Bilal Bashir Bhat | Only Kashmir
Srinagar, July 13: In an evocative celebration of the life and intellectual magnificence of Hazrat Ameer Khusrau, the University of Kashmir on Monday curated an exquisite Sufi musical event that brought together eminent academicians, spiritual luminaries, artists, Journalists and an overflowing congregation of students for an evening steeped in cultural refinement and mystical transcendence.
Universally venerated as Tuti e Hind (The Parrot of India), Ameer Khusrau occupies an unparalleled place in the civilisational memory of the Indian subcontinent. A polymath of extraordinary genius, consummate poet, philosopher, linguist, musician and devoted disciple of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, Khusrau’s oeuvre forged an enduring confluence between Persian elegance and Hindavi expression. His lyrical corpus, imbued with spiritual profundity and aesthetic sublimity, continues to illuminate the worlds of Sufi metaphysics, classical music and devotional literature, rendering him one of history’s most enduring cultural visionaries.
The programme, organised by the Sheikh ul Alam Centre for Multidisciplinary Studies in collaboration with the Institute of Music and Fine Arts and the Allama Iqbal Library, featured an enthralling performance by acclaimed Sufi vocalist Vusat Iqbal Khan of the illustrious Delhi Gharana. Her mellifluous renditions of Khusrau’s immortal compositions enveloped the auditorium in an atmosphere of contemplative serenity and spiritual rapture.
Welcoming the distinguished gathering, Professor Satish Vimal, Chair Professor of the Sheikh ul Alam Centre, eloquently reflected upon Ameer Khusrau’s inexhaustible intellectual bequest, describing him as an architect of the subcontinent’s syncretic ethos whose literary and musical genius continues to transcend temporal, linguistic and cultural frontiers.
Addressing the audience, Registrar Prof. Nasir Khan and eminent Sufi scholar Hazrat Riyaz ud Din Chishti expounded upon Khusrau’s seminal contributions to Sufi philosophy, devotional aesthetics and the evolution of Indo Islamic musical traditions. They observed that his timeless message of divine love, human fraternity and spiritual inclusivity remains profoundly germane in an increasingly fragmented world.
The proceedings were impeccably compered by Badr un Nissa, a distinguished young artist and researcher, whose erudite narration imparted intellectual depth and cultural grace to the evening.
The vote of thanks was presented by Prof. Aadil Amin Kaak, Chairman of Markaz-e-Noor, who expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the distinguished speakers, honoured guests, scholars, participants, organisers, volunteers, and all those who contributed to the successful conduct of the programme
The event culminated in a prolonged standing ovation for the artist, reaffirming the University of Kashmir’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding and perpetuating the region’s rich intellectual, literary and spiritual patrimony while rekindling public engagement with the immortal legacy of Hazrat Ameer Khusrau (RA).
Pics: Syed Parvaiz Athar
