It was in the 15th Century that Kabir, the weaver who wove magic with his words and spared none, reminded us that religious bigotry was mere hypocrisy, that human beings were created the same before being labelled by caste or community, and that deeds, not clothes or rank or empty rituals, proved a person’s worth. And before him, Amir Khusrau was writing mystic Sufi poetry about the Divine Beloved, making an indelible contribution to Indian classical and Bhakti music, as well as leaving a literary and cultural legacy for the common listener that endures to this day. They each lived in an era peppered with worldly struggles and historic upheavals, yet they rose above the strife and came to symbolise the highest in creative and spiritual attainment in the Indian subcontinent.
The words of these centuries-old mystics are going to be recalled and regaled this weekend in New Delhi, when Banyan Tree presents its annual Khusrau-Kabir festival at Kamani auditorium. The event, now a decade old, features five artists — Archana Bhattacharya, Gayatri Asokan, Vidya Shah (all of whom are billed for contemporary presentations), Prahald Singh Tippania (Kabirpanthi songs) and the Chisti Brothers (Qawwali).
Message for humanity
In today’s India, where words like faith and love, rather than exuding comfort and the spirit of oneness, are frequently distorted by intolerance, hatred and violence, we often wonder what the world is coming to. But then, history tells us, the world has an annoying habit of coming to these junctures over and over again. Humanity constantly needs to be reminded of its own mortality, and seers down the ages, Kabir and Khusrau among them, have fulfilled that need.
“Kabir was a visionary who grew beyond rituals, any religious dogma or preconditioning for that matter,” says Gayatri Asokan. “He spoke about the ephemeral nature of human life and how important it is broaden your vision, not identify with the small ego.”
As India goes through one of the most critical tests of its civilisational strength, now if ever is the time to dip again into its stash of literary wisdom and remember this strength is based on an amalgamation of cultures, a broad and open-ended worldview.
Vidya Shah
“The words of Amir Khusrau and Kabir Das continue to be very relevant in the current times,” says noted Khayal, Thumri and Dadra exponent Vidya Shah. “ These are basically ideas of love, peace, equality that the entire Sufi and Bhakti movements and the poets therein have held forth. So I think in today’s time these are probably more relevant than ever, because I think we live in a time when people need to respect each other, to believe in peace, to understand that violence is not the way to go, is not the way to be, and being together is more important rather than being divided.”
Besides, adds Asokan, “Khusrau spoke about the misogyny in the society which favours the male child and sidelines the dreams of the girl child in his songs, which is totally relevant in the present times too.”
Khusrau and Kabir are icons of India’s Ganga Jamuni tehzeeb, which has been battered in the political and social atmosphere prevailing in many parts of the country. In this context, Asokan feels the festival “definitely promotes the true idea of India,” defining it as, “grow beyond your small identities and embrace a common big vision for the betterment of the society.”
Archita Bhattacharya
Archita Bhattacharya is hopeful that “bringing these two legendary poets/saints together and sharing their thoughts will surely bring a change in our current situation and bring peace and harmony.”
Moment of peace
Music is an important vehicle to transmit such messages, points out Shah. “Very often people are so caught up in their everyday lives that to actually sit back to reflect and even to introspect, I think music and this kind of lyric provides a peaceful atmosphere to be able to do that.” She feels festivals such as this “provide people that moment of peace and quietude.”
As for how artists can contribute to shaping public perception, Bhattacharya notes, “It’s very important to think of such concepts not only from music point of view but also being a responsible musician, to bring forward our rich culture that also shows a path for a peaceful society through music.”
In times of trouble arts are usually the first to be neglected, the notion being, ‘who can be bothered about such refinement when stark realities of survival are at stake?’ But it is precisely the removal from the mundane that helps one to see things in perspective, says Asokan. “Art and artists have always made people fall in love with the abstract, find beauty and joy in life and spread this thing called pure joy. We have made life so complex and stressful. Truth is that life is perishable, look beyond petty differences and grow in wisdom. Art is the greatest unifier in this context.”
Artists, says Shah, “ are really the via media for people to experience values, to understand the joys that music can bring, or any form of art for that matter whether performing or visual.”
Enumerating the mind-expanding advantages of the arts, she says, “It allows you to think, it allows you to question, it kindles your curiosity, and therefore it sets you thinking in directions which you may not be able to otherwise. So both art and the manner in which the artist expresses art are very important ways for society to evolve, to adapt and to grow, in organic ways.”
It is well known that “soulful, meaningful music and poetry connects with people more easily than words,” says Bhattacharya, and thus “can play a vital role in bringing harmony and peace to the society.” In the current scenario of divisive politics, she states, it’s “high time” artists and established organisations “take moral responsibility of spreading love and peace.”
At the performance, while Asokan plans to present a work of Kabir and two Khusrau songs, Shah says her concert will include “some very core ideas that both these saint-poet-seekers expressed through their poetry.” There will be “some popular ideas as well,” she says, mentioning the widely sung Khusrau lyric, “Mohe apne hi rang mein rang de rangile”.
Among other compositions, Bhattacharya plans to sing Kabir’s “Koi jape Rahim Rahim, Koi jape hai Ram/Das Kabir hai prem pujari, dono ko parnaam.”
In today’s India, with religion serving as an incendiary pastime and politicians in the garb of renunciates, many could do with some reminding of this quintessentially Indian idea.
(“Khusrau – Kabir: across centuries…”, Kamani auditorium, August 3, 6.30 p.m. onwards)
