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Indian Horizons October-December 2013 .Pdf Indian Council for Cultural Relations The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) was founded on 9th April 1950 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister of independent India. The objectives of the Council are to participate in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes relating to India’s external cultural relations; to foster and strengthen cultural relations and mutual understanding between India and other countries; to promote cultural exchanges with other countries and people; to establish and develop relations with national and international organizations in the field of culture; and to take such measures as may be required to further these objectives. The ICCR is about a communion of cultures, a creative dialogue with other nations. To facilitate this interaction with world cultures, the Council strives to articulate and demonstrate the diversity and richness of the cultures of India, both in and with other countries of the world. The Council prides itself on being a pre-eminent institution engaged in cultural diplomacy and the sponsor of intellectual exchanges between India and partner countries. It is the Council’s resolve to continue to symbolize India’s great cultural and educational efflorescence in the years to come. ICCR HEAD QUARTERS President : 23378616, 23370698 Indian Cultural Centres Director General : 23378103, 23370471 & Chairs of Indian Studies Abroad : 23378638 Deputy Director General (AH) : 23370228 International Students Division I : 23370266 Deputy Director General (AJ) : 23379249 International Students Division II : 23370234 Administration : 23379639 Library/Web Site/MM/AVR : 23379384 Establishment Outgoing Cultural Delegations/ (Despatch & Maintenance) : 23378635 Empanelment : 23370254 Exhibitions : 23370226 Publications : 23370229 Finance & Accounts : 23378969 Presentation/Special Projects : 23370256 Incoming Cultural Delegations : 23378641 Conferences & Seminars : 23378742 Foreign Cultural Centres : 23370831 Festivals/Outgoing Visitors : 23370254 Regional Offices : 23370237 Distinguished Visitors Programme : 23370940 Afghan Scholarships : 23378641 Indian Horizons October-December 2013 1 2 Indian Horizons Volume 60 No. 4 Indian Horizons Contents Volume 60 No. 4 October-December 2013 Foreword 3 Satish C. Mehta Diversity and the ‘Self’ in Sufi tradition 6 Dr. Sameena Hasan Siddiqui Editor Delhi: Axis of the Islamic East and the Beating 13 Subhra Mazumdar Heart of Sufism in India Dr. Rakhshanda Jalil Who is a Qalandar? 22 Kumkum Srivastava Published by the Director General, Photo Essay 33 Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Azad Bhavan, Indraprastha Estate, The Contemporary Outlook on Sufism and 45 New Delhi-110002. The opinions Sufic Practices in India expressed or implied in this magazine Dr. Rizwan Qaiser do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the ICCR. No part of 1 Dancer, 89 Musicians, 167 Patrons 52 the magazine may be reproduced without the prior permission of the 16 Years of Sufi Kathak Editor. Manjari Chaturvedi Contributions for consideration may please be sent in duplicate – typed The Divine, the Feminine & the Sufis: 60 in double space, with a minimum Pakistan’s plural Sindh Province of footnotes to The Editor, Indian Raza Rumi Horizons, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Azad Bhavan, Indraprastha Art Reviews: Azad Bhavan Gallery 71 Estate, New Delhi-110002. E-mail: [email protected] Jashn-e-Khusrau: A Collection 93 Website: www.iccrindia.net Book Review: Debjani Chatterjee Designed and produced by M/s Aakriti, 25/403, Eastend Apartments, Mayur Vihar Phase – 1 Extension, Delhi – 110096 Indian Horizons October-December 2013 3 Foreword Satish C. Mehta Director General, Indian Council for Cultural Relations ufism, an integral part of Indian philosophy and standing of Sufism and its modern-day orientation Sthought process, has influenced and continues to right from Bollywood songs to opinions from more influence Indians. Sufism has as much appeal for the sedate quarters. learned and the masses alike. The simple lifestyles of A more visual-cum-personal look at the subject is the founders, who had lived among common people available in the photo essay of this volume. The annual of their time, inspired an entire range of cultural Sufi Festival of the ICCR has been drawing attention outpourings in music, dance, rituals beliefs and more. regularly as participants are drawn from across the This issue examines how, despite the passage of world and the telling camera shots of the artistic- centuries, Sufism has remained relevant and continues cum-philosophical moments of the performing to resonate in our heart and mind. musicians, dancers and instrumentalists on stage The essay by Kumkum Srivastava on the Qalandar have been made the subject of our photo essay traditions elicits this viewpoint. The informal, often segment. One of the pioneering efforts of dancer unschematic ways of the Qalandars simplifies complex Manjari Chaturvedi to portray Sufi thought and its philosophical thoughts into an everyday affair and spontaneous appeal for the artist is part of the essay thus the Qalandari movement has become a part of penned by her. In a forthright and convincing manner the folklore of the countryside. On the opposite end she has managed to relate her personal journey to of the scale, Raza Rumi traces the journey of one of dance the Sufi philosophy in the Kathak format. the pioneering figures of Sufism of the subcontinent, Among the many centres which have imbibed the Sufi Shah Ahmed Bhittai, in his native Sind. Linking the tradition, Delhi holds a significant status. On the one old with the contemporary, the essay provides a hand there are the renowned shrines of Nizamuddin chronological approach to this journey. Its links with Auliya and Khwaja Bakhtiyar Kaki and on the other the already existing fertility cult in ancient Sind and hand there are the humbler precincts of others such the unique flowering of a series of women Sufi saints, as the Matka Pir and the shrine of Chirag-i-Dilli an enriching addition to this journey, is available that draw attention to themselves because of their through Raza’s writings. historicity and their place in the popular folklore. Rakhshanda Jalil’s coverage of these places proves A more studied approach to an understanding of how these locales in the capital have continued to Sufism and its quintessential culture is elaborated by arrest attention, for the legends accruing to them as Sameena Siddiqui. In her essay, the core issues of Sufi well as their unique positioning in the public gaze. thought, including the views of its critics are first laid bare, and then lucidly analysed through a scholarly The regular sections of the volume feature a book coverage. On the opposite end of the scale, Rizwan review of a coffee table volume that has drawn Qaiser has cast his eye across the contemporary accolades for its valuable content on the literary 4 Indian Horizons Volume 60 No. 4 genius of the poet-philosopher Amir Khusrau. The make the work a delightful keepsake. The reviews of illustrated content, awash with the stylized kalams the many artistic explorations that were on display of the poet, photographs of live performances, many- at the Azad Bhavan Gallery add to the attraction of angled views of the Nizamuddin Basti precincts, this volume. Satish C. Mehta Indian Horizons October-December 2013 5 Editorial hirling dervishes, strident qawali singing, The dance, music and mendicant links of Sufism are Wwandering Bauls, complete with matted locks equally vibrant I realized when in conversation with and duggi, are the telling thoughts that would cross artist Manjari Chaturvedi, who for a decade and my mind at the mention of the word ‘Sufi’. But working a half, has relentlessly and single-handedly been on this volume, made me aware of how enriching and promoting Sufi dance. Her personal journey has multifaceted Sufism has been in the subcontinent. become a spontaneous outpouring on stage bearing Hence bringing out this issue themed on Sufism, has the fragrance of her dedication to her art form. While been a sort of fact finding mission with each of the still on the performance grid, Kumkum Srivastava’s contributions being a mentor, introducing me to this offer to explain the Qalandar tradition of Sufism, treasure trove of human thought. that has endured because of its inclusiveness with Of course what brought Sufism right to my writing the common folk, nudged memories of Phoolwalon ki desk was the discovery I made through Rakhshanda sair, an annual attraction in the city. Jalil’s article about the shrines in the capital. These modest shrines I learnt have been drawing the faithful The unique aside from Sufism I discovered half- right from the times of the emperor Ghiyasuddin way through this issue was that the philosophy located in offbeat tree groves, or in the midst of has a vibrant performative potential that has been ruined monuments. Continuing on my quest to trace energized across the centuries through the chorused the ancient roots of Sufism to its earliest beginnings, singing of Qawali presentations. This culture has been linked me with Raza Rumi’s take on the advent of pictorially captured in our book review section. The Sufism into the subcontinent through the Sindh poet composer Amir Khusrau, verily the originator of province. this form is the subject of study through a volume Curious to know the subject in-depth, resulted in a brought out jointly with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. request to Dr Sameena Siddiqui to lay bare the core The ICCR’s Sufi Festival with its select international aspects of this philosophy through an explanatory performers provides a wide-angled international look piece of writing. Rizwan Qaiser then gamely offered at Sufism. For art lovers, the reviews of Azad Bhavan to map the course of Sufism as is prevalent in our Gallery stress the variety that only art can provide to everyday life where Sufi thoughts are a living our aesthete. tradition pan-India, not as a piece of exotica but as living culture.
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