Abida Parveen and Bulleh

Sometimes, when I am in mood, I really enjoy listening to Abida Parveen, her mystic style of singing Sufi poetry just makes me forget everything about this world for a moment, and fills me with inner pleasure and peace.

On a flight back to Abu Dhabi from Karachi, I was going thru the in-flight entertainment system
and guess what... I found a song by Abida Parveen and it was that very song which has taken the world (at least Pakistan and India) by storm, it was "Bulleh Nu Samjhawan". Although I had already listened to it in the sound track of Khuda Kay Liay a 1000 times, but this one was even more special, since it was in that classical-folk style, and of course it was sung by Abida Parveen. I was mesmerized by this flavour of Bulleh Shah's "kaafi" so fresh, so original, so passionate, I felt that this is the most suitable way of singing Bulleh's poetry,But don't take me wrong, I liked the version from Khuda Kay liay as well :-)

I searched for this version but was not able to find it on the net, then one of my friends Najeeb, gave this song to me. I will uploadit somewhere soon :)

You know what, there is a little story behind this piece of poetry, The story is, that Bulleh had a Guru or "Peer", who was from Araaeen caste, and Bulleh's relatives used to tell him that You are a Syed and do not be a spiritual student of that Araeen. Bulleh replied that I do not believe in these castes, I just believe in the fact that God creates great people and they can be from any caste. If caste matters so much, then do not call me a Syed, call me an Araeen because I have totally submitted my soul to my Guru.

Here is the translation of this "kaafi"

Original (in Punjabi/Saraiki)

BULHE NU SAMJHAWAN AAINAN BHAINAN TE BHARJAIAN
MAN LAY BULHYA SADA KAHNA CHAD DE PALLA RAIAAN
AAL-E NABI AULAD-E ALI NUN TOON KION LEEKAN LAINAN

JEHRA SANOON SYED SADDE DOZAKH MILAN SAZAIAAN
JO KOI SANOON RAEEN AAKHE BHISHTEEN PEENGAN PAIAAN
RAEEN SAEEN SABHI THAEEN RAB DIAN BE PARWAAIAN

SOHNIAN PARE HATAIAN NE TE KOJHIAN LE GAL LAAIAN
JE TU LOREEN BAAGH BAHAARAN CHAKAR HO JA RAEEAN
BULHE SHAH DI ZAAT KI PUCHNA-EN SHAKAR HO RAZAAIAN

Translation

To counsel Bulleh, sisters and sisters-in-law have come
"Pay heed to us and give up mixing with the low caste Araeen
Why are you bringing shame to the descendants of Prophet, And Ali"

"Those who call me Syed, are destined to hell made for them
Those who call me Araeen, have the swings in heaven laid for them
Low caste and High caste, are created by God who cares not for family

He regards the beautiful and cherishes the not so comely.
If you wish to enjoy the glory of the Garden, go and serve Araeen
Why bother about Bulleh's caste? Obey the command that comes from Saeen