The pilgrim town of Dewa is situated just 42 Kms. from Lucknow and 12 Kms. from the district headquarters of Barabanki in the heart of erstwhile ‘Awadh’. This is the birth place of Haji Waris Ali Shah who was to influence the lives of many generations of people with his message of universal love for humanity. Haji Waris Ali Shah came of a family of Husaini Syeds, and was born in the first quarter of the 19th century. His father Syed Qurban Ali Shah died in his early childhood. Hindus held him in high esteem and regarded him as a perfect Sufi and a follower of Vedanta. Haji Saheb left for his heavenly abode on 7th April, 1905. He was buried at the spot where he died and this place is marked by a splendid monument erected in his memory by some of his devoted followers, both Hindus and Muslims.