When sufi music and melody come together in a Mughal monument, the fragrance that emanates is sheer magic.
By Bushra Alvi
The newly constructed garden amphitheatre at the Government Sunder Nursery, adjacent to Humayun’s Tomb, was the venue for some of the concerts and recitals that took place in New Delhi last week. The amphitheatre which was inaugurated by Mr Ashok Khurana, Director General (CPWD), was the setting for a rock concert and ghazal recital on Wednesday and Thursday. It was the perfect evening – balmy weather, candlelights, and a rapt audience in the environs of a freshly restored monument of the Mughal era, the Sunderwala Burj, which lit up, perfectly complemented the ambiance.
Tahira Syed
Dilliwalas are enjoying a season of concerts and recitals as part of Jashn- e- Khusrau, a festival celebrating the life and works of renowned 13th century Sufi-poet Hazrat Amir Khusrau Dehlvi, the favorite disciple of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. Amir Khusrau was not only a notable poet but also a prolific and influential musician. He wrote poetry primarily in Persian, and also in Hindavi.
The ongoing festival is an attempt to bring forth the contribution of Amir Khusrau in the pluralistic milieu of India’s diverse histories, cultures and arts. As part of a major Urban Renewal project in the Humayun’s Tomb-Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti area of Delhi, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture is hosting this initiative with the support of Ford Foundation.
Pakistan’s Meekal Hasan Band staged the inaugural concert of the amphitheatre according a fresh flavor to their rendition of Amir Khusrau’s kalams. Their music, which is sufi, rock and jazz fusion, had the audience spellbound. The popular numbers ChaapTilak Sab Cheeni and Damadam mast qalandar had the audience clapping and swaying along making it an electrifying musical sufiana extravaganza!
The band consists of vocalist Javed Bashir, flutist Mohammed Ahsan Papu, guitarist-bandleader Meekal Hasan, bassist Amir Azhar and drummer Fahad Khan. Bashir expressed his joy at performing in front of a lively, interactive audience and said he was touched by the love he received in India. He, however, felt that the wall between the two nations should be broken down completely to foster a spirit of cross cultural growth and complete brotherhood. Meanwhile, it is indeed heartening to note that several artistes from across the border are participating in this festival.
Meekal Hasan Band
On Thursday, Pakistani ghazal singer Tahira Syed, daughter of legendary ghazal singer Begum Malika Pukhraj, enthralled the audience with her rendition of select classical Persian ghazals of Amir Khusrau. Zehaal-e-miskeen makun taghaful, Duraye naina banaye batiyan… sounded even more wonderful with Tahira Syed singing it. Pahari Dogri song, Lo phir basant aayi, and Rakho meri laaj were some of the other kalams of Khusrau she regaled the audience with.
The recital being a celebration of the great sufi poet, Tahira pointed out that the organizers might not take it too kindly if she sung anything else, but promised to do so after completing her repertoire of Khusrau! Finally at the end, she obliged the eager gathering with Pukhraj’s famous song, Abhi toh main jawaan hoon (a non-Khusrau composition!).
Another Mughal monument, the 16th century Chaunsath Khamba in Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti, came alive on Friday evening with an absorbing performance by Ustad Shahid Pervez Khan, of the famous Etawah Gharana . Ustad Shahid Khan, one of the leading sitar players of the world, mesmerized the audience with his rendition of Raag Zillaf and Raag Sampoorn Bhairavi. He also played a variety of bahaars in a tribute to Amir Khusrau. He was accompanied on the tabla by Akram Khan.
Other features of Jashn-e-Khusrau include soirees, seminars, film screenings, heritage walks and exhibitions from the collections of the National Museum, National Archives, Khuda Baksh Library, Rampur Raza Library and Aligarh Muslim University.
The festival which started on February 15 will continue till March 27.
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Bushra Alvi is a writing and editing professional based in New Delhi. All photos by Ms. Alvi.