Indigenous culture: Lok Virsa launches book on Sufi poetry

To promote Pakistan’s folk culture, Lok Virsa has launched a book “Aina Haqul Yaqeen” by Baba Hakim Ali Sarkar in Punjabi.

The launch of the book was held at the Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology, popularly known as Heritage Museum, at Shakarparian on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Religious Affairs Ameenul Hasnat Shah said documenting the work of a living Sufi poet is praiseworthy.

The government is determined to raise awareness among the public about the contribution of Sufis and saints.

Lok Virsa’s executive director Khalid Javaid said that Lok Virsa has published over 200 books on various facets of Pakistani folklore and cultural heritage.

Aina Haqul Yaqeen is based on the works of Sufi poet Hakim Ali Jalandhari. It is a bilingual book in Punjabi language featuring the poet’s original work with a translation in Urdu by Aisha Siddiqa.

Jalandhari is a Sufi poet belonging to the Qadri Qalandar order. His poetry propagates love, equality and peace as preached by Sufis like Baba Farid, Waris Shah, Bulleh Shah, Mian Muhammad Bakhsh.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th, 2013.