logo

RAZIUDDIN AQUIL

razi

Sant Ravidas and his followers

Ravidas belonged to a circle of popular preachers coming from humble backgrounds of medieval Indian society.     From where...

razi

How Emperor Akbar conquered Kashmir

This was achieved through systematic planning for months and deployment of large contingent of the army to Kashmir.   Some...

razi

Chishti Sufis contributed to cosmopolitan character of Delhi

This article is based on a recent lecture by this writer at New Delhi’s Dayal Singh College, located in close...

razi

On empire-building, management of diversity

The search for peace in violent political times takes us back to Indian history for some insights from political conquests,...

p3

Celebrating fine scholarship on Bhakti traditions

Professor John Stratton Hawley is one of the foremost scholars of leading Sants of north Indian Bhakti traditions (circa 1450-1650),...

razi

Cultural dynamics as heritage

A variety of cultural practices, intellectual traditions, religious contestations as well as questions of political patronage and abuse shape the...

Razi Aquil col photo

Modern social history at its best

The best of histories are written in worst of times. Distinguished scholars rise above aggressive political propaganda to produce historical...

Razi photo

Light shed on history of Odisha’s tribals, Dalits

Books are banned and burnt in persecuting societies and oppressive regimes. Scholars and writers giving voice to the dispossessed and...

razi

Reading the Quran in times of triple talaq

The seventh-century Arabic text sounds quite modern on many topics of crucial import for social and personal relations.   One...

razi

Unpacking theory, history in a dialogic relationship

At a time when reports of all kinds of deliberate attempts to destroy Jawaharlal Nehru University, one of the leading...

razi

When Muslim poets celebrated Hindu festivals

There have been times and moments in our history when men of letters have marked their excellence through extraordinary ways...

razi

The Sufi way and the connected history of India and Central Asia

I seek to draw attention here to the longstanding historical, political and cultural connections between India and Central Asia, with...

razi

Clear the confusion regarding Islam

The difficulty is that self-appointed custodians of Islam have taken it upon themselves to set things right using violence.  ...

unnamed

Read the historians of medieval India

For better politics and intellectual legitimation, we must know about our vast historical traditions.   Delhi’s Aakar Books has done...

p3

State has responsibilities towards minority cultures

Dominant social and political formations invoking numerical majorities of different kinds—whether inspired by religious obscurantism, traditional hierarchies, or conservative patriarchal...

p3

Assumptions on Nalanda questioned

A voluminous and timely book published by Dr Pintu Kumar of the Department of History, Motilal Nehru College (Evening), University...

Razi

With prayers for sanity in Kashmir

The volume helps us move beyond the usual ways of thinking about Kashmir that have proven abortive.   Amidst the...

Assamliterature_pg12

Literature helps revisit Assam’s history

The vast Assamese literature reveals various registers of literary culture in operation.   This writer was recently invited as guest...

Islamic heritage of peace, tolerance celebrated

The India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi, organised this week a special address on “Islamic Heritage: Promoting Understanding and Moderation”,...

500 years of Kabir celebrated

The Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, University of Delhi, organised this week a two-day seminar on “Kabir: Different Perspectives” to...

Urs of Sufi saints points to their relevance

The dargah of Chishti Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya in central Delhi is buzzing this week with large crowds of...

Some thoughts on the Padmavati Controversy

Making sense of contested historical legacies at times of widespread ignorance and suspicion is a difficult proposition. The Sufi poet...

Probe dispassionately Islam’s spread in India

A proper appreciation of the history of Islam in the Indian subcontinent—from the early inroads made into Sindh in the...

‘Peace with all is the mantra for success’

The Motilal Nehru College (Evening), University of Delhi, recently organised a two-day UGC sponsored national seminar on “Today’s India: Culture,...