Dozakhnama: reimagining and reclaiming the sufi heritage in South Asia

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to examine Sufism and its principles in the context of South Asia through Rabisankar Bal’s Dozakhnama: Conversations in Hell. This study examines the evolution of Sufism in the Indian subcontinent, tracing its development from the pre-colonial era to the aftermath of the Partition of 1947. Through the imaginative dialogue between Mirza Ghalib and Saadat Hasan Manto, Bal delves into themes of syncretism, spiritual humanism, and the gradual decline of Sufi traditions in the region. The close reading of the text alongside secondary sources on Sufism and its progression in South Asia demonstrates the Sufi concepts of transcending the boundaries of divisive identities i.e., religion, race, societal status, and others; Divine love (ishq-e-haqiqi) through worldly love (ishq-e-majazi) while celebrating creations and stories; and eternal returning to God. This paper enhances its depth by highlighting the ongoing angst among the people of South Asia, as they lose their harmonious and syncretic Sufi traditions, leading to the violence and marginalization of Sufi rituals and dargahs. This scholarly inspection offers a profound understanding of Sufism as a subterranean memory and its significance in healing the region's fractured cultural, philosophical, and political landscape.