A workshop on Sufi literature and social responsibility

A workshop on the issue of “Sufi Literature and Social Responsibility” is being organized on November 20-21, 2010 (Sat/Sunday) by Ektara India.

Ektara India (www.ektara.org) is a group of media and arts professionals based in Delhi, India, involved in many activities of culture, arts, research and peacemaking.

In a time when listening to Sufi music and qawwali becomes more and more trendy, this workshop will try to analyze and appreciate Sufi music in the larger perspective of social relevance.

Could Sufi music help people learn ways to coexist in today’s multicultural society? Does it have a social relevance in today’s life or is it just some meditative chanting that provides peace and tranquility to an individual in today’s stressful urban life? These are the few questions which the workshop will explore.

Several scholars, music practitioners and media professionals like Madan Gopal Singh, Atmaram, Yousuf Saeed, Dhruv Sangari and others will participate in this intensive workshop.

Full report here TwoCircles

Within and without

The release of Mukunda Rao's novel In Search of Siva came with an interesting discussion on the purpose of poetry

The Bhakti Movement and Sufism are probably among the most significant movements of the Indian sub-continent; both these movements saw a huge creative upsurge. While the Bhakti Movement spanned across the country and was a powerful voice against all forms of authority, Sufism, an offshoot of Islam, was more pointed in critiquing religious authority. And hence, both these modes of protest, finding their flow in poetry, upheld the secular values of love and devotion.

Move to the 21st century and it translates to prose: Mukunda Rao's latest work, In Search of Shiva published by Dronequill, uses fiction to bring alive the socio-cultural movement that took place in Karnataka, way back in the 12th century, when poetry came armed with the power of reform. Fittingly, Mukunda Rao's book was released with a discussion on “Poetry as reform”. The discussants were former principal secretary Chiranjeevi Singh and professor Narendra Pani, National Institute of Advanced Studies.

Full report here Hindu

Punjabi scholar, Telugu researcher chosen for Bhasha Samman

A noted Punjabi scholar and a Telugu veteran have been chosen for the 'Bhasha Samman' by the Sahitya Akademi for their contribution to the field of classical and medieval literature.

Gurudev Singh, a Punjabi scholar, was chosen for the honour from the Northern region, while Telugu researcher and critic Korlapati Sriramamurthy from the Southern region, the Akademi said in a statement.

Singh has compiled the Encyclopedia of Sufi Poetry and Thoughts and also the History of Sufi Punjabi Poetry and has also written books in Gurumukhi script and translated texts from Persian and Arabic.

The Bhasha Samman carries a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000 besides an inscribed copy plaque and citation.

Full report here DNA

Ghose to make film on Sufi poet

Renowned Indian filmmaker Gautam Ghose is here to finish work on his film Moner Manush, based on the life of 19th century Sufi poet and Baul music exponent Lalon Fakir.

Ghose says current social and political unrest inspired him to tell the story of Lalon Fakir, who spearheaded a social movement in the 19th century to unite Hindus and Muslims.

Legend has it that Rabindranath Tagore never met Lalon when the latter organised peasants against him, but his elder brother Jyotirindranath did. But Rabindranath Tagore in his 1933 London Hebart Lecture applauded him as a mystic poet who discovered 'soul' and the meaning of 'man'.

Based on Sunil Gangopadhyay's novel, Moner Manush has Prosenjit Chatterjee in the lead role. This is Ghose's first Indo- Bangladesh co-production after the much-acclaimed 1993 movie Padma Nadir Majhi.

Full report here Sify

Seminar on transnational Punjabi literature

Eminent scholars, litterateurs and artistes from world over are converging on Punjabi University campus for a seminar on Transnational Punjabi Literature and Culture: Challenges and opportunities.

The two days seminar on February 28 and March 1, being organised by World Punjabi Centre (WPC) in association with Sahitya Academy, New Delhi will be inaugurated by Manpreet Singh Badal, Finance Minister, Punjab. Deepak Manmohan Singh, Director, WPC will welcome the guests in the inaugural session to be presided over by Jaspal Singh, Vice Chancellor, Punjabi University. SP Gautam, Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Jotiba Phule University, Rohilkhand will deliver the keynote address.

Among those present as guests of honour will be Fakhar Zaman, chairman, Pakistan Academy of Letters, SS Noor, Vice President, Sahitya Academy, JS Dhaliwal of Canada chapter of WPC, Gurumel from University of Fresno, US and AS Brar and SS Gill, Vice Chancellors of GNDU, Amritsar and BFUHS, Faridkot, respectively.

There will be a concert of Sufi music, Sufiana, on the conclusion of the inaugural day by India's leading Sufi lyricist, composer, singer and scholar, Madan Gopal Singh.

A fortnight long exhibition of paintings by Swarnjit Savi will also be inaugurated by eminent artist Sidharth during the seminar.

Full report here Punjabi Newsline