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Reacts an agitated Muzaffar Ali, when MiD DAY brings up the popular poet's much-debated sexual orientation at a press conference to announce the Jahan-E-Khusrau festival. Supporters are livid
Reacts an agitated Muzaffar Ali, when MiD DAY brings up the popular poet's much-debated sexual orientation at a press conference to announce the Jahan-E-Khusrau festival. Supporters are livid
'I died as a mineral and became a plant, I died as plant and rose to animal, I died as animal and I was Man,'
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wrote Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi. But, he was gay no way, writer-director-designer Muzaffar Ali yells.
the announcement of the Jahan-E-Khusrau Sufi music festival, organised by Rumi Foundation.
The popular Persian poet,u00a0 whose name is synonymous with the Sufi order, is known to have met a 60-year-old mystic, Shams al-Din of Tabriz, in October 1244. The two grew thick in their thinking, and often spent months together in isolation, giving rise to much resentment among Rumi's followers. Three years later, Shams disappeared mysteriously. Legends say he was only a spirit, while others speculate it was murder. It was then that Rumi wore the white that is now associated with the dervish order he pioneered, and began to whirl in the way the ascetics typically do.
But to say Shams was his beloved is bullshit, says Ali of the mystic's much-debated sexual orientation. "Aisa kuch nahi hai. Agar woh gay hote, to aisi hi cheezon mein phans jaate (There's nothing of this sort. If he were gay, he'd have gotten caught in all that business). Everyone has the right to interpret and misinterpret, but theseu00a0 allegations about Rumi are absolutely wrong," he fumes.
So do gay supporters, against his insensitive comments. "Kya kar sakte hain (what can be done). It's an ignorant statement. Most people who've studied Rumi knowu00a0 why Shams was killed," says Saleem Kidwai, gay scholar and author of Same Sex Love in India.u00a0u00a0
Sufism is associated with love that is boundless and transcends conformity and rite, in its supremest form, for the almighty. Ironically, Ali talks of this aspect, too. "When you want to talk peace, you need to lead with an icon who crosses all boundaries. So Rumi was the first and final choice for the festival, because his writings have inspired and affected the ideologies of Sufi saints in India, just like they have done elsewhere in the world."
But Mahabanoo Mody Kotwal of Vagina Monologues fame hopes Ali changes his own outlook first. "Whether Rumi would have been a poet or not has nothing to do with his sexuality. He would have been one irrespective of his sexual preferences," she retorts.u00a0
Mystic must-attend
The festival will encompass rhythms, romance, legends and mysticism from Egypt, Iran, Multan and other Sufism-infused lands.
This is also the first time that a Sufiana Mushaira, Bazm-e-Jahan-e-Khusrau, will come alive in the capital. Those part of the cultural celebration include Abida Parveen, contemporary Japanese dancer from Japan Masaka Ono, who now specialises in the Tantric way of Odissi dance, Rabbi Shergill of Bulla Ki Jaana fame, singer Radhika Chopra, Egyptian folk troupe Tannaoura and Turkish virtuoso flautist u00d6mar Faruk Tekbilek.
Choreographer Astad Deboo will be interpreting a ghazal by Hazrat Amir Khusrau, and a ballad by Baba Bulleh Shah. A group of Manipuri drummers will accompany him.
Jahan-E-Khusrau
At: Venues across the capital
When: Feb 25-28
Entry passes of Rs 300 and Rs 500 are available at ICCR Auditorium, Azad Bhawan, ITO
Ring: 9650444444
CUT-N-KEEP SCHEDULE
Thursday, February 25
At: 6.30 pm
Where: ICCR Auditorium
Bazm-e-Jahan-e-Khusrau
Mushaira of Sufiana poetry
Friday, February 26
At:u00a0 6.30 pm
Where: Arab ki Sarai, Humayun's Tomb
Sufi Music Festival
Masako Ono (Japan)
Sanam Marvi (Pakistan) with Samandar Khan and group (Rajasthan)
Rabbi Shergill
Saturday, February 27
At:u00a011.30 am
Where: ICCR Auditorium
Sufi Film Show
At: 6.30 pm
Arab ki Sarai, Humayun's Tomb
Sufi Music Festival
Tanmoura Troupe (Egypt)
Radhika Chopra (India)
Omar Faruk Tekbilek and his Ensemble (USA)
Sunday, February 28
At:u00a011.30 am
Where: ICCR Auditorium
Sufi Film Show
India-Garden of Saints
Rumi
Nisbat
Rumi in the Land of Khusrau
At:u00a06.30 u2013 9.00 pm
Where: Arab ki Sarai, Humayun's Tomb Monuments
Sufi Music Festival
Ballet on Bulleh Shah by Astad Deboo
Abida Parveen (Pakistan)
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