Rumi Foundation with its vision to create a world without boundaries and oneness of the human race was established in Delhi, India in December 2004 as a national body. The Foundation was instituted with a wide framework of ideas and objectives. Each founding member contributed to creating a structure based on activities that were immediate and futuristic for society.
The main objective of the Foundation is using creative communication to achieve it vision. Muzaffar Ali, an uncompromising creative artist, a painter and filmmaker who has dedicated his life to humanitarian and cultural causes and films, with a group of like minded friends and mentor Dr Karan Singh as Chairman, set up this body as a Charitable Society.
Since its inception Rumi Foundation has established two flagship festivals namely JAHAN E KHUSRAU, World Sufi Music Festival in 2001 and WAJID ALI SHAH FESTIVAL of Conserving Cultures in 2013 along with several other more recent but equally relevant events. TEH ~ The Exploration of the Handmade established in February 2019 is dedicated to upgrading design content and skills of craftspeople and ANJUMAN E DIL, understanding and promotion of Urdu as a language of love and compassion was established in November 2019. Rumi Foundation also publishes coffee table books and journals on India’s composite culture. 5 editions have been published so far. It partners with DWAR PE ROZI CHARITABLE SCHOOL in Kotwara, Uttar Pradesh which was founded in 1995 for the underprivileged children of the region with the aim to provide employment oriented humanist education.
Jahan e Khusrau, was first held in 2001 the ruins of Arab ki Sarai, Human Tomb Monuments in the precincts of Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia, Delhi which is also the resting place of Hazrat Amir Khusrau. Designed and directed by Muzaffar Ali, Jahan e Khusrau came under the aegis of Rumi Foundation in 2005. This 3 day annual Festival brings to life the poetry of the mystics in voices that sing from their soul in the magical ambience of the ruins under a starlit sky. Each of the three days presents different artistes and the audience congregates for the peace it emanates. It is designed as a seamless cinematic experience where artistes and musicians from different parts of the world and the country come together to become part of one spiritual surrender. Over the last two decades artistes from Turkey, Bangladesh, Sudan, Morocco, Canada, USA, Italy, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, Germany, Uzbekistan, Tunisia along with several other countries have participated in this festival. Special poetry is chosen by Muzaffar Ali for the performing artistes which is rehearsed for days before being presented to ensure a rich and concise repertoire. The festival is filmed on a multi-camera set up and the Foundation holds a rich archive of these spiritually charged Festivals. The sets, the production design and the costumes are created in great detail by Meera Ali and her dedicated and experienced Kotwara Studios Team. Jahan e Khusrau is the pioneer of the renaissance of the Sufi music movement in India, taking it out of the dargah to present it to thirsty masses. Following its success, several Sufi singers have sprung up all over India, many of whom have been nurtured on this festival itself. Besides Delhi, Jahan e Khusrau has been held in Boston, London, Patna, Srinagar, Jaipur and Lucknow.
Wajid Ali Shah Festival was instituted in 2013 by the Lucknow Chapter of Rumi Foundation to project the exquisite culture of Awadh in it’s most creative and regenerative form. Designed as a carefully curated experience of Conserving Cultures it brings to life the quintessence of a seamless blend of two cultures popularly known as the Ganga–Jamuni tehzeeb. The last Nawab of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah, left behind a legacy of unity and coexistence in his lifetime as he was exiled by the British in 1856 to Matia Burj near Calcutta. He continues to be remembered as an icon of harmony even now, almost a hundred and fifty years of his passing. The glorified tradition of kathak, thumri and Krishna bhakti became larger than life as the people of his beloved Lucknow began to take his absence from Lucknow emotionally symbolic of Krishna having left Vrindavan. Promoting tourism has become an important aspect to empower concern for conservation of the Ganga Jamuni culture of harmony and integration. It is this feeling that Rumi Foundation has nostalgically celebrated in these festivals and continues to do so. This two day annual festival takes you through several heritage spaces that Lucknow is known for reminiscent of the narrative of its erstwhile splendour bringing to life its arts and craft.
Over the years the Lucknow Chapter has organized several other events in Lucknow namely Jashn e Bedam Sufiana Mushaira held on 23rd February, 2011 at the Qaiserbagh Baradari, Jashn e Waris on 15th July, 2011 followed by Bazm e Dilbaran on 22nd October, 2011. Two editions of Jahan e Khusrau were also held in the ruins of Dilkusha Palace, Lucknow in the years 2012 and 2013. (can give links straight to picture gallery where some of these photos can be viewed)
Rumi Foundation also publishes journals and coffee table books on different geographical and cultural regions highlighting commonality of faiths that emerged out of Sufi thought and way of life- music, poetry, philosophy and craft . HU- the Sufi Way has presented the cultures of Punjab, Kashmir, Awadh and all embracing poetic universe of Rumi and Khusrau.
Since its inception Rumi Foundation has been active in the promotion of Art, Culture and Craft and has changed the mindset of people in a positive direction. It has inspired like-minded bodies and festivals to emerge on the cultural landscape of India. It has given an identity which draws people to this part of the subcontinent thus actively promoting responsible tourism. Today Rumi Foundation’s festivals are awaited globally and many people plan their visit to Delhi & Lucknow to coincide with Jahan e Khusrau and Wajid Ali Shah festivals.