Bulleh Shah's Land

Later half of January and most of February was spent drifting on the road, quite literally. After having missed a golden opportunity to visit India and due to some other factors, I needed a lot of vagabonding-diversion - and Tariq, as always, was more than ready to accompany. In fact, these trips wouldn't have been possible without him. After riding a bike from Multan to Lahore, our next preference was to visit Qasoor - mainly due to Baba Bulleh Shah.

Bulleh Shah has a strange fascination for believers and non-believers alike. Although his life is enshrouded in countless myths like so many other saints, his teachings of love, wisdom and hope transcend the boundaries of caste, creed and nationality to elate everyone at a higher level of humanity. With all this reverence, there was an acute desire for adventure and exploration too.

So on the decided day, three of us - Tariq, me and our loyal bike - set for Qasoor around 10 am. After a smooth ride on a recently constructed road and under clam skies, we set out feet on Bulleh Shah's land around 11:30. Qasoor has some newly constructed buildings and roads which gives it a pretty decent look. The shrine however, sadly, looked like a castle, with all the barbed wires and security checks.

After relishing the delicious métier of Qasoor, 'andrassa' and 'falooda' we stepped into the castle-cum-shrine. A recently constructed beautiful mosque stands high adjacent to the shrine. One thing that fascinates about shrine - and I'm sure this is not an exclusive case - is the overall orphic atmosphere. The undiscriminating, peacefully indifferent and melodious aura does render peace to your heart - and that's the state of affairs of a lost individual.

Chal Bulleya Chal Uthay Chalyae Jithay Saray Anay
Na Koi Saadi Zaat Pachane, Na Koi Sanu Manne

Kalam-e-Bulleh Shah was engraved on the four sides and within the tomb and it is this kalam that fascinates you. We offered Fatihah, took photographs, made a video footage of some 10-15 minutes and after spending almost an hour and promising ourselves to read more about the life and work of Bulleh Shah, stepped out of the shrine with a feeling of satisfaction.

Our next sojourn was Kamal Chishti Shrine which happens to be at around a couple of miles from Bulleh Shah Shrine, located at a hill-top at a distance of exactly 100 stairs. A modest yet traditionally embellished little shrine was accompanied by a usual mosque and a graveyard. Kamal Chishti was a contemporary and a friend of Bulleh Shah. We spent almost an hour there, performing the usual activities after which, we set back from the land of Bulleh Shah. But before the final good-bye, we visited the marvelous Qasoor museum which deserves a separate post (following shortly, given that my sloth doesn't hinder).