THATTA: Sindh Minister for Auqaf, Religious Affairs, Zakat and Ushr Riaz Shah has said that he plans to acquire four-century-old literary collections, relics, hand-written scripts and artifacts from the heirs of Shah Abdul Karim Bulri and have them meticulously documented and preserved in a museum to be established within the courtyard of the saint’s shrine.

The minister said after laying a wreath on the Sufi saint’s grave during his 413th annual urs at Bulri late on Wednesday night that Shah Abdul Karim’s poetry had had a profound impact on Sindhi literature and Sufi tradition, noting his reverence across different faiths. His spiritual teachings would continue to influence Sindh’s cultural and religious landscape, he said.

He stressed the importance of digitizing literature, suggesting that the wealth of knowledge lying with the heirs of spiritual leaders must be made accessible to young generation.

He highlighted Thatta’s richness in saints’ shrines and literature and called for the documentation of works by saints, intellectuals, historians and religious figures, including Pir Hussamuddin Shah Rashidi, Sufi Shah Inayat Shaheed and Prof Dr Annemarie Schimmel and others.

Syed Asad Shah Kazmi, the shrine’s custodian, shared his insights into the life of Shah Abdul Karim Bulri and said that Shah was raised by his mother and elder brother, Syed Jalal, after his father’s early death.

From a young age, Shah Abdul Karim displayed deep interest in matters of spirituality, often neglecting school lessons to immerse himself in spiritual world. His exposure to mystical gatherings, where sermons accompanied by rural music were sung, inspired him to compose his own poetry.

The minister also announced plans for the construction of a compound wall for the shrine, 20 washrooms and repairs of three dilapidated lodging areas for devotees.

He also attended Mehfil-e-Sama, where folk singers and traditional musicians captivated the audience with their performance around bonfire.

The urs was attended by devotees, disciples and people from all walks of life, particularly fishermen communities from Karachi, Ibrahim Hyderi and Thatta-Sujawal coastline.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2024