In Search of the Divine: Living Histories of Sufism in India [Hardcover] Safvi, Rana [Hardcover] Safvi, Rana Hardcover – 21 September 2022

Religion has always played and continues to play a vital role in human life. Religious practices in South Asia particularly India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal have been an inseparable part of daily lives. The debate between ‘Grand Design’and ‘Accidental Birth’ of this world is an old debate and religious people have vociferously asserted in favour of ‘Grand Design’ whereas atheist and evolution theory supporters have been heavily tilted in favour of the ‘Accidental Birth’ of this world. However, the scientific evidence has now established that this world is the result of ‘Grand Design’, it had been created and it has a creator. The creator of this grand world is the omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient Almighty God. There are many religious streams where mystics are in search of God and Sufism is one such group of people who are in search of divine, oneness of God and finding the pathway through practicing love and affection towards the fellow human beings.The author of the book under review is an established scholar on Sufism and has previously extensive written entirely about Sufism. The author’s passionate belief in India’s unique civilizational legacy and pluralistic culture is clearly visible across the four hundred pages of the marvelous book on Sufism. In fact, Sufism owes its origin in Arabic world ‘tasawwuf’which means devoting oneself to the contemplation of God but it is generally used for the process of becoming a Sufi. Sufism, indeed, is the act of following a mystical path and a quest for ethical and moral perfection in search of the divine.Sufism also extensively focuses on ‘ahsan’ and ‘akhlaq’which were central to the life of Prophet Mohammed and the same is emulated by the Sufi Saints. It also foregrounds the role ofSufis in fostering a composite culture in India. The book is divided into three parts. Part I deals with ‘Islam and Sufism’ covering an elaborate introduction of Sufism, its origin and its spread across the world.Part II of the book deals with ‘Saints and Silsilahs’where a detailed discussion is made by author on mystic orders – Chisthis, Suhrawardis, Qadriyas, Naqshbandis, Qalandars and other Silsilahs in India.Part III of the book deals with ‘Shrines and Devotees.’ This part alone covers ten chapters out of a total of nineteen chapters. This part deals with religious history and religious symbols in the context of Sufism. It beautifully covers almost all the popular shrines of Sufi Saints in North India, East and North East India, South India, Central and West India with touching experiences mentioned by the author. It also deals with the possessed and dispossessed and talks about cures in shrines for two main types of maladies – ‘black magic’ and ‘sihr.’The author says in chapter seventeen that when we think of Sufism, we immediately perceive and get connected to qawwalis and Rumi’s mystical verses. She further says that power of music and poetry convey a mystical experience which is unparalleled that are art forms associated with Sufi culture, Shrines and Khanqahs. She talks about ‘Sama’which is the glue that binds diverse people, diverse practices and diverse beliefs and invites them to inter a shared space that becomes the vehicle of deliverance.The last chapter of the book is entitled as ‘Separated by the Scream’ which talks about role and position of a woman as devotee and covers discussion on the distance that is required to be kept between man and woman in Islamic traditions and a woman as a devotee to Sufi Saints. This chapter also includes specific discussion on some famous Indian Women Sufi Saints. While concluding the last chapter, the author says that Sufi Saints continue to attract thousands of visitors, devotees and disciples all across the world, irrespective of misunderstanding, misconceptions and propaganda against Sufi Saints.Thisreviewer would end the review process by referring to the beginning is wonderfully written of thebook where the author mentions the beautiful words of Amir Khusrau:-‘Khusrau Darya Prem Ka;Ulti wa ki dhaar;Jo utra so doob gaya,Jo dooba so paar.’[O Khusrau, the river of loveFlows in strange directions.The one who jumps in, drowns;And the one who drowns, crosses it.]

It is a very informative book about Sufism in India, the history, the places, the various historical figures involved et cetera. Further, Ms. Safvi's books are always meticulously researched, and this book is no exception.It was a nice read and I will recommend it to anyone who is interested in Sufism in India.

Beautiful book

Another masterpiece from Rana Safvi Ji. It takes you to an entirely different word and introduces you to the magical world of Sufism in a very effortless but still magnificent manner. Right from the beginning I felt that I was in middle of this world as if I have always been part of it. Nothing but divine beauty.

Nice read about the history of Sufism in India. The author has covered most of the dargahs as per her knowledge and exposure

Good

Rana Safvi’s "In Search of the Divine " is a soulful journey into the heart of Sufism, blending history, spirituality, and personal experiences. Through vivid storytelling, she brings to life the devotion within dargahs—the echoes of qawwalis, the scent of incense, and the unwavering faith of seekers. I loved how she intertwines historical narratives with personal reflections, making the book both informative and deeply moving. A must-read for anyone drawn to the mysticism, love, and unity that Sufism embodies.

Reading In Search of the Divine: Living Histories of Sufism in India (Hachette India. 2022) by Rana Safvi is like going on a retreat to discover one’s inner resonances of sublimity and one’s personal quest for wholeness. The book is a travelogue offering gifts of insights through the writer’s nuanced note-taking of places, its sights and sounds. The book raises many questions about the nature of knowing, the language of truth, the agony and ecstasy of the seeking soul. Besides the unifying vision that Sufism embodies, I am fascinated by the beauty of the intangible in one’s Sufiyana!