On a cool climate evening in January 2022, I realized myself fleeing from the TSC at Dhaka College, desperately looking out for to flee the wrath of Bangladesh Chhatra League contributors who were particular to give up the foremost-ever Qawwali occasion held at the college.
Earlier, they’d attacked the occasion, arguing that it conflicted with the values of the Liberation War and used to be an try and revive Urdu. They assaulted the organisers, wrecked the musical instruments, and terrorised the visitors.
On that night, if somebody had instructed me that inside of two and a half years, there would be Qawwali classes in each place the nation, and they’d be attended by a total bunch of fervent youths, I haven’t got believed them.
But times commerce, and ever for the reason that fifth of August, Qawwali events were nothing looking out a occasion of the ousting of the old autocratic Hasina-led regime. This present day, these musical events are being hosted in just a few universities, in faculties, and in public areas. One can now not help wondering—why the newfound fancy for Qawwali?
A ancient deep dive
The tradition of Qawwali in Dhaka might presumably moreover be traced abet to the unfold of Sufism within the position, in particular all over the Mughal era. Dhaka, a well-known centre of Islamic culture in Bengal, has long been connected with Sufi saints and their shrines (dargahs), where Qawwali has been an integral a part of spiritual gatherings.
Sufism has had a sturdy affect in Bengal; with it, the tradition of Qawwali got right here as a assemble of spiritual expression. The Sufi saints who got right here to the position introduced their practices with them, including the efficiency of Qawwali at spiritual and spiritual gatherings. These performances were on the general held at the shrines of revered saints or in varied Sufi centers around Dhaka.
Qawwali is essentially quiet in Urdu, Hindi, Persian, Punjabi, and Sindhi. But there are Bangali Qawwalis as properly, most prominently written by poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. These songs gradually incorporate totally different genres of devotional poetry, including hamd (praise of God), na’t(praise of the Prophet), and manqabat (praise of revered Islamic figures).
Historically, Qawwalis started with the Prophet’s words (qawl). The performances in most cases happen at spiritual festivals treasure Urs (anniversaries of Sufi saints) and other particular events held at dargahs or all over spiritual gatherings (mehfil-e-sama).
Nonetheless, over the final century, their recognition has expanded previous spiritual settings to household celebrations, musical concert events, industrial recordings, and even South Asian movies.
Bollywood and Coke Studio Pakistan’s renditions delight in enormously popularised these songs internationally. So mighty so that the Mira Nair directed 2012 thriller ‘Reluctant Fundamentalist’ started with the Qawwali song Kangna.
“Qawwali is deeply tied to our metropolis’s ancient previous,” stated Mir Huzaifa Al Mamduh, the lead organiser of that terrible 2022 Qawwali occasion. “When we organised the occasion, our blueprint used to be to spotlight the metropolis’s cultural model. While on the general considered as Indian or Pakistani, Qawwali has been a part of Dhaka’s heritage for centuries, though many were unaware of this. We wished to commerce that.”
He added, “When the Chhatra League attacked us, Qawwali grow to be a symbol of resistance. Other genres—folks, rock, pop—weren’t focused, simplest Qawwali. After Sheikh Hasina’s departure, Qawwali symbolised the unusual Bangladesh, representing opposition to the old regime.”
What Qawwali stands for within the sizzling
On 13 January, 2022, a day after the assault, activist and author Zahid Ahsan, alongside with other activists, led a screech. Later, they organised a Qawwali occasion at the Dhaka College campus. Ahsan believes that this occasion represented Qawwali as a assemble of resistance, a declare of revolution.
“For the time being, it is a ways more of a occasion of the autumn of the previous regime. The spirit of resistance is now not current in as of late’s Qawwalis anymore. Did any of these programs assign a query to justice for the July Bloodbath? Or did they recite any rebellious poetry? No. It’s the identical aged songs a ways and extensive.”
Some argue that the Qawwalis performed at these events are largely Bollywood songs, lacking the present messages of feeble Qawwali. The identical songs are repeated in rather a lot of venues, and rarely hamd and na’t are mistakenly offered as Qawwali.
Furthermore, the quality of the performances is on the general puzzled since many singers aren’t genuine Qawwals. Professional Qawwals have a clear aura and skill place of dwelling that elevate the occasion, taking pictures the explicit essence of Qawwali. Many agree with that without these professionals or adherence to the tradition’s essence, these events are merely Qawwali in name.
“Qawwali is a each day life, a separate gene with a clear cultural context,” stated Huzaifa. “For the time being, of us are slapping the mark of Qawwali over dazzling about any form of song.”
Huzaifa identified that recently, hamd and na’t events were mislabeled as Qawwali. He has seen rebel songs being grouped below the Qawwali banner and believes it is a ways due to this of us test out Qawwali as the one real musical expression that embodies the wrestle in opposition to oppression.
Poet and activist Shoikot Amin says, “Qawwali has become a tool in identity politics now. It’s moreover a part of urban identity in put up-revolution Bangladesh. So, there could be a possibility of cultural appropriation right here, too.”
Qawwali is infrequently veteran to delight in the cultural void left by the old regime.
“For the previous 15 years, no person had the freedom to explicit themselves,” stated Zahid. “Singers might presumably now not notify, poets might presumably now not write, and artists might presumably now not kind. Which skill, there could be a cultural gap, and some groups are now looking out for to delight in it using Qawwali.”
Zahid thinks that over-emphasising Qawwali will narrow down the course to a brand unusual era of multiculturalism.
“Only Qawwali can now not compose a brand unusual cultural establishment. We need more patronisation for all musical genres. We need such events a ways and extensive for Baul, Lalon, Bhatiali, rap, rock—all genres of song.”
Another foremost distress is the shortcoming of female participation within the Qawwali events, now not like in India or Pakistan. In Pakistan, we delight in considered Abida Parveen, who has garnered worldwide popularity. In India, we delight in considered Nooran Sisters. It can presumably moreover be due to this of the truth that Qawwali is now not yet mainstream in Bangladesh.
But what about the target market? In some events, treasure the 2 hosted at Jahangirnagar College within the most as much as the moment previous, there used to be a noticeable female target market. But in rather a lot of alternative events, female participation is now not visible. It raises some issues referring to the inclusivity.
“The organisers mustn’t ever discourage ladies from attending these events,” stated Shoikot Amin. “Such events must be merged with the communities. In any other case, it must never be if truth be told inclusive.”
