A very rare phenomenon pertains to Sindh,
not found anywhere else in the world; that is the association of a poet
and a saint with its soil, so much so that Sindh seems soulless without
the name of an illustrated spiritualized poet of many dimensions Hazrat
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. An obtrusive missionary, a thinker and a
mystic, was a great scholar and a keen observer. He drew his inspiration
from the Quran. There are ample facts, which prove that he had
remarkably extensive knowledge of the Sindh language. He was greatly
inspired by Mathnavi of Maulana Roomi. His great grand father Shah Abdul
Karim of Bulri's poetry had also left a great impact on his personality
and literary pursuits.
Shah Latif's poetry
though difficult to be understood in the modern times (because of its
old and not so very commonly used vocabulary now a days) has the depth
of oceans in it.
One has to
strive a lote to understand the meaning and content in its true perspective. But
the message of his poetry broadly speaking is, love, universality of the human
race, basic equality of all human beings irrespective of their social status,
dignity of labor, simplicity, hospitality and cordiality. His verses preaching
love also carry a message and exhortation for struggle against tyranny and
injustice.
