Hussain Global 2022

Surah Isra Ayat 33 & Surah Infitar Ayat 6

We are surrounded by signs of God. Art represents symbols and signs that evoke the heart to see and feel that words fail to convey. Art representing Imam Hussain, therefore, becomes a means to connecting to the Divine through Imam Hussain- a divine symbol of love and truth.

The release of VR Karbala ushered in a new model of experiencing the events of Karbala. While VR

The release of VR Karbala ushered in a new model of experiencing the events of Karbala. While VR Karbala evoked a significant emotional response, i t advanced the conversation on how effective VR, AR and gamified deliver y can shape the Karbala narrative. The objective here is not only to evaluate the effectiveness of these new technologies but also to determine the support structures and training required to continue to scale them. The time is not far off where a conversation about an Imambargah or Hussainiya in the Metaverse will emerge. The Shia diaspora is spread globally, and with the rising costs of living, we are witnessing a movement of Shia families into rural, remote communities with limited to no physical centres to access. What will the virtual Imambargah look like going into the future, and what are the core activities we need to initiate to support the global Shia community?

The inspirational ethos of Karbala to stand up against oppression remains undoubted. However, how do eulogies and self-flagellation impact the political milieu? This panel studies poems such as Agha Shahid Ali’s Muharram in Srinagar and discusses their impact on political reasoning. While a tricky question, this panel discusses the role of mourning ceremonies in disrupting political hegemonies and offering new rationales.

Campaigns such as #whoisHussain have opened up a necessary conversation around the role of social media in generating awareness around Karbala. New Media theorists caution against the use of social media for the sake of production alone – instead, given the hermeneutics involved, we are advised to analyze engagement. How can social media b e used to effectively further the conversation? Is there a need to coach the next cohort of Hussaini influencers?

Our brain is now trained to recapitulate the events of Karbala by activating some specific networks that promote empathy, a sense of sacrifice, righteousness, courage to stand up to a tyrant and support for the oppressed. It is important to note that the same networks are activated when we recall the attributed names of the Almighty.

Although the Partition of India and Pakistan is often seen to have created a boundary between the two countries, Azadari rituals have created bridges for sharing and exchange. From the cross-border sharing of eulogies and mourning patterns to the movement of clerics and recitors, Azadari has built a bond between the two countries. In this session, we explore these bonds and examine the impact this has had on relations between the two countries and how that shapes Azadari in diaspora communities.

The mourning for Karbala takes on radically different versions across cultures. By all definitions, culture provides a design for living, and studies reveal a significant role of culture in how Karbala is mourned – from the “Creolization” of mourning in the Caribbean to the propagation of blood donation drives, the space for Hussaini commemorations is both fluid and contentious. This panel studies how and why culture remains such a key influence in commemoration.

Exploring the study and evolution of landforms that were both directly and indirectly caused by humans over centuries, and in turn, influenced the region’s cultures. In this panel, Aliya speaks about its redesign and technologies that can be used to study the region.