THATTA: Hundreds of devotees from within the country and abroad thronged the shrine of Sufi Shah Inayat Shaheed — the 17th century warrior saint who waged an armed struggle against feudalism — to participate in the saint’s 309th urs in the dusty town of Jhok Sharif, 60 kilometres from here, on Monday.
For centuries, Shah Inayat remains a household name in Sindh and his anti-feudal ultra-revolutionary slogan “Jo kherey so khaaye” (he who tills has the foremost right to eat) has inspired several peasant movements in the province.
The shrine’s custodian Sufi Attaullah Sattari formally inaugurated the three-day urs celebrations by blowing “Sufi Sang” (a wind-blown musical instrument) and laying down a floral wreath on the saint’s grave.
The Sindh government has declared Tuesday (today) a local holiday in Sujawal district to facilitate local population to attend the urs celebrations and listen to ethereal Sufi kalaam to be recited by vocalists in 372 traditional circles within the shrine courtyard.
Shah Inayat, a son of Jhok Sharif also called Miran Pur, was executed by Mughal regime in early 18th century on charges of leading a small band of peasants against the domination of Mughal rule, local feudal lords and orthodox mullahs.
Sufi Inayat’s movement gained ready support among the downtrodden peasant class and jolted the foundations of feudalism, forcing landowners to send appeals to Mughal emperor Farrukh Siyar who issued orders to the ruler of northern Sindh Mian Yar Mohammad Kalhoro to produce Sufi Inayat and his followers.
Kalhoro chieftain surrounded the area where Sufi Inayat and his followers had established settlements and after a four-month long siege when Sufi was preparing to attack the invaders in January 1718, Kalhoro chief sent Shehdad Khan Talpur with Holy Quran to persuade Sufi to hold peace talks.
When Sufi accepted the offer and walked to the place where talks were to be held he was arrested on the way and brought to Thatta where he was handed over to Mughal governor.
The regime was so afraid of Sufi’s movement that it did not waste any time to execute this revolutionary saint who was much ahead of his time.
In a world beset by terrorism, extremism, sectarianism and other social ills, the circle of Sufi Inayat’s followers is widening with each passing day.
Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2017
