By TCN News,
Aligarh: Distinguished scholar and critic, Prof. David Mathews of School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London, UK said that Amir Khusro stands distinctively amidst the towering figures like Valmiki and Kalidas.
Dr. Mathews was the keynote speaker of the three-day International Seminar on the “Literary and Cultural Dynamics of Khusrau’s Thought and Art” organized by the Institute of Persian Research at the Aligarh Muslim University.
AMU VC releasing a book at the International on Khusru.
A large number of delegates from Iran, Afghanistan, Tajkistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, UK and USA are participating in the deliberations.
Prof. Mathews stated that Khusrau was widely acclaimed as being one of the first writers of Hindi and Urdu. He said that in the minds of ordinary people, Khusrau perhaps lives for his Khari Boli riddles and nonsense verses than for his ornate Persian works. He is also said to have invented the Sitar and made significant contributions to Indian classical music.
Dr. Gholam Ali Haddad Adil, former Speaker of Iranian Parliament said that Khusrau’s poetry created a vocabulary of his own in Persian. He said that the great Persian poet of Iran, Saadi was highly influenced by Khusrau’s poetry. He said that Khusrau was not given his due place in Iran. He hoped this seminar would provide an opportunity of better understanding of the work and contributions of Khusrau.
Dr. Ali Fauladi, Cultural Counselor of Iranian Embassy in India, said that there are personalities in the world who with their immense contribution and love for humanity always remain fresh and alive over the centuries. Their thoughtful analysis, explanations and spiritual messages will never be lost and will represent a new alternative solution for today’s social problems and Hazrat Amir Khusrau falls in this category.
AMU Pro-Vice Chancellor, Brigadier (Retd.) S. Ahmad Ali said that Khusrau was a true Sufi and a secular person. He was an extremely prolific writer and held high position in the court of Delhi Sultanate. His work was held in high esteem by Sultans, princes and princesses even in his life.
Brig. Ali said that Khusrau was a famous poet, composer, musician, scholar and soldier. He was father of the art of Qawwali and introduced Raag khayal and Tarana. Tabla was an important discovery of Khusrau.
Guest at the inaugural session of International Seminar on Khusru.
In his presidential remarks, AMU Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah said that contemporary scholars of history and Persian considered Khusrau’s poetry as best in this language. H wrote more than two thousand Ghazals and promoted composite culture.
Dr. Ziauddin Shakeb, School of Oriental and African Studies, London, Dr. Gholam Raza Mahdavi, Vice Chancellor, Al-Mustafa International University, Tehran (Iran), Dr. Abdul Khaliq Rasheed, Embassy of Afghanistan also addressed the inaugural function.
Prof. Azarmi Dukht Safavi, Director of the Seminar welcomed the delegates. Prof. Asif Naim Siddiqui, Chairman, department of Persian proposed a vote of thanks.
On this occasion, nine Persian books on different topics were also released. Dr. S.M. Asad Ali Khursheed conducted the inaugural function.