Devotional folk song called ‘Zikir’ are associated with which of the following Indian state?
West Bengal
Odisha
Uttar Pradesh
Assam
Answer: Assam
The Assamese Muslim community of Assam sings the Assamese folk devotional songs Zikir and Zari. These songs’ lyrics have philosophical undertones and literally refer to the body in some way.
In a way, the Zikir songs are the dehbichar geet of Islam. These tunes feature singing, handclapping, and string instrument dancing. People of all genders participate in this performance. Ajan Fakir, a saint who travelled from Baghdad to Assam and was influenced by sufibad, was the first to introduce and create these songs.
All Zikir compositions have as their fundamental theme the futility of existence and the fallacy of artificial institutions. The majority of these Zikirs run afoul of the sufi beliefs with their conception of illusion, submission to Allah, and strong desire to lose one’s identity in him.
The Arabic term “Ziqr,” which means “to recall” or “the act of announcing the excellent characteristics of Allah,” is whence the word “zikir” gets its name. Zikir songs illustrate two different types of Islamic teachings: one for the everyday Muslim and the other for those who seek the purest route to redemption.
The term “Zari” comes from the word “Jari,” which denotes sorrow or crying out in pain. The stories of Haidar Ghazi and Hasan-Hosein, as well as scenes from the Karbala catastrophe, are told in zari songs, which also depict societal inequities. To spread Islam to uneducated Muslim people, Zari is sung in a group and in the saddest tonality possible with rhythms indicated by clapping. Most often, it is sung at the yearly Muharram celebration.
The songs are in informal Assamese, with a few phrases from Persian and Arabic. By using native themes and visuals, the songs are designed to blend seamlessly with the rural Assamese ambiance. Assamese folk songs like ojapali, bihu, bianam, husuri, etc. had an effect on them.
These tunes have been verbally transmitted from one generation to the next. They were on the point of extinction when they were only recorded in writing in the middle of the previous century. Famous author Syed Abdul Malik collected roughly 90 of Azan Fakir’s 160 pieces from various locations in Assam and published them in 1958 as a way to preserve literature.
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