Edited by two academics – Surinder Singh and Ishwar Dayal Gaur – this book in its revised second edition, carries essays of several writers, academics and historians, focusing on the various aspects to Sufis and sufism. And what caught immediate attention is the core fact that one of the prominent regions that had attracted Sufis coming from other lands and countries, was the Punjab region. A book review by Humra Quraishi
Yes, Sufis and Sufism have been long associated with the Punjab region. For years and decades, one has been hearing of the Sufis, and of their mysticism that held sway in the region.
Edited by two academics – Surinder Singh and Ishwar Dayal Gaur, this book was first published in 2009, and now its revised second edition has hit the stands. It carries essays of several writers, academics and historians, focusing on the various aspects to Sufis and sufism.
And what caught immediate attention is the core fact that one of the prominent regions that had attracted Sufis coming from other lands and countries, was the Punjab region. To quote from this book, “the crystallization of the culture of Punjab began with the advent of sufism. In due course, sufism imbibed vernacularity of the region to such an extent that it permeated every aspect of the Punjabi lived experience. Unfortunately, sufism remained marginalized in the historiography of Punjab, owing to the communitarian consciousness of the colonial period, the partition of the province in 1947 and the subsequent communal politics.”
Written more along the text book strain, it seems apt for research scholars. Though I do wish there was a somewhat easy flow to the text so that it would be free flowing and an easy read. And with that, attract the young readers and school students too. Also, if only there were many more couplets and verses of the Sufis, it would have only been an added attraction.
In these dark-stifling times, getting back to the teachings and writings and the basic philosophy of the Sufis is important. It is absolutely relevant and essential to delve deep into the lives of the Sufis and try and absorb the core values of their teachings…guiding one towards a more peaceful existence, sans the materialistic cravings and sans the synthetic.
