JAIPUR:
Sufism
could act as an
antidote to terrorism
, the biggest disease in today’s time, said
Arjun Meghwal, Union minister of state for finance and corporate affairs.
He was speaking at the inaugural session of the three-day South Asian Sufi Festival held on Friday at the Diggi Palace.
Sufism has played a pivotal role in breaking down superstitions and blind faith and in contemporary times of violence it has become all the more relevant. “Sufism is a unique combination of music and meditation. With humanity as its religion, Sufism believes that God is omnipresent. There is no discrimination of caste or religion in Sufism. Therefore, it is only apt to understand, adapt and follow the tenets of Sufism,” he added.
He cited the example of Manganiyar community in Barmer which sings songs of Bulle Shah. He said the community not only sings those songs but has also made Sufism an integral part of their everyday life. He also recited a ghazal of Bulle Shah on the occasion which was greatly applauded by the audience. He also spoke about renowned saints like Kabir, Meera, Ras Khan and Rehman who were greatly influenced by Sufism.
The director of
Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature
(
FOSWAL
), Padmashri Ajeet Cour said that the foundation has chosen to hold this Sufi festival because Sufism is the reconciliation of all opposites: the outer and the inner, the material and the spiritual, the here and the hereafter, the human and the divine. In this spirit, Sufism has provided a way to reconcile some of the religious doctrines of earlier cultural and religious systems in a crystallized amalgamation. She informed that this three day Sufi festival is the Foundation’s 52nd mega event.