OSHAWA: The enchanting story of Amir Khusrau Dehlavi was presented recently by Toronto’s Jawaid Danish, playwright and poet, under the banner of OSCC and 55+ Desi connect in Oshawa, East of Toronto.
Abul Hasan Yaminuddin Khusrau, better known as Amir Khusrau was a mystic poet, historian, soldier, musician and a beloved spiritual disciple of Khawaja Nizamuddin Chisty of Delhi. His name in traditional poetry and music has been carried for over 800 years from generation after generation.
Khusrau invented the sitar and tabla, and also the mystical singing of Qawwali. Even today the Songs of Spring and Mehndi Weddings are incomplete without the traditional Songs of Khusrau.
Jawaid Danish has revived the lost art of storytelling in North America, and he has performed extensively in the Middle East, India and the United States.
Dastan is the mother of all crafts, and normally it is fantasy, and originated in Arabia, Iran and Afghanistan and came to India around the 16th century.
Jawaid Danish brought reality to Dastangoi by his first attempt of “Dastan Hijraton Ki”, the tale of immigrants in the west. Danish has received many international awards for his Dastangoi.
“Dastan Jamal e Khusrau” is also an epic tale of Amir Khusrau, with the narration of Danish’s unique storytelling, with multiple Qawwalis between the narration.
The leading Qawwal or sufi singer was Azher Ali, a veteran and gifted in the field, with Harsharan Deep Singh on the harmonium, who delighted the audience with his ragas and murkees. Sufi Ajmal Hussain on tabla is also a soulful performer, who plays tabla and sing simultaneously. There were two junior Qawwals in progress, who were clapping with precision, as accompanists.
For two hours, the audience was in awe and glued to their seats.
The roar of applause was loud after each soulful poem of Amir Khusrau. The artists were acknowledged and recognized with golden plaques after the show, Miss Celeste and Uzma Danish of OSCC and 55+ Desi connect presented the awards and thanked the performers and the audience for the remarkable evening.