The Noble Values of Sufism

By Mohammed Iqbal, "Special budget for Ajmer dargah security" - The Hindu - Chennai, India
Monday, March 10, 2008

Ajmer: As part of its efforts to step up security for pilgrims, the dargah committee at the historic shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti here has sanctioned a special budget of Rs. 26 lakh [USD 2'600'000.--] for upkeep of the sensitive high beam cameras, closed circuit television, X-ray machines and metal detectors installed recently as well as the deployment of security guards at sensitive locations.

A bomb blast at Ahate-e-Noor – the courtyard outside the mausoleum of the 13th century Sufi saint – on October 11 last year killed three persons and injured over a dozen. The perpetrators of the terror attack are still at large with a Special Investigation Team of the Rajasthan police having made little headway in the probe.

The committee, a statutory body of the Centre, deliberated on the security measures, management of the endowment properties and the progress of several welfare and educational activities at its half-day meeting here on Saturday. Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, who is the president of the committee, chaired the meeting.

An annual budget of Rs. 3.09 crore [USD 634'497.--] was approved at the meeting with the endorsement of proposals for eviction of unauthorised possessions on the dargah premises, extension of amenities for pilgrims, establishment of a university named after Khwaja Gharib Nawaz, expansion of the Khwaja Model School building and enhancement of grants to widows and orphans.

Priority for education
Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali told The Hindu that the utilisation of the dargah’s resources and revenues for promotion of education was high on the priority of the committee to help out poor families as well as indigent descendants of the Sufi saint.

The university, to be established in Kayar village on the outskirts of Ajmer, will cater to the educational needs of all communities.

The committee, established under the provisions of the Dargah Khwaja Saheb Act, 1955, administers and controls the affairs of the shrine as well as its endowments. It also organises the annual Urs and regulates the presence of Khadims (workers) on the premises, besides determining their privileges and giving them licences.

The Prince of Arcot, who took over as president of the nine-member committee in October last year after dissolution of the previous one, said he had requested the Centre to establish an airport in Ajmer to facilitate the journey of pilgrims from far and wide. The Union Ministry of Minority Affairs has initiated action in this regard.

“The Ajmer Dargah is an embodiment of the syncretic traditions of our country. Its legacy should be protected for generations to come to apprise them of the noble values of Sufism promoting tolerance, charity and universal brotherhood,” he said.

Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali is the first person from South India to be appointed the committee chief.

The Prince of Arcot said the committee would strive for beautification of the dargah, free movement of pilgrims, stopping commercial activities on the premises, and renovation of various buildings and modernisation of the langarkhana [Sufi kitchen] during his term.

[Picture from: http://www.dargahajmer.com/].