Reimagining Bullhe Shāh: Genesis, contention, theopoetics, and posthumous legacy

The 18th century Punjabi poet Bullhe Shāh is more renowned today than he has ever been. His name has primarily gain renown through music, social media, and cinematic media (whether it is his own poetry, verses attributed to him, or the use of his name in qawwalis) in the modern era. His audience spans multiple religious and ethnic groups, including Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and the contemporary “spiritual but not religious” category. As such, Bullhe Shāh and his attributed works have become both beloved yet immensely contested. This thesis posits that Bullhe Shāh emerged from a milieu that was both an ideal ground for the poet and primed to receive someone like him. Understanding his contestation is best seen through a singular lens, and his poetry is best apprehended through the philosophical ideas of Assemblage and Meta-modernism. This thesis will do this by tracing the historical, religious, and social contexts of his emergence, interrogating and moving forward the discourse on Bullhe Shāh and his poetry’s contestation, analyzing his theopoetics, and concluding by examining his reception in the present day.