WORKSHOP : Ektara and Enable India Foundation present "Understanding Sufi Literature and Qawwali" a day-long Workshop at Enable India Foundation, A-66, Sector 17, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Noida > 31st January 2016

Entry : Registration fee per person is ₹2000 (Indian Rupees two thousand only). You can deposit the fee to our bank account in advance. You can get a 15% discount with any one of the following options:
Early bird: If you register before 10 January 2016 (8 pm India Time)
Student: Need to show the students’ ID. (The student must not be working as a professional). Subject to availability of seats.
Couple registration: Two or more people registering together get 15% discount each, subject to availability of seats.
The registration gets completed only after the payment of fees. Students, couples or non-discount participants can pay in cash at the venue at the start of the workshop, subject to the availability of seats. Kindly confirm with us by 29th January 2016 about seat availability even if you have registered online but not paid. Our email is ektaraworkshop@gmail.com, and phone #9810379016. Register online on this link. You can also download this application form in MS Word (right-click and save as), fill it and send by email.

Venue : Enable India Foundation, A-66, Sector 17, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Noida, 201301, UP
Landmark : Near sector 18 market (HDFC bank, Great Kebab Factory) and Sector 18 Metro station and DND flyover are also close-by.
Venue Info : Map | Nearest Metro Station - 'Noida Sector 18 (Blue Line)'

Event Description : Ektara and Enable India Foundation present "Understanding Sufi Literature and Qawwali" a day-long Workshop.

By Madan Gopal Singh,
Dhruv Sangari and Yousuf Saeed
Including lunch with a thematic cuisine
Followed by a Heritage Walk at the Dargah Nizamuddin (on 12 February, 2016, 4 pm)
(Registration required to attend)

Introduction/Objective
While listening to Sufi music and qawwali becomes more and more trendy, there are debates on what the true Sufi music is. Is it some meditative chanting that provides peace and tranquillity to an individual in today’s stressful urban life? Is it supposed to involve a lot of rhythm and high octave vocals using the names of god or Ali, as often exhibited by contemporary Indian cinema or pop music groups? Or is there something more to Sufi music and literature than mere self-indulgence? Does it have a social relevance in today’s life? Could it help us connect to our pluralistic past? Or could it help us learn ways to coexist in today’s multicultural society? These are some of the questions that we hope to address in an intensive short workshop involving some scholars, music practitioners and media professionals who have been researching or practicing these themes since many years.
The workshop will include informal lectures, poetry recitations, screening of audio/video clips as well as documentary films and actual singing sessions. The main presenters of the workshop will be Madan Gopal Singh (singer, scholar), Yousuf Saeed (filmmaker, author) and Dhruv Sangari (singer), all from Delhi (See their details below). This team has been successfully conducting such workshops for last couple of years, the details of which can be seen on www.ektara.org

What to expect and who can attend:
The workshop is open for anyone interested in learning to appreciate Sufi poetry, music and Qawwali better. The participants do not have to have a prior knowledge or training of music, nor is there an age-bar. The participants do not have to be Sufis or belonging to any particular religion or community. Anyone with an interest in music, literature and cultural history can enrol in this workshop. Most presentations will be given in English with some Urdu/Hindi content. Kindly note that this is not a course for learning music, but for appreciating music, mysticism, poetry and their social contexts. Although one day is not sufficient for a comprehensive understanding of such a subject, it is hoped that by the end of the workshop, the participants would be able to better appreciate the nuances of Sufi music, poetry, and Qawwali and its historical context. We wish to keep the day informal, friendly and homely. You are free to ask questions and raise doubts whenever you wish. Workshop will include sumptuous lunch with a Sufi/Mughal/middle-eastern theme, besides two breaks for tea and light snacks. Writing stationary and reading material will be provided to all registered participants. Ektar India can also provide a certificate of participation if you require one.
Register online at http://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/dghZ5UE8381jx1bH66F3pK
Or download the application form at http://ektara.org/S-workshop-form.docx

Heritage Walk: After the workshop, the participants should attend a heritage walk at the basti Nizamuddin, New Delhi, on 12th February 2016 at 4 pm. We gather at Mathura Road (near Nizamuddin police station) at 3:50 pm and enter the basti together. We will walk through and stop at several smaller monuments such as Urs Mahal, Chausath khamba and Ghalib’s grave before entering the dargah. Kindly note that you are supposed to remove your shoes before entering the main shrine of Nizamuddin Aulia and Amir Khusrau. Also, your head and legs should be covered while entering the shrine. More details about the walk will be communicated during the workshop.

Enable India Foundation : Enable India Foundation is a communication praxis` which specializes in developmental communication ‎across genres and media. Its founder & Executive Director, Aaradhana Kohli Kapur, holds masters degrees in International Relations (JNU) and Mass Communcation (MCRC) and has over the last two decades and a half worked on myriad subjects ranging from contemporary history, art, culture, gender, environment, women, children, international cooperation‎, climate change, and sustainability. Aaradhana is a fellow of LEAD ‎(Leadership in Environment and Developmet) and member of IAWRT (International Association of Women in Radio and Television). See more...
More details about Ektara's past workshops can be seen at ektara.org/eworkshops.html

Related Links : Workshops