Dark clouds hang over Sufism university’s future

There has been little development of the institute in the past decade with its curriculum still pending

KARACHI:

More than a decade back when terrorism had peaked in the country and had upended normal life, an idea to establish a Sufism university was floated around to impart a message of tolerance through education; however, little has transpired after the idea was implemented.

The University of Sufism and Modern Science, was the brainchild of the then president Asif Ali Zardari, and a law was passed by the Sindh Assembly in 2011 to set up the university at Bhit Shah, which is home to the shrine of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitati.

However, the university which was to be built to counter the rising terrorism in Sindh by focusing on educating the youth about Sufi Saints whose life revolved around harmony, love, and brotherhood is confined to a portion of a governmental high school - no actual campus exists a decade later.

Sources privy with the development of the institute informed The Express Tribune that according to the law, a dynamic faculty of Sufism was supposed to teach and conduct research but nothing has been initiated. “It remained in shambles for six years as there was no building and funds to run its operations until 2017. A pro-vice-chancellor was appointed with no proper faculty and it continued till the government appointed the first vice-chancellor (VC) Dr Parveen Munshi back in 2016,” an official of the university disclosed under the condition of anonymity.

However, as per the official, even Dr Munshi’s appointment did little to help the fate of the university. “While the VC was able to get the Higher Education Commission's stamp of approval, albeit conditional, in 2019. It is still devoid of a proper faculty.” The university currently functions without a permanent registrar, director admissions, controller examinations, tenured professors, and associate professors, the official revealed. “The only good that came out of Dr Munshi’s appointment was that 10 acres of land was acquired from a local philanthropist for the university and then the government released Rs12 million to us to start construction of the campus.”

University records reveal that despite the cash injection, only around 242 students are enrolled in various disciplines, with no classes of Sufism, which the university was supposed to spread, whatsoever. Dr Ali Murad Lajwani, Assistant Professor of Sufism at the university, when asked about the lack of actual Sufism classes, said that he was hopeful the programme would kick off soon. Dr Lajwani believes there is great potential in the subject as in Europe and America, the poetry of  Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi, is usually taught in Sufism classes. “Similarly, we can start from Shah Latif, Sachal Sarmast, Sultan Bahu, and Bulleh Shah. These are the poets who gave the message of love, humanity, tolerance irrespective of religious affiliation," he said. The major hurdle in formally starting Sufism classes, as per the professor, is a lack of curriculum. “This area of study is actually quite sensitive. So, we have developed the curriculum and sent it to the National Curriculum Committee for its approval. Until that gets accepted we cannot start any classes on it.”

The Express Tribune contacted the university’s VC several times to inquire about the future of the university but did not receive any response. However, the spokesperson for the Sindh Boards and Universities, when asked the same question, reiterated Dr Lajwani’s views that they were waiting on a curriculum to be approved. When asked about the construction of the campus, the spokesperson replied, “It will be finalised soon.”