Rani Khanam, the Sufi who dance Kathak to Islamic verses

Ajay0 · Jun 16, 2023

Article on Rani Khanam, a female Sufi dancer who has dared to dance to Islamic verses defying patriarchal traditions.

Rani Khanam, the Sufi who dares to dance Kathak to Islamic verses

Coming from a conservative Muslim society, what challenges did you have to face to become a Kathak dancer?

Since the time I was born, I have been hearing the Azaan and studying verses of the Quran. This has created divine vibrations in my body and made me more spiritual. There is movement in the readings of the Quran’s verses. I have been dancing since childhood. With this strong background, the movements have evolved automatically. I was told that dancing is banned in Islam. I was the first Muslim girl from my orthodox community to take out my veil (burkha) against the will of the community. It was my innermost desire to dance, to free myself from the suppression. I started dancing within and chose to learn Kathak.

You are the only Indian Muslim Kathak classical dancer of distinction who braved to dance on Islamic verses and Sufiana verses of mystic Sufi poets. Tell us more about this 'Sufi Kathak' and the Islamic verses, Sufiana poets, Qawwalis, Indo-Persian ghazals and Sufi folk compositions that influence your dance.

I believe the essence of Islam in its purest aspect has been embedded in Sufism. Actually, Sufi is a way of life, like Sanatan Dharma. There are no rules and regulations – there is only a spiritual thought, a philosophy that lights up the path we are to follow for eternal happiness. The prerequisite to this is a mind and body free of murky material issues. The journey on the Sufi path is an inward one. Every day, I embark on this inward travel. It’s like a churning one has to do within oneself to spill out the accumulated negativity contributed by external stimuli.
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