The legendary exploits of the great Sufi poet, musician and scholar, Hazrat Amir Khusrau Dehlavi, were remembered by speakers at ‘Taskera-e-Khusrau’, the seminar organised as part of ‘Jashan-e-Khusrau’, the 2 annual International Sufi Festival held here on Sunday.
Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali lauded the organisers for organising the programme and said more such seminars were needed to convey to the younger generation the need for peace and for the removal of social evils. The Telangana Rashtra Samiti Government would encourage such events and see that they were held at regular intervals, he said.
‘Father of Qawwali’Vice-Chancellor of English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Sunaina Singh, referred to the ‘Bhakti’ poets such as Surdas, Kabir and Namdev and said that in a similar way, Amir Khusrau’s literature was relevant even in today’s context, more so because he exemplified an inclusive and integrationist ethos. There could not be a better time to remember the ‘Father of Qawwali’ she said, adding that there was a need to celebrate and rejuvenate ‘our inclusive culture’ now rather than confining it to the National Integration Week.
Presenting a paper, Dean, Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, Alekhya Punjala, spoke on Amir Khusrau’s life, his connect with India and how the basic human values that he stood for needed to be propagated among today’s youth. President and convenor of the All India ‘Markazi-e-Chistiya’ and ‘Jashan-e-Khusrau’, Maulana Muzaffar Ali Soofi, welcomed the gathering.
