Nandita KocharBulleh Shah, whose real name was Abdullah Shah, was a Punjabi Muslim Sufi poet, a humanist and philosopher. Bulleh Shah practiced the Sufi tradition of Punjabi poetry established by poets like Shah Hussain (1538 – 1599), Sultan Bahu (1629 – 1691), and Shah Sharaf (1640 – 1724). The verse form Bulleh Shah primarily employed is called the Kafi, a style of Punjabi, Sindhi and Siraiki poetry used not only by the Sufis of Sindh and Punjab, but also by Sikh gurus. At a time when life was filled with communal strife between Muslims and Hindus, Bulleh Shah served as a beacon of hope for peace. Here is one of his most cherished pieces - ‘Bulleya Ki jaana main Kaun’ with English Translation. Happy Reading! Na main momin vich maseetaanNa main vich kufar diyan reetaanNa main paakaan vich paleetaanNa main moosa na firownNot a believer inside the mosque, am INor a pagan disciple of false ritesNot the pure amongst the impureNeither Moses, nor the Pharoh-Bulleya Ki jaana main KaunBulleya! to me, I am not known-Na main andar ved kitaabaanNa vich bhangaan na sharaabaanNa vich rindaan masat kharaabaanNa vich jaagan na vich saunNot in the holy Vedas, am INor in opium, neither in wineNot in the drunkard’s intoxicated crazeNeither awake, nor in a sleeping daze-Bulleya Ki jaana main KaunBulleya! to me, I am not known-Na vich shaadi na ghamnaakiNa main vich paleeti paakiNa main aabi na main khakiNa main aatish na main paunIn happiness nor in sorrow, am INeither clean, nor a filthy mireNot from water, nor from earthNeither fire, nor from air, is my birth-Bulleya Ki jaana main KaunBulleya! to me, I am not known-Na main arabi na lahoriNa main hindi shehar nagauriNa hindu na turak peshawriNa main rehnda vich nadaunNot an Arab, nor LahoriNeither Hindi, nor NagauriHindu, Turk, nor PeshawariNor do I live in Nadaun-Bulleya Ki jaana main KaunBulleya! to me, I am not known-Na main bheth mazhab da paayaNe main aadam havva jaayaNa main apna naam dharaayaNa vich baitthan na vich bhaunSecrets of religion, I have not knownFrom Adam and Eve, I am not bornI am not the name I assumeNot in stillness, nor on the move–Bulleya Ki jaana main KaunBulleya! to me, I am not known-Avval aakhir aap nu jaanaNa koi dooja hor pehchaanaMaethon hor na koi siyaanaBulla! ooh khadda hai kaunI am the first, I am the lastNone other, have I ever knownI am the wisest of them allBulleh! do I stand alone?-Bulleya Ki jaana main KaunBulleya! to me, I am not known
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