History of Sufism In India I Moin Mir

#sufism  in #india  is associated with mysticism - from #kashmir  to #kanyakumari  our land is abound with legends of great fakirs, magical amulets, and sacred dargahs. Far away from the strict tenets of Orthodox Islam, Sufism spread and prospered in India for centuries, operating in a largely spiritual domain. Millions of Indians, regardless of their religious affiliations, still flock to shrines of venerated Sufi saints scattered across the subcontinent. They make earnest wishes and sacred vows in the hope of divine intervention. Yet most of them know little to nothing about the philosophies of those saints. Sufism has exerted such prolonged and profound influence on Indian thought and culture, that its ideas are no longer distinguishable. Over the centuries they have blended into our collective wisdom just like Sufi poetry and music are now integral to India. 

In this session we aim to discuss Sufism’s history in India that spans over a millenia. We hope to understand its powerful appeal to all kinds of Indians - from poor Dalits to mighty Sultans, the role it played in India’s religious and political developments, how it shaped Indian society and culture, and how it in turn got shaped by them, and finally its place and relevance in today’s India. 

SPEAKER:
Moin Mir is a London-based writer of Indian origin. He began writing under the influence of his grandfather, a scholar of Sufism, Omar Khayyam, and Mirza Ghalib. He is the author of critically acclaimed book Surat: Fall of a Port, Rise of a Prince. His second book The Lost Fragrance of Infinity has been commended for beautifully blending history with philosophy in a story that spans continents. 

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