Paper short abstract:

The paper discusses the encounter of the Hindu prince Hardev with Nizamuddin Auliya’ in Nizami Bansuri, a text allegedly translated from a single Persian manuscript by Khwaja Hasan Nizami (d. 1955). I analyse the text as a means of instructing both Hindu and Muslim disciples of the author.

Paper long abstract:

Nizami Bansuri, a text allegedly translated from a single surviving manuscript, describes an encounter of Hindu prince Hardev, who is captured in the Deccan and brought to Delhi during the early 14th century, with Khwaja Nizamuddin, by far the most influential Sufi master in India of that day. In the course of the narrative that proceeds as a dairy and is interspersed with copious margin notes by the translator/author, Hardev is introduced into the circle of disciples of Nizamuddin and the Sufi way of life. The narrative culminates in Hardev's conversion to Islam.

It would be tempting to speculate about the authenticity of the text or analyse it as a part of Khwaja Hasan Nizami's construction of history in recently divided India. However, I choose to analyse the text in relation to Khwaja Hasan Nizami's career as a Sufi master who guided numerous Hindu and Muslim disciples through printed texts. As a didactic tool, the text achieves multiple aims. It includes a historical sketch of the Chishti order, relays information on the correct practice of Sufism and, interestingly, manages to portray Hinduism as a valid way to approach God while simultaneously encouraging conversion to Islam.