Hyderabad: Amir Kusrau’s pivotal role in bridging cultural and linguistic divides in Indian society was highlighted at an international conference at the Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU).
MANUU in collaboration with the Culture House of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mumbai hosted a one-day International Conference titled “Amir Khusrau: An Icon of the Composite Culture of India”.
Prof. Rattan Lal Hangloo, Vice-Chancellor of Noble International University, Toronto, Canada acknowledged Khusrau’s contributions as a unifying figure in Indian history shedding light on various important facets of Khusrou’s personality especially his contribution to Hindi language, Urdu and music.
Prof. Syed Ainul Hasan, Vice-Chancellor, MANUU, who inaugurated the conference, underlined Khusrau’s role in bridging cultural and linguistic divides in Indian society.
“Amir Khusrau’s work is a timeless reminder of India’s pluralistic ethos and cultural harmony. His poetry and music continue to inspire generations,” he said.
Prof. Syed Azizuddin Hamadani provided deep insights into Khusrau’s literary, political and spiritual genius, emphasising his invaluable contributions and relevance in contemporary times.
Maulana Syed Shah Ali Akber, Prof. Sharif Hussain Qasemi, Prof. Anwar Khairie (Kabul University), and Shameem Tariq, shared their perspectives on Khusrau’s legacy, covering themes of his Sufi philosophy, his thoughts on unity among different cultures, religion, multilingual poetry, and influence on Indian music.
Prof. Aziz Bano, Dean, School of Languages, Linguistics, and Indology and Director of the Conference, emphasised the need to promote Khusrau’s ideals in today’s world.
Prof. Ishtiaque Ahmed, Registrar, MANUU, delivered an insightful lecture on “Amir Khusrau: An Icon of the Composite Culture of India” in the valedictory session. His address highlighted Khusrau’s significant contributions to India’s rich cultural heritage and the enduring legacy of his work in promoting harmony and diversity.
The event featured technical discussions and presentations by scholars from various disciplines, focusing on Khusrau’s poetic excellence, his innovative contributions to Hindustani classical music, and his role as a cultural bridge between Persia and India.
MANUU also organised Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav on the occasion of the birth anniversary of the eminent Tamil poet, writer, journalist Subramania Bharati, who participated in Indian Independence movement.
Prof. Syed Ainul Hasan, Vice Chancellor, paid tribute to Subramanya Bharti’s services and said, “Subramanya Bharti was not confined to just one region and state. In his short life he was an important part of India’s national movement. He was also a journalist, and used to write for Hindi newspapers. He started a campaign against early marriage and women empowerment. The services of such personalities have national and universal implications.”
Prof. MKM Zafar, Director, Directorate of Translation, Translation Studies, Lexicography and Publications and Coordinator Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti said that diversity of languages gives rise to the uniqueness of civilization. “This is the identity and uniqueness of India,” he said.
On this occasion, students and research scholars expressed their views in different languages on the linguistic diversity of India and the services of Subramania Bharati. Research Scholars – Sheikh Rukhsana (Hindi), Muhammad Aslam (Translation), Ali Zahra Zaidi (Persian), Muhammad Arshad Hamraz (Urdu), Bushra Rehman (Translation) and Dr. Minhaj Ahmed (Civil Services Academy) presented their talks.
