Islam and Spiritualism
The subcontinent’s common Sufi strain
T.S. Eliot’s words: ‘You are the music while the music lasts.’
By Sudheendra Kulkarni
Dec 21, 2008
Music, even of the most mystical kind, cannot be divorced from the world in which we live. Hence, Bawra’s songs naturally focussed my thoughts on today’s tragic reality that binds Afghanistan, Pakistan and India together. A war is raging on in Afghanistan for the past three decades. It has killed millions. Its flames, stoked by Russia, America and Pakistan, have reached India too in the form of terrorism and religious extremism. It has wrought destruction in Pakistan too. Therefore, while remaining immersed in Sufi Bawra’s divine music, it was impossible not to wonder how far our subcontinent has moved away from the wise teachings of our saints and poets. Here he was singing a song from Bulleh Shah, the greatest Sufi poet of the undivided Punjab, who had exhorted: “Remove duality and do away with all disputes; The Hindus and Muslims are not other than He. Deem everyone virtuous, there are no thieves. For, within every body He himself resides. How the Trickster has put on a mask!” Here he was singing Dama Dam Mast Qalandar, a song in honour of two of the most revered spiritual figures of Sindh, Shahbaz Qalandar and Jhulelal, which Bangladesh’s pop singer Runa Laila made popular through the subcontinent. Yet, from Kabul to Dhaka, our four countries are unsuccessfully grappling with the fires of communal divisiveness and national discord.
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1:29 AM
Moderate Islamist here
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