Sindh government failed to get financial assistance from Turkey to establish Sufi University at Bhit Shah despite several attempts, Business Recorder has learnt. Sindh government has to start Sufi University from Janury 2011, but it could not be happened due to financial crisis faced by provincial government due to heavy floods of last year.
The President Asif Ali Zardari had asked provincial government to establish this higher education institute in order to enhance the education standard and opportunities. Later, Zardari had asked the Sindh government for getting financial assistance from Turkey in order to establish this University but no result has come out in this regard. The concerned officials of Culture department told Business Recorder that Sindh government is still working on this project.
According to a proposal of university available with Business Recorder, the academic year of Sufi University shall have started from 2011, with the admissions in the undergraduate courses but it was not happened. In the semester 1-2, Human Mind/Ritual 1, Psychology/Neurology, Theories of religions, linguistics and structuralism 1, Origin of Sufism, Western traditions and practices, chronological study of saints/Suifs and visual art 1 would be taught to the students.
Similarly, in semester 3-4, mysticism and major religions, Judaism and African religions, Development of Sufism in Islamic thought, comparative study of religions and traditions, IT and research, linguistics and structuralism 2, Islamic Sufism, Visual art 2, Expressive elements in Sufism/Sama (miracle, festivities Music, Art, Qawali, Dhamal, Tasawaf, Symbolism), Human Mind/ Ritual, Psychology/Neurology, Human Mind/Ritual 2, Psychology/ Neurology, Sufi week (activities of creative and artistic expression) and Heritage of Sufism would be included in the course.
While, in semester 5-6, Literature (Linguistics and structuralism advance 3), Tradition of Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Zen, Culture of memorials and tombs construction, Sufism in Sindh, Visual art 3, Speculative art presentation, Compulsory (detail characteristics of either one personality of south Asian Sufi eg Mansoor, Attar, Jalaldin Roomi, Ghulam Farid, Chishtiya's, Qadri, Suharwardi, Naqshabandi, Shah Abdulaltif Bhitai, Bullhay Shah, Sachal etc. Transformation, achievement and services of Sufis in the society, research and methodology and mid-term project (Presentation and documentation) would be added in the curriculum.
In semester 7-8, theology and philosophy, thesis viva and presentation, art music and Sufism, poetry to Sufism and oriental architecture would be the part of studies. Proposal suggested that total Rs 65.590 million would be required for the initial year.