 | Sufism in India and Central Asia Subjects: Area Studies; Humanities; Social Sciences; Sociology & Social Policy; Asian Studies; History; Religion; Central Asian Studies; Asian History; World Religions; Sufism in India and Central Asia is an attempt to put into perspective the relevance of Sufism - the concept and teaching, and to provide a realistic assessment of its role in India and Central Asia. The people of these regions with different ethnic backgrounds, cultures and languages have been intermingling for many centuries, as seen in the cross-current exchanges of religious ideas and belief. The word Sufism, popularly known as mysticism is most likely derived from the Arabic word suf (meaning "wool"), more specifically it means "the person wearing ascetic woollen garments." Sufism is deeply rooted in Islam and its development began in the late 7th and 8th centuries. The present volume is an attempt to look for answers to questions in relation to Sufism in India and Central Asia and to evaluate its relevance in the contemporary period. A group of distinguished scholars from India and Central Asia have contributed papers to this volume. This volume will be useful to students and researchers working on social and cultural aspects of India and Central Asia. Nasir Raza Khan is Professor at the India-Arab Cultural Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. His Ph.D. is in history, with a focus on Islamic art and architecture in India. He has a specific interest in History of Islam, Central Asian Studies, India-Arab Relations, and International Studies. He served as Offg. Director, India-Arab Cultural Centre, and former Director of the Indian Culture Centre, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He also served as a Visiting Professor (ICCR Chair) at Lebanese American University in Beirut. His publications include: India, Central Asia and the World Powers (Delhi: Primus Books, 2013), Regional Sufi Centres in India: Significance and Contribution (Delhi: Manakin Press, 2015), India and Central Asia: Geopolitics, Economy and Culture (Delhi: Primus Books, 2016), Sufism in India and Central Asia (Manakin Press, 2017), The Silk Road: Exploring Current Opportunities (Delhi: Primus Books), Art and Architectural Traditions of India and Iran: Commonality and Diversity (Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group, London, 2021), Islam in India: History, Politics and Society (Manakin Press 2023). |
