Hymns of Sheikh Farid

I would never have imagined that I would ever write a book on Sheikh Farid. I had known him in the form of some Panjabi proverbs. But as with most things in my life, this too was destined to happen.

I had gone to the Academic Staff College of Guru Nanak Dev University to give a course of lectures on English, when Vice-Chancellor Harbhajan singh soch suggested that I write a book on Sheikh Farid is a part of it. So why not prepare at least a readable translation for them? I thought there must be many English translations in the market done by more competent scholars. However, after some further discussion, I agreed to do the book. Therefore the credit for initiating production of this book must go to Vice-Chancellor Harbhajan Singh Soch.

Next, I must thank Guru Nanak Dev University for offering me a fellowship, which made me continue with the project I had undertaken.

I must say that the first few months were a difficult going but I kept busy copying the songs, attending to their language and thought, and reading up whatever I could lay my hands on.

Then one day I realized that I was dealing with an extraordinary mind, a unique spiritual thinker who exhibited an archetypal pattern of spiritual evolution that needs to be followed by all religions of the world, that Guru Nanak Dev had shown a profound understanding of spirituality by including him in his songs of God's devotees for inspiring mankind outside of those affiliated to the Chisti order of Sufis, because truly speaking from Farid's own perspective, or way of seeing life, spirituality being inherent in all human beings oversteps any and every organization of spirituality. This clearly is the basis of modern secularism and care for all beings, including nature, that was so close to the heart of Sheikh Farid and Guru Nanak Dev. Once I was clear about this, my pen started flowing and what I had started in January 1997 I was able to complete in September 1998.

I must also thank Dr. Gurupdesh Singh, Director, Academic Staff College of the University for helping me whenever I needed help. My thanks are also due to Mr. Shailendra Dwivedi for making his computer available for preparing the final copy and to Mr. A. K. Ojha for typing it.

I must also express thanks to my wife, Swaran Kaur, for allowing me time and for reading the drafts of all sections as they were written. As she is a practising Sikh, her comments and approval were a source of encouragement to me. No less encounaging was my daughter Mona, whose comments were equally helpful.

Finally, I must gratefully acknowledge the help of the Invisible Hand that guided me in writing this book.