Jashn-e-Khusrau 2013

He lived in Delhi (13th/14th century), in the period which saw an amazing influx of scholars, poets, artisans, Sufis, travellers, and merchants from Persianate Central Asia – the area and civilization ravaged by Chengiz Khan, the Mongol – to South Asia. He saw the merging of two great civilizations – Hindu and Islamic – and he wove them beautifully in his literary works, language, music, and local traditions. Jashn-e-Khusrau 2013: Celebrating the Genius of Khusrau celebrates the contributions of Khusrau in the making of the composite South Asian culture that has come to be known as Hindustani.

Amir Khusrau (1253–1325 AD) served as a court poet to several nobles and sultans of Delhi Sultanates between 13th and 14th centuries: recording their battles and guiding their political campaigns; praising them eloquently in metaphors and analogies of Persian literature adapted within Indian imageries; creating governance norms and ethics; making discourses and innovations in science and music; writing historical and love epic poems and ghazals; and, as a devout of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, the most revered 13/14th century Chistiya Sufi of Delhi, he gave to the world the vibrant artistic traditions of Sufiana music and poetry – which continue till today in many oral traditions ranging from classical to folk.

The book introduces the multi-faceted genius of Khusrau in contemporary settings to generate a body of discourses for popular understanding. It presents his contributions as important cultural heritage of South Asia in the context of the 700 years of accumulative history and cultural developments.

It compiles the proceedings of the Festival of Khusrau (Jashn-e-Khusau), 2013, organized by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture with co-funding from Ford Foundation. The book provides, for the first time, a comprehensive understanding of the era of Amir Khusrau; the beginnings of Indo-Islamic art and culture of the medieval era; and their continuity into presentday India.

The three audio CDs included here contain unique and exclusive qawwali, masnavi, ghazal, and Hindustani classical music. All verses and music compositions (except the contemporary fusion) are attributed to Amir Khusrau, and they remain till today as part of the oral heritage.