SOAS Research Online

Abstract

The title of the thesis denotes the Sufi Poets who wrote in the Panjabi language and not those who merely belonged to the Panjab, The period dealt with is 1460 to 1900 A.D. Before entering into an account of the Poets and their poetry we have in an introductory chapter briefly sketched Sufiism outside India, followed by a description of its growth and development in the Panjab. Here we have also classified different trends of Sufi thought into separate-schools. The verse-forms, the technical terms and other peculiarities of Panjabi Sufi poetry have been fully explained. The following few chapyers have been devoted to life-histories and to the discussion at length of the works of the outstanding Poets representing various schools. In these chapters a few specimens from each poet's verse are transliterated and literally translated. The Poets are Ibrahim Farid, Madho Lal Husain, Sultan Bahu, Bullhe Shah, Ali Haidar, Fard Faqir, Hashim Shah, and Karam Ali. In the chapter that follows, are discussed some Sufis who, though unknown to the public, appear to have been good poets. A few examples, to illustrate their mystic ideas, and taken from the extant portionsof their manuscripts, are given. The last chapter deals with those Sufi poets who, from a literary view-point, were of little importance. Throughout this dissertation we have clearly indicated the sources of our information for the life accounts, the works and mystic ideas of the Poets. All verse quotations are taken from books the authenticity of which is established either by finds of manuscripts or by unanimous acceptance of them by Panjabis of every denomination. Information gathered from guardians of shrines and the minstrels attached to them, the descendants of the poets and the learned, has been referred to as such. A bibliography of books, journals and pamphlets consulted or quoted, is appended.