Upcoming

Documentary Screening on Rabābīs of Lahore & Musical Recital on Gurū Nānak’s Birthday

The Gurmani Centre for Languages and Literature, in collaboration with Hum Aahang, cordially invites you to events celebrating the cultural richness and religiously pluralistic traditions of our region. We will begin with the screening of a documentary on the rabābīs, a community of Pakistani Muslim musicians whose deep-rooted ties to the Sikh tradition trace back to a centuries-old musical heritage originating with Guru Nanak and his disciple Bhai Mardana. Despite the divisive legacy of colonialism in the Indian subcontinent, the migration and religious violence of the 1947 partition of Punjab, and the ongoing political antagonism between India and Pakistan, the music of the rabābīs continues to resonate with a non-sectarian wisdom that unites communities across the boundaries of nation and religion. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion.

The day after the screening, we will celebrate Parkāsh Purab - the birthday of Srī Gurū Nānak Sāhib Jī - with a musical recital. Once again, central to this event is the rabābī community, whose hereditary knowledge and practice have been instrumental in preserving the rich tradition of rag-based music intertwined with the devotional poetry from the Gurū Granth Sāhib. As we mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, we will experience the devotional practice of singing poetic verses that bring to life the wisdom of the Sikh Gurus through melody. This recital will highlight the profound intersection of South Asian classical music and the spiritual teachings of Sikhism, offering a living testament to the musical legacy of the rababi community.

To register, please click on the given link: https://forms.gle/iqHwbn3XmnvDvDCG8

Program Schedule

November 14, 2024

Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Day and Date: Thursday, November 14, 2024

Venue: SS Auditorium, Academic Block, LUMS

Documentary Screening:

Mardana's Children: The Rabābīs of Lahore

Directed by Kirit J. Singh

Followed by a panel discussion with Khola Cheema, Saleema J Khawaja and Ustad Bhai Moeen.

Kirit J. Singh is a British-born musician and music scholar raised in the Sikh tradition. He is a co-founder of The Mardana Project and co-producer of the documentary Mardana's Children. Kirit completed his PhD in music at SOAS University of London, with a thesis titled “Sikh Patronage of Hindustani Music and Sabad Kirtan in Colonial Punjab, 1857-1947”.

Panelists

Khola Iftikhar Cheema is an Assistant Professor at Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar Campus. Dr. Cheema's PhD in history from QAU Islamabad focused on “Sikh Identity Construction in Colonial Punjab.” Dr. Cheema is the founder and president of the Lyallpur Young Historians Club (LYHC), an initiative dedicated to creating a digital archive of Punjab’s history in the Punjabi language. She was also the chair of the central jury for the 2021 Dhahan Prize for Punjabi Literature (CIES, Canada) and is currently a member of its advisory board.

Saleema J. Khawaja is a lawyer by profession. Saleema is also deeply engaged in the study and performance of regional poetry and music. She sings the works of poets like Sheikh Fareed, Sachal, Baba Bulleh Shah, and Khawaja Ghulam Fareed in the Kāfī tradition. She has learned Gurbani Sangita Sabadritas from Bhai Ghulam Muhammad Chand, a master from the rabābī tradition. Saleema recently contributed to the 24-part docuseries Allegory: A Tapestry of Guru Nanak’s Travels, where she composed and sang selected verses from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Ustad Bhai Moeen belongs to one of the few rababi families keeping the shabad kīrtan tradition alive in Pakistan today. He is the son of Bhai Ghulam Muhammad Chand, one of the last rababis who performed in the Golden Temple prior to Partition. Bhai Moeens's ancestors, Bhai Saddu & Maddu, were the rababis of Guru Tegh Bahadur & Guru Gobind Singh. Their family also includes the likes of Bhai Sundar Gyani and the legendary Bhai Chand

November 15, 2024

Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Day and Date: Friday, November 15, 2024

Venue: Auditorium A-13, Academic Block, LUMS

Musical Recital on

Parkash Purab (Birthday) of Srī Gurū Nānak Sāhib Jī.

This musical recital will feature performances by prominent artists from the rabābī and Gurmat Sangeet traditions, including Ustad Bhai Tahir Iqbal, Ustad Bhai Moeen, Saleema J. Khawaja and Gurmat Sangeet Sewa Group.