Sufi music can unite India, Pakistan: Abida Parveen
By Sudeshna Sarkar, Indo-Asian News Service
Kathmandu, Apr 10 (IANS) The ancient, soulful strains of Sufi music can some day unite the sparring neighbours India and Pakistan, says the undisputed queen of the genre, Abida Parveen.
“When there are 10 people staying together in a house, are there not altercations between them?” asks Parveen about the strained relations between the two nations.
“What will be will be, it’s all predestined. But with the two countries sharing so much common cultural and traditional legacy, peace will prevail one day.”
Sufi music, she predicts, will have a role in unifying them.
Parveen was in Kathmandu to spread the message of peace and love through music. Dubbed as the “diva of the divine”, the 49-year-old is a proponent of Sufi music, a mystic philosophy that regards god as the beloved.
The Sufi movement created a rich composite culture blending Islamic and indigenous cultures during Mughal rule in the Indian subcontinent.
The movement was reflected in art, music, religion and philosophy. The Sufi movement coupled with the Bhakti movement opposed religious orthodoxy and caste and creed divisions and gave India such saints as Kabir, Namdev and Baba Sheikh Farid.
“The basic tenet of Sufism is the same: love for god and your fellow brethren,” says Parveen.
“In different areas, different saints propagated this one message using the idiom of that area and its traditional music so the masses could understand. Once you understand the message, you will realise that basically we are all the same.”
Parveen, who was born in Sindh, has strong Indian connections.
She gave a performance in New Delhi four months ago. A month ago, her latest album, “Kabir By Abida”, was released in India and in London.
The singer with prodigious memory quotes couplets by Indian poet-saint Kabir in her husky voice to emphasise that in this world everything belongs to god.
About the Iraq war, he says: “There have been wars from the beginning of civilisation, even before that. We can only ask for Allah’s mercy and leave everything to him. In the end, he will make everything right.”
Parveen, who has recorded over 100 albums and whose “Kabir By Abida” has reached number 12 in the world charts, says music should not be regarded as just entertainment.
“Music transcends the barriers of language, culture and creed. Even if an Englishman who doesn’t understand the words listens to Sufi music, it will transport him to ecstasy,” she says.
Parveen says she never had any problem because of her gender in conservative Pakistani society.
“I come from a Sufi family,” she says. "My music guru was my father, Ustad Ghulam Haider. My birthplace, Sindh, has produced many Sufi mystics like Shah Abdul Latif, Shah Inayet and Bulleh Shah.
“Sufis do not discriminate between men and women. So there were no objections when I chose to become a Sufi singer and not a conventional housewife.”
This was her first trip to Kathmandu after which she will perform n England, Canada and Singapore and then may be in New Delhi where her albums are released after every six or eight months.
after that ATTAAAAAAAAAACK 