Ep 39. Shah Latif: Seeking the beloved

Exploring the Mystic Poetry of Shah Abdul Latif with Anju Makhija Welcome to this special episode featuring award-winning writer, poet, playwright, and translator Anju Makhija. In this insightful conversation, we dive deep into the enduring legacy of the great Sindhi Sufi poet, Shah Abdul Latif (1689–1752), often celebrated as the "Shakespeare of Sindh" and the "people's poet." Anju shares the incredible story behind her acclaimed, award-winning book *Seeking the Beloved: The Mystical Works of Shah Abdul Latif*, co-translated alongside Hari Dilgir. Long before the era of smartphones and the internet, their collaborative translation journey was meticulously carried out over the course of five years entirely through handwritten postcards. Throughout the episode, Anju discusses: *The Fusion of Traditions:* How Shah Abdul Latif brilliantly blended Vedantic thought and Islamic traditions to create a rare, unified spiritual philosophy. *Spiritual Allegories:* How the poet utilized beloved Indian folklore—such as the tragic romance of Sasui and Punhu—as profound vehicles for explaining the direct relationship between the seeker and the divine. *Live Readings:* Beautiful verse readings translated directly into English alongside recitations of the original Sindhi script. *Navigating Translation:* The creative choices and logistical challenges involved in making 300-year-old mystical poetry sound accessible and musical to a contemporary global audience. In divisive times, the message of Shah Abdul Latif brings us back to a global human heritage rooted in love, compassion, and oneness. ----- *About the Guest:* Anju Makhija is the author of multiple poetry collections, plays, and translated volumes. Her distinguished career includes winning the Sahitya Akademi English Translation Prize, the BBC World Regional Poetry Prize, and serving on the English Advisory Board of the Sahitya Akademi in New Delhi. She is currently working on translating the works of Sindhi Sufi poet Sachal Sarmast. Explore the lifetime, poetry, and monumental contributions of co-translator Hari Daryanani Dilgir by visiting the official archive dedicated to his legacy: 🌐 Website: https://haridaryanidilgir.co.in/ Seeking the Beloved is published by Katha and remains available worldwide online via Amazon and major booksellers. If you enjoyed this exploration of Sufi mysticism and literature, please *Like, Share, and Subscribe* for more episodes\! Special Musical Feature: This episode features a special Sufi clip graciously provided by Girish Sadhwani. A renowned Sufi vocalist and musician, Girish brings the soulful depth of traditional Sufi music to life, beautifully complementing the mystical themes of Shah Abdul Latif discussed in this interview. 🌐 Learn more about his music, upcoming performances, and albums at his official website: https://www.girishsadhwani.com/