The Inimitable Baba Farid
Austere in habits but fascinating in
speech
Steadfast in actions led by fervent
belief
Tolerant and consistent in words and
deeds
Was the sage and saint, reverend Baba Farid.
Farid-ud-Din Masud adored as
Ganj-i-Shakar
Led life consonant with his glorious
name
Farid-ud-Din means rare defender of
faith
Ganj-i-Shakar symbolizes godown of sweets.
Masud was the pen-name, he selected
later
But Sheikh or Baba, other modes of
address
Adopted by the growing number of
votaries
Overshadowed the pen as well family names.
The faith, he professed, was service
of man
The path, he chose, was disciplining
of self
The conquest of mind rid him of
bitterness
Implanted by anger, conceit and attachment.
The approach was new for its being
pragmatic
Highlighting unity of man and oneness
of God
Laying stress on harmony among human
beings
Denouncing communal conflict as devilish act.
Despite his grooming in Arabic and
Persian
Chose to sermonize in the native
language
Plain truth expressed in the homely
words
Installed him as pioneer of Punjabi verse.
He never knocked at royal court to
seek position
Rather, princes queued to invoke his blessings
Shared his humble food and edifying
thoughts
With the down-trodden to ameliorate their lot.
His foreign origin created no
detraction
His message of love won devoted
attention
The caste-ridden alien to human
equality
God stirred by his concept of fraternity.
Time could not fade the lustre of his
gospel
His hymns and sermons enshrined in
Guru Granth
Erect bridges of amity for global
brotherhood
Urging that religion unites, not divides mankind.
The campaign against religious
bigotry
Ushered in an era of communal harmony
Hailed in history as Bhagti Movement
Which strove for a humane way of life.
* 3-C Udham Singh Nagar,
Ludhiana – 141 001.
Farid-ud-Din (1125-1265) a pioneer of Chishti
Silsilah of Sufis. 112 sholakas and 4 shabads by him enshrined in Adi Granth.
His aagman purb celebrated during September every year by Faridkot District
Cultural Society.
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