Classes conducted by Fayaz Qadri—a scholar, poet, singer, and master calligrapher from the Sufi tradition—are being offered once again.
This course provides an introduction to the rich Islamic–Sufi artistic tradition, which occupies a significant place in India’s cultural heritage. Ghazal music is one of its most luminous expressions. Islamic calligraphy is another remarkable art form, while the Sufi poetic tradition constitutes a third major dimension of this cultural legacy.
Taken together, these may be described as the Urdu literary and artistic tradition. Emerging in India through the confluence of Persian art, Arab culture, and the ancient Indian civilizational heritage, this tradition also developed a distinctive regional branch unique to Tamil Nadu—a fact that remains largely unknown to many.
Despite Islamic art and literature being an integral part of Tamil culture, those who speak of Tamil culture and its contemporary traditions often remain almost entirely unaware of this legacy. This lack of understanding represents a significant intellectual gap. It is to address this deficiency that these classes are being organized.
Fayaz Qadri—an acclaimed Ghazal singer, scholar of Urdu literature, and expert in Arabic and Urdu calligraphy—will offer a simple and engaging three-day introduction to all these artistic traditions. The earlier editions of these classes provided participants with the joyful experience of entering an entirely new cultural world. They are now being offered once again.
We warmly welcome everyone to participate.
Date August 21, 22 and 23
Contact [email protected]
