To say that these are just difficult times will be an understatement. The last two months have posed what is perhaps the deadliest risk faced by mankind in over a century - a threat that has put our very existence into question. What started as a region specific issue has quickly spiraled into a global issue and today COVID threatens each of one us irrespective of our nationality, religion, creed, color, sex etc. Sadly, there does not seem to be any easy way out of this and it is likely we are in for a long battle against the viral disease. Here in India, we are currently under a 21 day complete lockdown which is likely to be extended by a couple of weeks as well.As on date , 199 deaths have been reported in India which whilst not a high number compared to what is being faced elsewhere in the world, does mean that lives of these 199 families have been scarred permanently by the virus. Not to mention, millions of others who have been affected directly or indirectly by the virus. In between all this, India registered the first death of health care worker yesterday , Dr Shatrughan Panjwani, a General Physician of Sindhi origin in Indore who is likely to have contracted the disease while treating patients.
During these tough times ,what can one do but to pray to the almighty to bless us and for these tough times to end soon. I am reminded of a few baits (verses) of Shah Abdul Latif 's which include prayers to almighty to cure the sick. I first heard these on Coke Studio Pakistan a few years ago performed by brilliant Saeen Saif Samejo who I think is one of the finest Sindhi singers around. I provide a link to his Song " Mandh Waai" at the end of the post."Daya Kar Dayaalu" as the popular Sindhi saying goes.
mandho peeande moon
saajano sahi suneaato
pi piyaalo ishqa jo
sabhki samjhyo soon
saajano sahi suneaato
toon habeebo
toon tabeebo
toon ei darda ji dawa
janiba muhinje jeea men aazara ja anwa
sahiba ḍhe shifa meeyaan mareezane khe
allaaha abdul llateefo chae
bhiṭ jo ghoṭo llateefo chae
toon ei aaheen toon
saajano sahi suneaato
ji lateef
o lateef
challa sindhaṛi wasae llateef
bhalo miyaan allaaha
Oh God!
Drinking the wine of gnosis
I perceived the Beloved
Imbibing the doctrines of Love by drinking from Love’s cup
I fathomed entirety
The Beloved I perceived
You are the Friend
You are the Physician
Only You are the remedy for pain
Dearest! in my being are thousands of afflictions
O Lord, pray heal the sick and afflicted
O God! “Abd ul-Latif” says
Latif, the darling bridegroom of Bhit Shah, says
There is none but You
The Beloved I perceived
O good Latif
O Latif
May the land of Sindh remain prosperous, Latif
Good Master Allah
( English Translation copied from Coke Studio Pakistan, Season 4).
On a separate note, today is also Sindhi Language Day . It was on 10th April,1967 that Sindhi Language was given constitutional status and was included in Eight Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Regular readers of the blog will be aware about DD Sindhi Channel that was started last year by India's public broadcaster, Doordarshan, after years of struggle by Didi Asha Chand of Sindhi Sangat whose petition was represented by Jethmalani family ( First by (Late) Dada Ram Jethmalani and then by his son, Dada Mahesh Jethmalani). The entire petition was based on the Sindhi language having been given Constitutional status in 1967 and hence the state was duty bound to protect the language and ensure its survival given that the language is on the brink of extinction.
I end with a link to Saeen Saif's brilliant rendition of "Maandh Wai". I hope you like it as much as I do.
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