Sultan Bahu: Within Reach

 Sultan Bahu - Within Reach,
A4 Hardback - 306 pages (Book comes in a protective Slip-Case),
by Muzaffar A. Ghaffaar,
Part of the Masterworks of Punjabi Sufi Poetry Series.


English Text; with Nastaliq; Gurmukhi; Roman. Extensive glossary; poetic translation; line by line discourse.


Review: '' All great masters of Punjabi poetry have distinctive styles. Sultan Bahu, May Allah be pleased with him, however, was among the privileged few who are frequently quoted among his followers all over Punjab. His idiom and imagery are also closer to folk. Folk is a vexed term, when used with reference to Punjabi poetry, connecting it with presumed anonymous and oral sources. Punjabi classical poetry is complex, philosophical and original; while belonging to a common humanist and anti-scholastic tradition, no two poets are alike.


Very little has been written in English by way of translation and commentary on Punjabi classical poetry. The histories of Punjabi literature written by Dr Duggal and Dr Mohan Singh Diwana leave a lot to be desired. Seetal's writings in English are even poorer and in some cases even the Punjabi text is not correct. Ghaffar's work is in a different league altogether, having drunk deep at the fount of Sangat; his Punjabi text has been meticulously edited. Romanised and Gurmukhi texts have been added and the meanings of all the difficult words are included with each passage and then have been alphabetically collected at the end of each volume.

 
His commentaries are multifaceted, that provide an ideal framework for each reader to make his own interpretation. Notes on the poet's life and a critical introduction to Punjabi masterworks of poetry have been added to each volume.


Muzaffar Ghaffar's commentaries of Sultan Bahu's poetry provides an ideal framework for each reader to make his own interpretation. ''_{---Review By Nadir Ali}.

 

[_{Sub-Continent Print, however excellent paper and print quality}].