Keynote Address by Dr. Karim H. Karim, Chancellor’s Professor, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
Are ginans Islamic or Hindu? This question, which arises from time to time, reflects the view of religions as existing in separate compartments. However, intersections between faith traditions occur around the world and knowledge is shared in the timeless quest for spiritual truth. The Qur’an asserts the presence of divine guidance across various religions.
The Ismaili movement has sought insight in the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, and beyond. Its Indian manifestation, Satpanth, is one of the sub-continent’s several pluralist traditions, including those expressing Sufi, Sant, Bhakti, and Sikh modes of spiritual search. Despite their distinct characteristics, they have been open to interaction – sharing knowledge and devotional materials.
Satpanth’s core beliefs are founded on Shia Islamic concepts. Its ginans articulate Ismaili principles in Indic languages, music, and symbols. Like other pluralist traditions in India, Satpanth has drawn from mythological and cosmological knowledge that is integral to South Asian spirituality. Ginans flourish at the religious cross-roads of the sub-continent, the Middle East and Central Asia. This liminal space is rich and dynamic: it is integrative of traditions and worldviews, generative of art and thought, and nourishing of spirituality. It is a site of the human quest for truth that narrow notions about religion cannot confine.
Date: Saturday, December 17, 2022
Zoom Connection: https://tinyurl.com/2sru2w7j
ID: 915 011 8939
Passcode: asg22
Time:
India: 9:30 p.m.
Pakistan: 9 p.m.
East Africa: 7 p.m.
Dubai: 1 p.m.
GMT: 4 p.m.
EST: 11 a.m.
CT: 10 a.m.
MT: 9 a.m.
PST 8 a.m.
Books by Karim H. Karim
Diaspora and Media in Europe: Migration, Identity, and Integration
Re-Imagining the Other: Culture, Media and Western-Muslim Intersections
Engaging the Other: Public Policy and Western-Muslim Intersections
The Media of Diaspora
Islamic Peril: Media and Global Violence
Ismailimail 