Pune: PIC’s 11-part lecture series on ‘India and the World’s Great Religions’ concludes with lecture on Sufism

Pune, 20th December 2024: Pune International Centre’s 11-part lecture series on ‘India and the World’s Great Religions’ concluded on December 19 with a lecture on Sufism by writer and columnist Sumit Paul.

At the lecture, titled ‘The All-encompassing Philosophy of Sufism,’ Paul—an independent researcher of Semitic languages, culture, and civilisation, who has lived in Iran and is now based in Pune—said the spirit of Sufi philosophy is needed in today’s world of conflict and division. The event, which took place on Thursday, December 19, 2024, was chaired by Prof. Pradeep Apte, Professor Emeritus, Savitribai Phule Pune University, and Senior Fellow at PIC. On the occasion, late Pune scholar Dr. Charu Gidwani’s book ‘An Anthology of Sindhi Sufi Poetry,’ co-authored with French scholar Michel Boivin, was presented by Dr. Charu’s brother Rohitesh Gidwani to the distinguished speakers.

The PIC lecture series has featured talks by Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman on Zoroastrianism; Dr. Abhay Firodia (Jainism); Amb. Pavan Varma (Hinduism); Wajahat Habibullah (Islam); Prof. Mahesh Deokar (Buddhism); Dr. Sebastian Michael (Christianity); Elijah Jacob (Judaism); Prof. Sadanand More (Maharashtra’s Bhagwat Dharma); Amb. Navtej Sarna (Sikhism); and the late Dr. Shantanu Abhayankar (Atheism).
Conceived by PIC’s Vice President Dr. Vijay Kelkar and curated by PIC members Dr. Latika Padgaonkar and Prof. Apte, the lecture series aims to highlight the plurality of the Indian ethos.

In his enlightening lecture, Paul argued that Sufi philosophy is uniquely positioned to foster pluralism and harmony, as it transcends religious boundaries, imbibing the best from all religions, including Hinduism and Islam.

He said Sufism is a non-denominational, non-religious philosophy rooted in love, humanity, and spiritual universality. Sufism is not assertive; it teaches humans to be humane; and its cardinal leitmotif is love, he stated. Emphasising that Sufism is not restricted to Islam, he explained that its inclusive nature has historically diminished the militant aspects of the religion. He said many of Sufism’s esoteric themes were borrowed from ancient Oriental mysticism, rather than from Islam itself.

Paul explored the eclectic and syncretic nature of Sufi philosophy, pointing out that early Persian thinkers and key concepts from Vedanta and the Upanishads have shaped Sufi philosophy. Noting the similarity between the Sufi concept of ‘Ana al-Haq (I am Truth, I am God)’ and the Upanishadic ‘Aham Brahmasmi (I am Brahman),’ he explained how Sufism resonates with both Muslim and Hindu traditions in India.

He also mentioned the deep reverence for Sufism within the Sindhi community, describing Sindh as the “Land of Sufis.”

Paul discussed the influence of Sufism on art, culture, and music in India and beyond, noting that the growing popularity of Rumi’s poetry in the US and Europe was a testament to the universality of Sufi thought. He said figures such as Kabir, Ramakrishna Paramahansa, St. Augustine, Rabindranath Tagore, and poets like John Donne and Walt Whitman shared Sufi sensibilities.