.[17] The text identified Shah as the "best known, and it is said the first, writer of kafis."[17] However, his kafis were published for the first time as "Qanun-i-Ishq", in 1889, by Anwar Ali in Lahore.[18]

Persecution[edit | edit source]

There is a fort-like Gurdwara in Daftuh that was built in the 18th century by the Sikh Chieftainess Bibi Isher Kaur, who donated 80 squares of land for its construction.[19][20] Bulleh Shah took refuge in this Gurdwara after a group of Islamic fundamentalists started threatening his life.[21][20]

In his bad times, when even his family looked down upon him (for accepting a lower-caste Shah Inayat Qadiri as a teacher), his sister loved him and stood with him.[12][11]

During his lifetime, he was outcast as kafir (non-believer) by some Muslim clerics.[22][23]

Death[edit | edit source]

He died in 1757, at the age of 77.[24] He was buried in Kasur, where he had spent most of his life. As he was declared a kafir (a non-believer), religious fundamentalists of Kasur claimed it was prohibited to offer the prayer at his funeral. He was then buried on the outskirts of Kasur and his funeral prayer was led by Syed Zahid Hamdani, a renowned religious personality of Kasur.[25]

Tomb[edit | edit source]

A dargah was built over his tomb in the following decades. It is now, officially, a protected monument under regulation of the Punjab government. The tomb's premises are too small to accommodate the large number of visitors it receives each year. In 2024, due to overcrowding, the local government canceled several events and had to restrict entry to manage the overwhelming influx of people.[26]

Poetry[edit | edit source]

Bulleh Shah lived after the Punjabi Sufi poet and saint Fariduddin Ganjshakar (1179–1266), and lived in the same period as other Punjabi Sufi poet Sultan Bahu (1629–1691). His lifespan also overlapped with the Punjabi poet Waris Shah (1722–1799), who is famous for Heer Ranjha, the Sindhi Sufi poet Sachal Sarmast (1739–1829), and the Pashto poet Khushal Khattak (1613–1689). Amongst Urdu poets, Bulleh Shah lived 400 miles away from Mir Taqi Mir (1723–1810) of Delhi.[25]

Bulleh Shah practised the Sufi tradition of Punjabi poetry established by poets like Shah Hussain (1538–1599), Sultan Bahu (1629–1691), and Shah Sharaf (1640–1724).[25]

The verse form Bulleh Shah primarily employed is the Kafi, popular in Punjabi and Sindhi poetry.[3] His poetry is a mixture of traditional mystic thought and intellectualism.[27]

Many people have put his Kafis to music, from humble street-singers to renowned Sufi singers like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Fareed Ayaz, Pathanay Khan, Abida Parveen, the Waddali Brothers, Iqbal Bahu and Sain Zahoor, from the synthesised techno qawwali remixes of UK-based Asian artists to the Pakistani rock band Junoon.[24]

Among the most distinguished persons to be influenced by Bulleh Shah's poetry had been Muhammad Iqbal.[28] It is maintained that Iqbal took his last breath while listening to his kafi.[29][30]

He is the "most famous and celebrated" Punjabi poet[5] and is widely recognized as "poet par excellence".[6] A sample of his poetic work is presented below:

Verse 1:

"The mullah and the torch-bearer

Hail from the same stock;

They give light to others,

And themselves are in the dark."[31]

Verse 2:

"Let anyone who calls me Sayyid be punished

with the tortures of hell;

And let him revel in the pleasures of heaven,

who labels me an Arain."[32]

Verse 3:

“Not a believer in the mosque am I,

Nor a disbeliever with his rites am I.

I am not the pure amongst the impure,

I am neither Moses nor Pharaoh.”

Philosophy and views[edit | edit source]

Bulleh Shah's non-orthodox views and simple language played important role in popularization of his poetry. It has been noted in literature that "one reason for his all-time popularity is his relatively modern vocabulary."[33] Among the core tenets of his philosophy includes humanism, equality, tolerance, rejection of double standards, and defiance to the authority of Ulama and blind faith in their authority. For his criticism of replication of beliefs (blind faith and following), the "Oxford Textbook of Spirituality in Healthcare" compared Bulleh Shah with Percy Bysshe Shelley.[34] For his "ruthless [analysis of] human society" and an "unending quest" to change it, he is often compared with Karl Marx.[35] Among major taboos in his philosophy was reciting words without comprehending them.[36] He was a reformer with very much conscious of the contemporary religious, political and social situations.[27][37]

In Bulleh Shah's poetry, Sufism can be seen as an indigenous philosophy of political activism and class struggle[38] and resistance to powerful institutions like religion and imperialism.[2] Through his poems he spoke against "religious, political and social patriarchal high handedness" of his time.[39] This side of his poetry is evident from his defying of the imperial ban on dancing and singing,[40] and support for Sikhs, in general, and Guru Tegh Bahadur[41] and Guru Gobind Singh,[42] in particular, in their struggle against the imperialist Mughal Empire. Thus, his version of Sufism is usually considered opposite to that of Ali Hajweri and other 'more spiritual' Sufis who were confined to their libraries and schools and rarely participated in public discourse.[22]

Bulleh Shah was a "revolutionary" and "rebel" poet who spoke against powerful religious, political and social institutions of his time[2][7][39] and, thus, his influence can be seen on many noted socialists, progressives and workers and women rights activists like Jam Saqi,[38] Taimur Rahman,[43] Bhagat Singh,[39] Faiz Ahmad Faiz,[44][45] Madeeha Gauhar,[46] and Major Ishaque Muhammad.[47]

Humanism is the key attribute of the life and works of Bulleh Shah.[48]

Modern renderings[edit | edit source]

Bands and albums[edit | edit source]

In the 1990s, Junoon, a rock band from Pakistan, rendered his poems "Bullah Ki Jaana" and "Aleph" ("Ilmon Bas Kareen O Yaar"). In 2004, Indian musician Rabbi Shergill turned the classical poem "Bullah Ki Jaana" into a rock/fusion song in his debut album Rabbi; the song was a chart-topper in 2005, helping the album to eventually sell over 10,000 copies and became immensely popular in India and Pakistan.[49][50]

The Wadali Bandhu, a Punjabi Sufi group from India, have also released a version of "Bullah Ki Jaana" in their album Aa Mil Yaar... Call of the Beloved. They also worked with British-Punjabi music composer, Mukhtar Sahota, to create their own rendition of a famous Punjabi folk song, "Charkha" which was released in May 2007.[51] Another version was performed by Lakhwinder Wadali and entitled "Bullah".[citation needed] Dama Dam Mast Qalandar, a qawwali composed in honour of Shahbaz Qalandar, has been one of Bulleh Shah's most popular poems and has been frequently rendered by many Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi singers including Noor Jehan, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, Sabri Brothers, Wadali brothers, Reshman and Runa Laila. Other qawwali songs by Bulleh Shah, include "Sade Vehre Aya Kar" and "Mera Piya Ghar Aaya".[24] In 2008, a version of Bulleh Shah's famous verse, Aao Saiyo Ral Deyo Ni Wadhai, was sung by Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, for his debut solo album, Tabeer. Ali named the song "Bulleh Shah" in honor of the poet.

In 2016, a collaboration between two EDM artists (Headhunterz and Skytech) named "Kundalini" used words created by Bulleh Shah, as well as having the words Bulleh Shah in the lyrics.[52] Bulleh Shah's verses have been an inspiration to painters as well, as in the two series of paintings (Jogia Dhoop and Shah Shabad) by an Indian painter Geeta Vadhera inspired by the poetry of Bulleh Shah and other Sufi poets and saints. In 2017, British-Pakistani singer Yasir Akhtar used Bulleh Shah's poetry in his song "Araam Naal Kar – Take it Easy".[53][54] In 2019, Sona Mohapatra used a verse of Bulleh Shah in her song "R.A.T. Mashup".[citation needed]

Films[edit | edit source]

The 1973 movie Bobby song by Narendra Chanchal starts with the verse Beshaq mandir masjid todo, Bulleh Shah ye kahta. Some of Bulleh Shah's verses, including "Tere Ishq Nachaya", have been adapted and used in Bollywood film songs including "Chaiyya Chaiyya", which featured Shah Rukh Khan, and "Thayya Thayya" in the 1998 film Dil Se.., "Tere Ishq Nachaya" in the 2002 film Shaheed-E-Azam and "Ranjha Ranjha" in the 2010 film Raavan.[24] In a 2002 BBC poll, people from 155 countries voted "Chaiyya Chaiyya" as one of the best songs of all time, as it ranked 9th out of over 7,000 songs.[55] The song inspired the soundtrack of the Hollywood movie Inside Man.[56]

The 2007 Pakistani movie Khuda Kay Liye includes Bulleh Shah's poetry in the song "Bandeya Ho". The 2008 Bollywood film, A Wednesday, included a song titled "Bulle Shah, O Yaar Mere". In 2014, Ali Zafar sung some of his verses as "Chal Buleya" for Bollywood soundtrack album Total Siyapaa, and the song was reprised by Zafar same year in Pakistan Idol.[57] The 2016 Bollywood films Sultan and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil feature the song "Bulleya", sung by Papon and Amit Mishra respectively, which is short for Bulleh Shah.[citation needed] Poetry of Bulleh Shah was also used in 2015 film Wedding Pullav composed by Salim–Sulaiman.[24] A song "Hun Kis Theen" based on his poetry was also featured in Punjabi animated film Chaar Sahibzaade: Rise of Banda Singh Bahadur.[58]

Coke Studio (Pakistan)[edit | edit source]

In 2009, the season 2 of Coke Studio featured "Aik Alif" performed by Sain Zahoor and Noori. Ali Zafar also used some of Bulleh Shah and Shah Hussain's verses in his "Dastan-e-Ishq".[59] In 2010, the season 3 featured "Na Raindee Hai" and "Makke Gayaan Gal Mukdi Nahi" performed by Arieb Azhar. In 2012, Shah's poetry was featured with Hadiqa Kiani performing "Kamlee".[60] In 2016, Ahmed Jahanzeb and Umair Jaswal performed "Khaki Banda"; In third episode of season 11 Fareed Ayaz, Abu Muhammad Qawal & Brothers performed a Qawwali based on Kalam by Bulleh Shah.[61] In season 12 Hadiqa Kiani used verses of Bulleh Shah in the song "Daachi Waaleya".[62]

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Academic and literary circles[edit | edit source]

The journalist Najam Sethi attempted to translate the verses of Bulleh Shah into English.[63] However, his friend Taufiq Rafat published the finest translation of Bulleh Shah's selected poems.[63]

The work of Bulleh Shah influenced and inspired many other poets and artists, such as Muhammad Iqbal, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Ali Arshad Mir, and Mian Muhammad Bakhsh.[64]

For over three decades, the Bulleh Shah Conference has been held at the saint's tomb. During the event, scholars have presented research papers on Bulleh Shah's poetry and life, while prominent politicians—such as Qamar Zaman Kaira and Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed—have delivered speeches.[26]

Socio-economics[edit | edit source]

In 2012, the government of Punjab, most populous province of Pakistan, renamed an important road in the provincial capital Lahore to "Bulleh Shah Road".[65] In 2021, the government of Pakistan also approved his name for a road in the country.[66] Pakistan's "largest renewable packaging facility" is also named after him.[67] There is a housing community in Kasur called "Bulleh Shah Colony." Also, a road in Kasur is called "Baba Bulleh Shah Road." A roadway junction on Lahore Ring Road is called "Bulleh Shah Interchange." In 2023, a public hospital in Kasur was renamed to "Baba Bulleh Shah Hospital."[68][69]

An educational institute called "Bulleh Shah Institute" is operating in Badhni Kalan, India, since 2003. Another educational institute called "Bulleh Shah Law College" (affiliated with University of the Punjab) operates in Kasur.[70] In 2007, Pakistani senator Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed raised the proposal for establishment of Bulleh Shah University in Kasur.[71][72] In 2023, the National Assembly of Pakistan passed a bill, proposed by Asiya Azeem, for the establishment of "Bulleh Shah International University" in Kasur.[73] In 2024, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari reiterated the establishment of Bulleh Shah International University in Kasur.[74]

The renowned Pakistani businessman Syed Babar Ali mentioned Bulleh Shah in his autobiography, and the role played by his team in publishing his works.[75]

Politics[edit | edit source]

In the 1960s and 1970s, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto exploited the rising popularity of the ideas of Bulleh Shah, and the slogan of "Roti Kapra aur Makan" (that inspired the film Roti Kapda Aur Makaan) among the common masses and emerged as a populist leader who eventually became the ninth Prime Minister of Pakistan.[76] Bhutto used the term “Dama Dam Mast Qalandar” (a song adapted by Bulleh Shah) in 1973 to predict the political turmoil ahead.[77]

In February 2006 then Chief Minister of Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi addressed a conference at the University of the Punjab, in which he said, Bulleh Shah and other Sufi's "were not only preachers, but also historians of social history."[78]

In March 2013, Hamza Shahbaz (on the behalf of Punjab's chief minister Shehbaz Sharif) inaugurated "Yadgar-e-Baba Bulleh Shah" (a memorial to Bulleh Shah) in Kasur.[79] In 2015, in his address the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif recited a verse of Bulleh Shah.[80][81]

In 2015, the cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan (former Prime Minister) called Bulleh Shah "the great Sufi inspirational heritage of our region."[82]

In August 2023, the caretaker chief minister of Punjab Mohsin Raza Naqvi laid the foundation stone of the extension project of the dargah of Bulleh Shah. He said, the teachings of Bulleh Shah are "an enlightening as well as an illuminating chapter for us."[83] Among the attendees were Nayyar Ali Dada.

Aseff Ahmad Daula, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, was an admirer of Bulleh Shah. In one of his essays, he equated "Punjabi" with the language of Bulleh Shah.[84] Another Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri praised Bulleh Shah for "always projecting truth in his verses."[85]

In January 2026, a shrine dedicated to Bulleh Shah in Uttarakhand was vandalised by an estimated group of 25 to 30 people.[86][87] The group Hindu Raksha Dal has claimed responsibility.[88]

Works[edit | edit source]

Bulleh Shah never published his works. However, a significant part of his work has been preserved and published formally in India, Pakistan and abroad. The following is a list of books and book chapters containing his poetic works (or its translation).

Works in English:

Works in Gurmukhi (Punjabi):

  • Bulleh Shah Jeevan Te Rachna [The Life and Career of Bulleh Shah] (Publisher: Punjabi University, Patiala, India), 2010. Editor: Jeet Singh Sital.[93]
  • Kalam Bulle Shah [The Verses of Bulleh Shah], 2009. Editor: Gurdev Singh.[94]
  • Bulleh Shah: A Sufi Poet [Collection of Verses], Oxford University Press, 2010. Edited by Shabnam Virmani.[95]

Works in Shahmukhi (Punjabi):

  • Kalam Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah [The Verses of Saint Bulleh Shah] (Publisher: Karmanwala Book Shop), 2009. Editor: Sami Ullah Barkat.[96]
  • Bulleh Shah Kehende Nain [Bulleh Shah says], 1987. Editor: Maqbool Anwar Dawoodi.[97]

Works in Urdu:

  • Sayin Bulleh Shah [Master Bulleh Shah] (Publisher: Radha Soami Satsang Beas), 2000. Authors: T. R. Shangari and J.R. Puri.[98]
  • Bulleh Shah (Publisher: Sahitya Akademi), 1992. Author: Surinder Singh Kolhi. Translator: Kamil Qureshi.[99]
  • Tazkara [Discussion], 1984. Author: Mian Akhlaq Ahmad.[100]
  • Kulliyat Bulleh Shah (Publisher: Zahid Basheer Printers, Lahore). Editor: Faqir Muhammad Faqir.[101]
  • Ramooz e Irfan: Kafyan Hazrat Bulleh Shah [Secrets of Sainthood: The Kafis of Saint Bulleh Shah] (Publisher: Kashmir Research Institute, Srinagar). Translator: Fiza Jokalwai.[102]

Work in Sindhi:

  • Bulleh Shah Joon Kafiyoon [The Kafis of Bulleh Shah], 1983. Editor: Noor Haider.[103]

Works in Hindi:

  • Sai Bulle Shah Radha Swami Satsang Vyas (Publisher: Radha Soami Satsang Beas), 1995.[104]
  • Kafian Baba Bulleh Shah [The Kafis of Bulleh Shah] (Publisher: Sri Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji eLibrary/ Namdhari eLibrary).[105]

Other works:

"Dama Dam Mast Qalandar" is one of the most famous Sufi songs in India and Pakistan. It was originally written by Amir Khusrau, and was modified by Bulleh Shah. The version composed by Bulleh Shah was sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, Laal (band) and numerous other singers from India and Pakistan.

"Tere ishq Nachaya," a popular poem by Bulleh Shah, has been sung numerous times both in public and film industry, e.g., the popular song Chaiyya Chaiyya is derived from its lyrics.

"Bullah Ki Jaana," one of the most popular poems by Bulleh Shah, has been sung by numerous singers in India and Pakistan.

A brief biographical sketches of him are found in "Encyclopaedia of Untouchables : Ancient Medieval and Modern" (2008)[106] and "Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature" (1987).[27]

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Script error: The function "langx" does not exist., pa
  2. ↑ also romanised as Bullhē Shāh; Script error: The function "langx" does not exist., pa
  3. ↑ also romanised as Bullhēyā; Script error: The function "langx" does not exist., pa
  4. ↑ Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.[1][2][3]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ shaheediyan (26 January 2008). "Bulleh Shah's Poetry (mentions of Dasam Patshah) - Islam". sikhawareness.com. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Mara Brecht; Reid B. Locklin, eds. (2016). Comparative theology in the millennial classroom : hybrid identities, negotiated boundaries. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-51250-9. OCLC 932622675.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 J.R. Puri; T.R. Shangari. "The Life of Bulleh Shah". Academy of the Punjab in North America (APNA) website. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  4. ↑ "Poet Of The People: The Time And Kalam Of Bulleh Shah". The Friday Times. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Snehi, Yogesh (2019). Spatializing popular Sufi shrines in Punjab : dreams, memories, territoriality. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-51220-9. OCLC 1098274711.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Roy, Anjali Gera; Huat, Chua Beng, eds. (1 February 2012). Travels of Bollywood Cinema: From Bombay to LA. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198075981.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-807598-1.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Abbas, Sadia (2014). At Freedom's Limit : Islam and the Postcolonial Predicament. New York, NY: Fordham University Press. ISBN 978-0-8232-5786-7. OCLC 1204032457.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "The Oral and intangible heritage of South Asia: Performances by 40 dancers and musicians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka". unesdoc.unesco.org. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  9. ↑ "A cappella group Penn Masala perform Bollywood songs at White House before PM Modi's arrival". The Indian Express. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  10. ↑ Soofi, Mushtaq (19 July 2021). "Punjab Notes: Fazal Farid Laleka: Bullah's name and Khawaja Farid's Masnavi". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Kumar, Raj (2008). Encyclopaedia of Untouchables, Ancient, Medieval and Modern. Delhi, India: Kalpaz Publications. p. 190. ISBN 978-81-7835-664-8. OCLC 277277425. It is said that from among the ancestors of Bulleh Shah, Syed Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari came to Multan from Surakh-Bukhara three hundred years earlier. [...] Bulleh Shah's family, of being Sayyiad caste, was related to prophet Muhammad [...] Bulleh Shah's father, Shah Mohammed Dervish, was well versed in Arabic, Persian and the holy Qura'n. [...] There is a strong historical evidence to show that Bulleh Shah was an eminent scholar of Arabic and Persian.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Shāh, Bullhe (1996). The Mystic Muse. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 978-81-7017-341-0.
  13. ↑ "International Journal of Punjab Studies (Vol. 3) (1996)". www.google.com. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  14. ↑ "Bulleh Shah". Sufi Poetry. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
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  45. ↑ Husain, Imdad (1989). An introduction to the poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Lahore: Vanguard Books. ISBN 969-402-000-X. OCLC 21322031.
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