THE WANDERING SUFIS: Qalandars and their Path

• Type: English
• Pages: xx+268
• ISBN: 9788173053610
• Edition: 1st
• Publisher: ARYAN BOOKS INTERNATIONAL
• Size: 19cm x 25cm
• Product Year: 2009

This work is a comparative study of two Sufi shrines, one located in Delhi and the other in Panipat (Haryana), both affiliated with the Qalandar order, an antinomian Sufi group that does not follow Islamic tenets as per the Shariat. The antinomian Sufis are called Beshara ("without the law"), whereas Sufi orders following the Shariat are known as Bashara ("with law").

Despite many Beshara groups disappearing over time, the Qalandars remain significant in India and South Asia. This study, conducted from the perspective of historical anthropology, combines first-hand fieldwork with historical documents to analyze their traditions. It finds that Qalandar saints deviated from the cultural practices for which they were once infamous. Being a Qalandar was more about a state of mind and thought rather than a specific way of living.

The study focuses on the shrines of Abu Bakr in Delhi and Bu Ali in Panipat, comparing their historical evolution and social organization. It submits that Waqf-managed Sufi shrines tend to be more Islamized than those without such management. Furthermore, the theoretical distinction between Bashara and Beshara is often blurred in reality. Empirical study of these shrines does not immediately indicate their Qalandar affiliation, as their social life closely resembles that of Chishti and other Bashara shrines.

Historically, the rebellious nature of Qalandars diminished when they settled down and established their own Khanqahs. Over time, they developed cordial relations with Chishti saints, showing an integration of Sufi traditions. This work contributes to the understanding of Sufism as it is practiced in India.