HYDERABAD: Recently unveiled statue of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai by the culture department has not gone down well with certain quarters in Bhitshah. The town committee of Bhitshah has adopted a resolution against it, demanding removal of the statue on the grounds that putting up his statue had hurt sentiments of his devotees as Shah Bhitai was the most revered saint.

The statute was unveiled near the Bhitshah rest house on Shah Bhitai’s recently concluded urs but it is planned to be permanently put up at a place within the Karar Lake next to the Bhitai shrine.

“There is no harm if this statue is put up by the culture department as we have to break taboos in our society. Culture department is coordinating with the Turkish government to put up the same there like Jalaluddin Rumi’s,” said Syed Waqar Hussain Shah, the 12th custodian (sajjada nashin) of the shrine.

He said Bhitai could not be confined to a sect or religion alone as he propagated message of humanity and peace. “Same hue and cry in certain quarters was seen when a medical camp by a Christian organisation was facilitated by me and a gurdwara was opened at Bhitshah,” he recalled.

He said he had been on board since last year when the culture department had discussed the idea with him. “We can’t let thinking of mullahs enter the shrine,” he said. He noted that there was a sabeel (drinking water outlet) established by the Hindu community at the shrine as well and we had identified it as such.

Waqar Shah is a relative of Bhitshah town committee chairman Syed Ali Yawar Shah alias Gada Pir, who had raised the issue in the town committee when the statute was being put up. “We had adopted a resolution on Oct 31 when the elevated platform for the statue was built. The resolution was submitted by Satram Das and it was seconded by Fida Hussain before 10 of the 11-member council of the town committee adopted it,” he said.

He said the members believed that statues of personalities like Shah Bhitai or companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and four caliphs should not be made. “Bhitai was not a poet alone. Devotees have a different kind of link with him. We propose that the statue can be described as a sculpture of some raagi of Bhitai,” he said.

“We are considering moving court on the issue,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2017