Sachal Sarmast

Sachal Sarmast
Born	1739 CE Daraza, Khairpur Mirs
Died	1829 CE
Era	Classical/ Talpur
Region	Sindhi Sufi Poet
School	Islamic Sufism
Main interests	lyric poetry
Notable ideas	Sufi poetry, Sufi philosophy, and Sufi music

Sachal Sarmast (1739 – 1829) (Sindhi: سچلُ سرمستُ‎, Urdu: سچل سرمست‎) a Sufi poet from Sindh, Pakistan.

He wrote poetry in many languages most prominent is Sindhi. During the Kalhoro/Talpur era of Sindh. He was born in Daraza, near Ranipur, Sindh. His real name Abdul Wahab Farouqi and "Sachal" or "Sachoo", his nicknames. He used this pen-name in his poetry. Sachu which means 'truthful' - while in Sindhi Sarmast means 'ecstatic' in Sindhi and Urdu alike. Sachal Sarmast literally means 'truthful mystic' or can be translated as "Ecstatic Saint of Truth". Sachal's father had died, when he was a child, he was later raised by his uncle, Abdul Haqq who also became his spiritual master. He married her daughter, but the young woman died two years later. He never remarried. It is said that he never left Daraza, the village of his birth.

Sachal's poetical works are sung by local singers in Sindhi and Saraiki; his shrine is in village Daraza, near Ranipur, Khairpur District, Sindh, Pakistan.

Life Sketch of Hazrat Sachal Sarmast in Sindhi standing at the entrance of Shrine

Sachal Sarmast was an ardent follower of Wahdat-ul-Wujood (unity of existence), an Islamic Philosophy synonymous with Hamah Oost (all from One). Sachal says (translation by Gul Agha):

Biography

The first compendium of Sachal's poetry was by Agha Sufi. First published in 1933 in Shikarpur, Sindh, it included Sachal's biography and a critical analysis of his philosophy and poetry. The introductory chapters provide a comparative analysis of the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and Sachal Sarmast, an introduction to Sufism and Vedanta (Chapter I), a biography of Sachal (Chapter II), and an explanation of the melodic modes or Raga (called "Sura" in Sindhi) that are used in Sachal's poetry (Chapter III). This is followed by a collection of Sachal's poems (Chapter IV) and a glossary and interpretation (Chapter V).

Shrine of Hazrat Sachal Sarmast

External links

• Sachal Jo Sindhi Kalam: Sachal jo Risalo published online by Abdul-Majid Bhurgri
• Agha Sufi, Sachal Sarmast (vol. 1: Chapters I-III), pub. Shikarpur Sindh, 1933.
• Agha Sufi, Sachal Sarmast (vol. 2: Chapters IV-V, glossary), pub. Shikarpur Sindh, 1933.
• Sachal Jo Sindhi Kalam: Sachal jo Risalo in downloadable PDF eBook format
• Songs of Sachal, sung in traditional style