India, my country, and neighbour Pakistan, have been at war for decades. I do not want to discuss politics and warfare right now.I reserve that discussion for another day.I leave you with a lovely song. A Sufi song by Baba Bulleh Shah. Bulleh Shah is believed to have been born in 1680, in the small village of Uch, Bhawalpur,India now in Pakistan. Sufism originated in what is modern day Pakistan.It is a beautiful song, called Bandeya ho (addressing a man or mankind), rendered beautifully by Khawar Jawad and Faiza Mujahid telling the tale of Bullay Shah and his guru Inayat Shah, who was of a caste deemed lower by those of Bullay Shah’s community.
The lyrics and translation from Saraiki to English, thanks to the many websites which have appeared since the song appeared in the Pakistani movie, Khuda Kay Liye:
Bullay Noun Samjhawan Ayaan
Bhenaan Tay Bherjaayaan (Bullay’s sisters and sisters-in-law came to advise him)
Man Lay Bullaya Sada Kaina
Chad Day Pala Araiyaan (“Listen to us and stop associating with that man of the Araain community”)
Aal Nabi Ulad Nabi Noun
Tu Kyoun Leeka Layaan (“Why do you insult our tribe the descendants of the Prophet Mohammed”)
Jera Saanoun Syed Saday
Dozakh Milay Sazaiyaan (Bullay replies: Those that call me a Syed (the tribe of the descendants of the Prophet) will be punished in Hell) (Indicating that he’d rather denounce his tribe than denounce the peer, his guru)
Bandeya ho, Bandeya
Araain Saain Sabi Thaain (People of Araain and Saain clans are everywhere)
Rab Deeyaan Bay Perwaayaan (God doesn’t care (about placing them together in this world))
Soniya Paray Hatayaan tay
Khoojiyaan Nay Gal Layaan (Those that are beautiful (in heart and soul) do not find such differences (in castes), only ugly people do)
Jay Tu Looray Baagh Baharaan
Chakar Ho Ja Araiyaan (If you desire paradise in the afterlife, become a servant of the Araiyan) (Indicating ‘serve the poor and downtrodden, if you seek heaven’)
Bullay Shah De Zaat Ke Puchni
Shakar Ho ya Razayaan (Ask not what caste Bullay Shah comes from)
Bandeya ho, Bandeya
Intellectual nourishment?
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About Me
- Life as I see it
- Human. Indian. Secular. Arrogant. Maratha. Straight. NOT Emo. Wannabe. Misunderstood. Nerd. Maniac. Ambivert. Condescending. Lethargic. Complex. Damaged. Resilient. Flexible. Unkind. Non vegetarian. I believe that God is too big to fit into any one religion and to live and let live.
6 comments:
As with all compositions by Baba Bulleh Shah, the most thought provoking of lyrics, thanks for sharing them....
Thanks for the translation.
But sufism is not a creation of India/Pakistan. It has been since Islam and popularised by RUMI.
Thank you, lovely translation...I love this song.
enlightened!!
Assalamualaikum.
The last verse translation is missing.
By far this is the most meaningful translation I've read.
Thank you.
Please fix the incomplete last sentence.
Tanveer Sultan Barry.
Jay Tu Looray Baagh Baharaan
Chakar Ho Ja Araiyaan
( This means If you desire paradise in the afterlife, become a servant of the Araiyan) that's because this is the richest caste in the Arab world and then too on the straight path.. inshort if you want paradise in this world and the hereafter then follow the Arain as a community as well as Bulley Shah's guru who was an Arain.
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