International Academic Conference Begins At MANUU
- Experts discuss Sufism, culture, and literary unity at MANUU event
- Prof. Purushottam Agrawal and Prof. Nile Green deliver keynote addresses
Hyderabad, Nov 13 (Maxim News): A two-day International Academic Conference on “Urdu, Hindi, Arabic & Persian – Civilizational Consilience Across Linguistic, Literary, Cultural and Intellectual Exchanges” began today at Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU). The inaugural session highlighted the intersections of literature, philosophy, and Sufi traditions across cultures, with distinguished scholars addressing critical themes of coexistence and humanism.
Prof. Purushottam Agrawal of Jawaharlal Nehru University, while delivering the keynote address on “Padmavat: A Glimpse into the Existential Universe of Early Modern India,” said, “Padmavat, a masterpiece of 16th century Sufi and romantic epic poem, written in Awadhi by Malik Muhammad Jayasi in 1540 is not a historical romance but an epic Sufi philosophy.” He reflected that for today’s youth, “the names of Allah and Ram have become battle slogans.” He further described Padmavat as a symbolic interpretation of the journey from imaginary to real love, where Hindu and Islamic mysticism unite and love becomes the means of salvation.
The inaugural also featured an online keynote address by Prof. Nile Green from the Department of History, UCLA, USA. Speaking on “The migration of a ritual: The wedding of the Saints between Anatolia and the Deccan,” he examined how cultural and religious practices evolved through interactions across lands. He explained that while beliefs relate directly to religion and customs, Islamic culture extends beyond them, shaped by rulers, traders, Sufis, and intellectuals. “Sufism is a crossroads of land and religion,” he said, noting that monasteries once served as economic centers where Sufi saints mediated land disputes and cities often grew around shrines.
Presiding over the session, MANUU Vice Chancellor Prof. Syed Ainul Hasan noted that “Sufism is the bearer of the mixed civilization of India.” He emphasized the importance of understanding “the only language of the heart which is the heartbeat.” The Vice Chancellor also expressed gratitude to the speakers, saying that their insights opened new avenues of thought and collaboration for participants.
Earlier, Registrar Prof. Ishtiaque Ahmed welcomed the dignitaries and described the conference as “an important milestone in the history of the university.” Conference Convener Prof. Syed Imtiaz Hasnain and Director Prof. Alim Ashraf Jaisi presented the conference features in English and Urdu, respectively. The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Gulfishaan Habeeb, Dean, School of Languages, while Prof. Mohammad Abdul Sami Siddiqui conducted the proceedings.
The valedictory talk titled “The necessity of bringing back humanism into the Language Sciences: Reflections on Civilizational Consilience” will be delivered by Prof. Sangeeta Bagga-Gupta of Jönköping University, Sweden, on November 14 at the CPDUMT auditorium, MANUU.
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