Sufi music enthralls Tihar inmates

Rashmi Agarwal took about 5000 Tihar inmates through <g data-gr-id="56">asoul</g> stirring journey with her performance on Tuesday evening in the jail premises. For her, it was a special occasion: her birthday. “This has been the most memorable birthday for me,” said Rashmi Agarwal after her performance. 

Opening with an ovation to her Guru with Gurbani, she then went onto Punjabi Sufi poet Bulleh Shah’s composition — Suno Maharaja Jagat Ke <g data-gr-id="55">Waali</g>. 

Relating more with the audience, she further presented celebrated Sufi compositions like Chaap Tilak Sab Cheeni by Hazrat Amir Khusro, Mohe Apne hi rang me rang de <g data-gr-id="59">maula</g> — a devotional song, Mai to <g data-gr-id="60">piya</g> <g data-gr-id="61">se</g> <g data-gr-id="62">naina</g>, Tu <g data-gr-id="63">maneya</g> <g data-gr-id="64">na</g> mane, Tere <g data-gr-id="65">ishq</g> <g data-gr-id="66">nachaya</g> and many more. The accompanying artistes not only led to a successful performance but also let the inmates enjoy the aura of Sufism. The prisoners enthusiastically applauded with every beat of the instrument, enjoying it thoroughly and some even started dancing with the flow of the Sufi songs.

On this occasion, Rashmi Agarwal said, “Sufi is often misunderstood to be a religion, but Sufism is a lifestyle. <g data-gr-id="57">Sufipreaches</g> to follow just one religion and that’s the religion of ‘Love and Unity.’ Baba Fareed, Hazrat Amir Khusro, Baba Bulleh Shah and other Sufi poets followed this religion only”.

Alok K Verma, Director General, Delhi Prisons, felicitated Legends of India which has been constantly working for the development and rehabilitation of Tihar inmates since the past six months. Dipayan Mazumdar, Chairman of Legends of India, on this <g data-gr-id="74">occasion</g> said, “Taking initiatives is not difficult but implementing ideas for taking those initiatives on a high elevation takes a lot of hard work. We have been working for the better future of the prison inmates and a lot more is in the bucket to come. Also, we would try to arrange professionals for the ones who are interested in learning music and art.”

Rashmi is a Delhi-based empanelled artist of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) for performances abroad. Besides TV and Radio, she has also performed at various national and international forums including the USA, UK etc. and has won many hearts with her soulful and power packed performances.

Rashmi is the first Indian woman to win the Grand-Prix Award at the prestigious IX International World Music Festival ‘Sharq Taronalari’(Melodies of Orient)in <g data-gr-id="68">August,</g> 2013, Samarkand, Uzbekistan. This is one of the biggest music festivals in Central Asia, organised regularly under the patronage of UNESCO.