Description
Explore the remarkable life of Kabir, a 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint, in this special event and find out why he was revered by Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs alike.
Kabir’s teachings on spirituality, morality, and social justice transcended the boundaries of religion, as he drew from both Hindu and Muslim traditions to promote unity and universal brotherhood. A strong, independent thinker, he was critical of religious rites and rituals that he deemed meaningless, instead emphasising the importance of our own inner spirituality.
Join Francesca Orsini, Professor of Hindi and South Asian Literature at the University of London, and Nasreen Rehman for an exploration of Kabir’s teachings and how they continue to be influential today, inspiring individuals to seek inner truth, connect with a higher power, and work towards a more just and equitable society.
Kirpal Singh Panesar and fellow musicians will perform a 20-minute set of Kabir’s dohas. This event will include a short Q&A.
About the Speakers
Professor Francesca Orsini
Francesca Orsini, FBA, is an Italian scholar of South Asian literature. She is currently Professor of Hindi and South Asian Literature at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. She previously lectured at the University of Cambridge, before joining SOAS in 2006. For the 2013/2014 academic year, she was Mary I. Bunting Institute Fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University. In July 2017, Orsini was elected a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA), the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences.
Nasreen Rehman
Nasreen Rehman is a lapsed economist who worked in the private and public sectors in the UK and Pakistan before she turned to the arts and humanities. A historian of emotions and aesthetics, Nasreen is a translator, an activist, an academic, and an award-winning screenplay writer who believes in the power of the arts to transform societies. Born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, she divides her time between South Asia and the UK.
About the Musician
Kirpal Singh Panesar
Kirpal Singh Panesar, a renowned musician from the UK, is considered one of the most gifted artists in the world of Gurmat Kirtan & Tanti Saaz. Exceptionally skilled at playing instruments such as Dilruba, Esraj and Tarshehnai, Kirpal is a disciple of the late Ustad Bismillah Khan, whom he had the great honour of studying under with the blessings of Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji. Kirpal’s musical journey began under the tutelage of Ustad Surjeet Singh Ji, Harminderpal S Rayatt, and Ustad Gurdev Singh Ji. He has also learned Kirtan from acclaimed artists such as Ustad Harbhajan Singh Ji, Ustad Mohan Singh Ji, and Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji. Kirpal has mesmerised audiences at prestigious venues across the globe since a young age with his exceptional improvisation and expressive musicality. Besides being an accomplished performer, he also passionately teaches students of all levels and ages.
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