Fanna -Fi-Allah

Hī sūfian jo des ā, latīf jī zamīn hī;
Hī sāmī wāro āstān, makān-i ‘ārifian hī
Sachal jo hit darāz āh, sāz āh dīn hī:
Hite ā dīn ‘ishq o uns, ā balad amīn hī!
Hit ā bashar birādarī, hite na zāt pāt ā!
Ae sindh tū mathān sadā salām ā salāt ā!

This is the country of Sufis, the land of Latif;
This is Sami’s place, the abode of mystics; 
Here is Sachal’s dargah, this religion is music: 
Here, religion is love and affection, the land of peace! 
Here mankind is our brotherhood, there is no caste system here! 
O Sindh, may prayers and peace always be upon you!

                                       - Hyder Bux Jatoi,1954*

Fanna- Fi -Allah is a Canadian- American  group which plays Qawwali, a well known form of Sufi devotional music played in the Indian sub continent. It is led by Tahir Qawwal ( formerly Geoffrey Lyons) who has learnt this art form from classical masters in India and Pakistan. Aminah Chishti accompanies him on Tabla. She is the first female tabla player to be initiated into the lineage of Qawwali. "Fanna Fi Allah" means "Annihilation in God" inspired by the long standing Sufi tradition. In the Sufi world " Love for Beloved" and "God" are the same - communion with the spirit being a key tenet of Sufism. I personally think that  Sufism's emphasis on all religions being equal and on the personal nature of one's interaction with the almighty without emphasis on rituals etc have played an important part in the community's financial success as we are able to easily mingle into the broader neighborhood. Mummy's favorite saying is " Pehenjo Ghar Guru jo Darr" ( One's home is temple itself).

I first came across Fanna -Fi-Allah's video recordings on Youtube a couple of years ago and since then, I have been a follower of their music. Unlike others, Tahir Bhai and the broader group are able to effortlessly convey to the listener the spirit of their renditions , which I consider as a remarkable achievement for someone to whom Hindi/Urdu does not come naturally. 

I end with the wonderful song " Lal Meri Pat" sung by Fanna-Fi-Allah at the shrine of Lal Shabaz Qalandar at Sehwan Sharif in Sindh, Pakistan.There seems to exist a fascinating relationship between Lal Shahbaz Qalandar who is worshiped by Sindhi Muslims and Jhule lal , a diety worshiped by Hindu Sindhis . Something similar can be seen at the temple of Mata Hinglaj Bhawani, considered to be "Kuldevi" of Hindu Sindhis, based in Lasbela district of Balochistan who is also revered by Sindhi Muslims as " Nani Mandir " (Maternal Grandmother's Temple). Interestingly, the word Sehwan originates from Sewistan or "Shiv-stan" (literally, the land of the Hindu God Shiva), being the kingdom of the last Hindu Sindhi ruler of Sindh,  Raja Dahir, which extended to the Punjab. 

No wonder that the lyrics of Lal Meri Pat include " Shahbaz Jhule Lal Hai, Qalander Jhule Lal hai". 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SihdsEzawaU&list=RDSihdsEzawaU&start_radio=1

*  Hyder Bux Jatoi, peasant leader and Sindhi nationalist wrote the above lines in 1954. Jatoi mentions three most prominent Sindhi poets, Shah Abdul Latif, Sachal Sarmast , and the Hindu, follower of Advaita Vedanta, Sami , whose words, to many, exemplify Sindh’s ‘Sufi culture’. 

This post borrows extensively from the article “Sindhis are Sufi by Nature”: Sufism as a Marker of Identity in Sindh by Julien Levesque. Complete link to the article as follows:-

https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-02464387/document

Saeen Sadhram Sahib / Sacho Satram Sect

Religious leaders, Faqeers or " Sainjan" as we popularly call them,  have played an important role within the Sindhi community. Sindh with its focus on Sufism has always been the land of saints and Darvesh. As Professor Motilal Butani had written about Rohiri ,a town in Upper Sindh - ' Oh Rohiri! Even your stones must be worshiped because in the past at one time all the saints must have passed over them, graced by the touch of  their feet." There were supposed to have been twenty-five thousand saints in Rohiri.* Mummy remembers how Nana ( Maternal Grandfather) always used to encourage them to give a donation ( however small it may be) to a Saint or a Faqeer who knocks at the door. " Faqeer Raazi Allah Raazi"  ( Saint's blessings are God's blessings) is a popular saying in Sindhi. 

 Most Hindu Sindhi households usually have an  affiliation with a "Sainjan". Whilst some still follow "Sainjan"  who have sindhi roots , others have embraced non - Sindhi religious sects in their local areas. One of the more popular Sainjan/ Sindhi religious organisation that is still based in Sindh, Pakistan is Sacho Satram sect with its headquarters at Raharki Sahib, a small town in Upper Sindh located some 100 kilometers northeast of Sukkur. Saeen Sadhram Sahib is the current sect leader. Raherki Sahib is considered to be the the birthplace of the great saint Saeen Satram Das Sahib whom  Bhagat Kanwar Ram Sahib considered as his master. 

Before my quest to better understand my roots began, I had never even thought that there would be a sizable Hindu Sindhi community in Pakistan. The reason I thought i should write about Saeen Sadhram Sahib is as I am told that this sect with its vast following among the Pakistani Hindu Sindhi community acts as a binding force to keep them all together. Dr Sunila tells me about how much influence Saeen has on the Sindhi community in Pakistan. I recently had a conversation with another  Sindhi from Pakistan who was surprised that my family is not a follower of Sacho Satram sect. 

Saeen maintains close relations with his followers  in India as well and I understand that the sect is now establishing Sacho Satram Tirathdham near Nagpur (in Maharashtra). I am told that thousands of Sindhis have  contributed to make this dream a reality.  Saints like Saeen Sadhram have played and will continue to play an important role in helping us retain our cultural heritage and keeping the community together. Saeen's Sindhi Satsangs and his constant message of retaining our unique identity by not allowing Sindhi language to die are important lessons that all of us should try to imbibe. Saeen regularly attends World Sindhi Sammelan as well.

I end with a popular rendition of " Faqeer Raazi Allah Raazi" by Sai Kaliram Sahib. I like the way he narrates the entire kalam. I do hope you like it too. Also for the interested reader, I  am providing a link to Sacho Satram (SSD) website. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnc9ASeGthc

http://www.sachosatram.com/

Stay Safe!

Jai Jhulelal. 

* :  Courtesy : Troubled Pilgrimage : A  Passage to Pakistan by Balwant Bhaneja