Literati commemorates Sufi poet Bedil’s legacy

Islamabad:A seminar in Islamabad brought together poets and literary critics from both Pakistan and abroad to celebrate the work of great Persian Sufi poet Mirza Abdul Qadir Bedil Dehlavi (1642–1720).

Organised by the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) in collaboration with the academic organisations ‘Hum Sukhan’ and Izhar Forum, the event featured two sessions, with the first chaired by Canada-based noted scholar Dr Syed Taqi Abedi and the second by leading Pakistani poet Prof Dr Riaz Majeed.

PAL director general Sultan Nasir highlighted the rich tradition of Persian literature in the Indian subcontinent, especially during the Delhi Sultanate (1206-1526) and Mughal era (1526-1857).

He referenced poets like Urfi Shirazi and Naziri Nishapuri in connection with sabk-i-Hindi (poetic style of Persian poetry in the subcontinent) and spoke of three prominent Persian poets from the 17th century—Ghani Kashmiri, Ghanimat Kunjahi and Bedil Dehlavi before reciting their verses.

Mr Nasir added that great Punjabi Sufi poet Sultan Bahu was part of that cultural milieu. He underscored the importance of preserving the tradition of Persian poetry in the region. Dr Taqi Abedi said Bedil, who wrote 92,000 poetic verses, including 49,000 of ‘ghazals’, was a mystic, philosopher and progressive poet. He cited Allama Iqbal’s admiration for Bedil, noting the ‘poet of East’ considered Rumi murshid (spiritual guide) and Bedil murshid-i-kamil (perfect spiritual guide).

The scholar emphasised Bedil's contribution to humanism and said the Persian poet believed in the Sufi Islamic doctrine of Wahdatul Wujood (Unity of Being). He called for more scholarly work on Bedil, especially compiling his vocabulary and ideas.

Dr Abedi also highlighted the significance of Pakistani poet Akhtar Usman's book on Bedil and called for the translation of the Sufi poet's work into prose for broader understanding. Academic Inamullah Rahmani participated online from Afghanistan, noting that Afghanistan has published 12 books and 84 articles on Bedil. He also said Bedil's poetry was often recited in mosques and Sufi shrines, and was performed in musical renditions as well.

Literary critic Dr Shaukat Awan discussed Bedil’s philosophical ideas, saying more work is needed to analyse his thought in scientific terms. He praised the Persian poet's unique style, terminology, and metaphysical themes.

Poet and translator Fazlullah Fani highlighted the challenges of translating Bedil’s poetry and said understanding the poet’s techniques, metaphors, and underlying meanings was crucial for accurate translation. He acknowledged the work of poets Sufi Tabassum and Syed Naeem Hamid Ali Al-Hamid in this respect and revealed that he himself has translated Bedil's 150 poetic verses into Urdu.

Prof Shaukat Mehmood from Government Degree College, Bannu, shared his 14-year-long research on Bedil’s thought, citing over 30 books and 40 papers published on the poet in the last 77 years.

Iqbal Academy Pakistan director Dr Abdul Rauf Rafiqui, who was the special guest at the sitting, emphasised that while significant work had been done on Bedil in Afghanistan and Iran, more was needed.

He proposed the establishment of the Bedil academies and centres in the country or the Bedil chair in universities to promote research on the great Persian poet. In the second session, poet Akhtar Usman, who has authored the Urdu book Bedil Aik Mutalia, highlighted the great Sufi poet's graceful style and his influence on poets like Allama Iqbal. He said he was particularly drawn to Bedil’s progressive lyrics.

Research scholar Qari Yahya Ashraf delved into Bedil’s poetic themes, including mysticism, Islamic sciences and philosophy. Dr Mohammad Safir from the National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, praised Bedil’s distinctive style, highlighting his influence from great Iranian poets Rudaki and Hafez Shirazi.

Poet Prof Dr Riaz Majeed recognised the importance of the papers presented and the high quality of Bedil's poetry translations and emphasised that while Bedil’s understanding had gained momentum, further work required government support. He urged the country's academic institutions to take a leading role in promoting Bedil’s legacy.