ANHAD invites you to a Symposium on
ATTACK ON SUFISM AND SYNCRETIC CULTURE
September 3, 2016 from 4 to 7 pm
at Deputy Speaker Hall, Constitution Club, Rafi Marg, New Delhi-110001
Since
its earliest imagination, the idea of India has always been based on
plurality. What has been created through millennia of advent and
assimilation is a grand and many-hued heritage, shared by all who at
various points of time became part of it and contributed to it in their
own unique way.
Out
of these largely oral, intangible and timeless interactions and
traditions has emerged the rich and fluid Sufi-Bhakti culture of the
Indian Subcontinent. The shrine has always been a shared space, a third
space and a space for the meeting of hearts, minds and myriad
imaginations.
It
is this space of exchange and sharing which is now under attack from
various fascist, fanatic and politically polarizing forces. The main
purpose of these attacks is to prevent the perpetuation of this people
to people, faith to faith interaction and the wonderful culture of
dialogue, music, food and syncretic spiritual expression that it has
given rise to, instead imposing a monolithic and authoritarian culture
based of compliance, fear and falsehoods.
We
as artistes, intellectuals, spiritual practitioners and activists
condemn these nefarious attempts to communalize our social fabric and
wish to present our views on this subject, one of vital importance in
our troubled times.
Chair: Ashok Vajpeyi
Speakers: Dhruv Sangari, Shail Mayaram,
Sohail Hashmi, Syed Farid Idris Maharaj
Entry Free
ANHAD
B 5, Basement, Nizamudin West, New
Delhi-110013
Tel: 011-41670722
Info on Speakers:
Ashok Vajpeyi is an Indian poet in Hindi, essayist, literary-cultural critic,
apart from being a noted cultural and arts administrator, and a former civil servant. He was
chairman, Lalit Kala Akademi India's National Academy of Arts,
Ministry of Culture, Govt of India, 2008–2011. He has published over 23
books of poetry, criticism and art, and was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award given
by Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, in 1994 for his
poetry collection, Kahin Nahin Wahin. His notable poetry
collections include, Shaher Ab Bhi Sambhavana Hai (1966), Tatpurush (1986),
Shail Mayaram is a Professor at the
Centre for the Study of Developing Societies. Publications include Against
History, Against State; Counter Perspectives from the Margins; Resisting
Regimes: Myths, Memory and the Shaping of a Muslim Identity. She has worked on
subaltern pasts and moral imaginations of peasant and forest based communities,
living together in the city and on nationalism and decolonizing knowledge. She is
Adjunct Professor at the Delhi School of Economics, held a Visiting Chair at
Tel Aviv University, has been Visiting Professor at the L’Ecole des hautes
etudes en sciences socials, Aligarh Muslim University and the Indian Institute
of Advanced Study and has been awarded Fulbright Rockefeller and other
fellowships.
Sohail Hashmi- Historian, activist,
academician and film-maker Sohail Hashmi was about fourteen when he discovered
his love for the city's heritage as he ran away from school to visit the
Tughlaqabad Fort for a day. He has since been exploring the city and has been
conducting heritage walks for children and adults since 2000. His writings
on Delhi focus on its languages, food, water bodies and monuments. He writes on
issues of culture, language, education and communalism. He has conceptualised,
researched, scripted and produced documentaries on Pioneers of Women’s
education, lesser known freedom fighters, marginalised women and literacy, and
on walks through Delhi. He currently works with Knowledge Infrastructure
Systems Pvt Limited and is the founding Trustee of SAHMAT.
Dhruv Sangari (Bilal Chishty Sangari) is a trained
Hindustani classical musician and a Qawwali vocalist, having learnt under gurus
such as Late Ustad Meraj Ahmed Nizami of the
Delhi-Qawwalbachhe Gharana, Smt. Shahana Bannerjee & legendary Sufi
maestro Late Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khansaheb. Dhruv has a master’s degree in
Hindustani Classical music from the University of Delhi and has been
performing Sufi-Bhakti qalaam since 2001 with his ensemble 'Rooh'.
In addition to
stage concerts at major festivals and international collaborations with
artistes in more than 15 countries he has recorded for a number of private
albums, films and solo projects such as Jet-Lag with Da-Saz (2008), Hope, USA
(2010, NASF), Haq Maula with Humble Mystic for MTV Coke Studio (2012) &
Kyun Na with Amit Trivedi for MTV Coke Studio (2013). He also sang the
chartbuster Lutt Jawaan from Commando (2013) and penned the lyrics for Abr e
Karam for Bhopal: A Prayer For Rain (2014.) Formally initiated in the
Chishty Silsila, Dhruv is part of Ektara India, a UN recognized foundation
dedicated to Sufism and syncretic culture. He has taught and performed Sufi
& classical music in several universities, museums, official and cultural
institutions at home and overseas. Dhruv is also associated with Anhad, an
organization striving for social harmony and democracy.
For his work,
Dhruv has received awards and recognition from the University of Baroda, India
and the Smithsonian Institution, USA.
Syed
Farid Maharaj- A
graduate from St. Xavier's College Gujarat University Ahmedabad and
various short term professional courses in India and aboard retired in
2013 with 30 yrs active services with Civil Aviation Authority of
Saudi Arabia assigned to Management team of King Abdul Aziz
International Airport Jeddah. Hajj Terminal BTO Project Ports
Management Development Company
Khadim & Gaddi Nasheen Dargah
President
of Chishtiya Maharaj Foundation, engaged in social activities in
accordance with universal message of KhawajaGharib Nawaz, including
but not limited to, education, medical assistance,health
awareness, public charity and social justice. Involvement in
the day to day affairs and rituals at the Dabar E Aliya of of
Hz. Gharib Nawaz provided an insight to the sufi traditions
of Chishtiya and its message of tolerance. Interaction with Sufi
masters and pupils their understanding of human requirement has enriched
my spiritual stage and awareness to the noble stature of mankind. The
daily attendance of qawwali and other recitations have inspired love
of creation and its creator.
