This one is for admirers of the Hindi language, literature, and culture. Kabir Granthawali: Parimarjit Paath was launched on the occasion of Kabir Jayanti on 4th June 2023 at India International Centre, New Delhi. The original Kabir Granthawali was edited by Shyamsundar Das and published in the year 1928. It still remains a seminal piece of work on the poetry of the mystic saint Kabir.

After almost 100 years, the classic book has been revised by eminent critic and Bhakti-Poetry expert Professor Purushottam Agrawal. This revised and updated Granthawali has been published by Rajkamal Prakashan.

Concert by Shubha Mudgal

The evening started with a concert by our very favourite classical singer Shubha Mudgal. We have heard Shubha Mudgal on various occasions including at events to support causes. On the occasion of Kabir Jayanti, Mudgal sang Kabir’s famous verses ‘Dulahani Gaavahu Mangalchar’, ‘Aleh Ram Jiyu Tere Sai’, and ‘Saadho, Dekho Jag Baurana’.

The verses she selected spoke about love among humans, affection among various religious communities, and especially camaraderie among Hindu Muslim fraternities. The simple words of Kabir were brought to life through the strong yet melodious voice of Shubha Mudgal and penetrated the hearts of the audience. Dr. Aneesh Pradhan, Mudgal’s husband, accompanied her on tabla. Shubha Mudgal’s concert set the tone for the enlightening evening.

Launch of Kabir Granthawali: Parimarjit Paath

After the inaugural concert, it was now time for the launch of the book, Kabir Granthawali: Parimarjit Paath (Collection of Kabir’s Works: A revised study). Scholar-Poet Ashok Vajpeyi; Shubha Mudgal; Aneesh Pradhan; Professor Purushottam Agrawal; scholar Dr. Sudha Ranjani; Dr. Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit, Professor at the Department of Asian Studies at the University of Texas (Austin) and Ashok Maheshwari, Managing Director of Rajkamal Prakashan took the stage and unwrapped shiny copies of the new book.

This was followed by the inaugural address by Ashok Vajpeyi. He said, “This revised edition of Granthawali is a historic Kabir moment. Now we have the most authentic text of Kabir so far. In a long researched and interesting forward, Purushottam Agrawal tells the story of Kabir’s journey of 600 years.”

The evening concluded with a trialogue among the author Professor Purushottam Agrawal, Dr. Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit, and Dr. Sudha Rajani. As per Dr. Rajpurohit, “Several new facts related to Kabir’s Guru Ramanand have been brought to the fore in the detailed preface of the revised Granthawali. An impressive study of the non-Vaishnavite Persian texts related to Kabir’s guru, his life, and death has been done to refine this. This Granthawali is a very useful book for understanding the role of business in the folklore of Bhakti and the indigenous modernity of the Bhakti movement before coming into contact with Europe-centric modernity. ”

How to Reach India International Centre

India International Centre is located in South Delhi on Lodhi Road. It is a prominent location and any taxi or auto-rickshaw would bring you here. They do not have much parking for visitors. If you could drive till here, you could park in the surrounding lanes.

We did a wise thing when we attended the book launch. The nearest metro station to India International Centre is Jorbagh on the yellow line. We took the metro and thereafter it was a longish walk of about 15 minutes. You could take an auto-rickshaw from the metro station and you should reach within 10 minutes.

Relevance of Kabir Today

The relevance of Sant Kabir was discussed during the trialogue at the book launch. Kabir was a Bhakti Movement saint from the fifteenth century. Legend has it that he was born of a Hindu unwed mother from the Brahman caste. However, she abandoned him as a child. He was raised by a Muslim woman from the Weaver community.

Kabir in turn was critical of dogmas in both Hinduism and Islam. He was a zealous activist against the caste system. Kabir spread the message of devotion and harmony in tumultuous times. His poetry is reflective of his views on love, amity and communal solidarity. His ardent devotees created the Kabir Panth, a community still prevalent in North India.

Kabir’s mystical works convey words of love and peace, not by way of complex philosophical jargon, but through the simple language of Hindi. Messages of love and communal harmony have never been irrelevant.

Many lament that interest in Hindi literature is waning in present times. The packed house during the book launch, with all seats full and enthusiasts sitting on the floor in front or standing on the side, belies such cynicism. It goes to show that good work speaks for itself. We look forward to more thought-provoking works like Kabir Granthawali: Parimarjit Paath.