Panacea for all ills: Mysticism must for cultural renaissance, says author

Speakers said the work is timely and relevant to today’s Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD:

The book ends with a couplet spreading gloom and disappointment of man with other human beings and roughly translates as, “Snake charmers sent back the snakes to the basket and says that human beings are enough to bite humans”. But the author pins his hopes on the power of mysticism contained in the poetry of so many of mystic poets.

Speaking on the launch of his book entitled “Sufi Light and Human Unity” Saturday here, the author Khadim Hussain Soomro said that he wrote this book because he felt that in the “middle of 2oth century the cultural civilization came to a halt because of international powers and local dynamics.”

“I have written this book for the cultural renaissance,” he added.

Dr Ghulam Hussain, Strengthening Participatory Organisation Executive Director (SPO) Naseer Memon, British Laywer Mumtaz Muzaffar and the author himself spoke at the event.



The 156-page book has three chapters titled humanitarian and cultural values, moral values and modern era and Sufism.

Speaking first, Soomro said that mysticism is a continuous process and it connects all the eastern and western traditions.

In the book he has also mentioned peace activists such as Martin Luther King Jr among the line of mystics.

Referring to the partition of the subcontinent, he said the reason behind the absence of violence in Sindh when the Punjab on both sides of the border had witnessed large scale massacre was the message of love, coexistence and harmony by Shah Latif. In the Punjab he said the message of Guru Nanak, Bulleh Shah and Shah Hussain was “suspended.”

Responding to a question, he said that in simple words mysticism is soul searching, manners, cooperation and coexistence. “The mystic light leads to revitalization and reinvigoration and understanding of the self.”

“Mysticism was in Sindh’s blood,” that’s why Sindh responded to the Partition in a more balanced way than Punjab, said Lawyer Mumtaz Muzaffar who is currently working on integration of religion in Pakistan adding that the publication was timely when we see divisions all around.

Author of many books, Soomro has written a book at a critical juncture when we are passing through moral, intellectual and spiritual crisis.

SPO Executive Director Naseer Memon said it was a scholarly work. Relating the discussion with the current situation in Pakistan he said the mysticism is being used as an excuse and not its true spirit. European Renaissance is centered on thought. And argument is power whereas in our context power is argument.

Soomro said the governments in the past appointed many non-qualified and irrelevant people to the head the Pakistan Sufi Council and this shows governments’ interest in the subject. He said ritual and meditation and reclusiveness is not mysticism. It is service to humanity above class, creed and colour.

In the book, the author has also profusely quoted from mystic poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2014.