Devotional Objects

By Shahid Husain, *‘Sufism best way to understand different cultures’* - The News International - Karachi, Pakistan
Sunday, November 15, 2009

Karachi: French Consul-General in Karachi, Pierre Seillan, has said that Sufism is a treasure for Pakistan and the best way to understand different cultures.

Speaking as a chief guest at a seminar titled “Artifacts of Devotion: Approaching through material culture,” organised by the Department of Architecture and Planning, NED University of Engineering and Technology on Saturday, Seillan said that Sufism was the “best way to fight misunderstanding between countries.”

“I have been to the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qaladar at Sehwan and I found it totally different from other shrines, especially during the night,” he said. Earlier, Prof Michel Biovin, a research fellow at the Centre for South Asian Studies, University of Paris, presented a slide show of different artifacts at the mausoleum of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, and gave an overview of the culturally diverse and rich history of Sindh. He explained how Sufism pervades local cultures through the dissemination of different kinds of “devotional objects”.

His lecture focused on the case study of Sehwan Sharif and the evolution of the urban space around the mausoleum of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. Explaining about the significance of “devotional objects” at the mausoleum of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, he said the “Kashkol” (begging bowl), used by Sufis from 13th century onwards was metaphorically called “Kashti” (boat) and was not only used for begging food but also for drinking wine and it was thought to have spiritual significance.

“You will find two “Kashtis” at the mausoleum of Lal Shabaz and you will find differences in their decorations,” he said. One could find Persian poetry on these “Kashtis”, besides fish, he said. He said that “Kashti” was popular in India and Bangladesh. On some of them, however, one finds motifs but no fish. Then one would find “golden Kashti” in 16th and 17th century artifacts at these shrines. He said that the artifacts have special significance because after three days of “Urs” at the mausoleum of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, there was a big meeting there and “Faqirs” touch the “Kashti” respectfully.

Omar Kasmani, an architect by profession, was drawn to the idea that objects were enmeshed with the person of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. He said these objects become a depository of data. He said that Alfred Gell’s art nexus comprises index or object or inferred sign of index; artist or author of the index; prototype or what the index represents and recipient or the receiver of the index and pointed out the saint becomes the artist of the “Kashti.”

He said that “Kashti” created legitimacy because it was kept by a certain saint.

He said that these objects could not be read independently of the agents and their social positions. It was the social context of these objects that give them meaning, he explained.

Vice Chancellor of the NED University, Engineer Abul Kalam said that Pakistan has so much architectural heritage and the department of architecture and planning was working hard to protect the heritage.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Chairman, Department of Architecture and Planning, Dr Noman Ahmed explained the background of the History Group of the NED University of Engineering and Technology that aims to encourage cultural and historical study amongst the university’s academic environment and the overall context of Karachi.

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[Picture: A Dervish taming a lion and a tiger. Mughal painting, c. 1650. Photo from Wiki/Dervish]