Description
An immersive evening exploring how poetry, ritual and oral tradition have preserved the memory of Karbala across generations and cultures.
Bringing together recitation, reflection and historical conversation, the event explores the role of noha, marsiya and devotional poetry in transmitting grief, resistance, identity and collective memory.
Moving between performance and discussion, the evening reflects on how histories survive not only through archives and institutions, but through sound, emotion, ritual and the repeated act of remembrance.
About the Academic
Dr Ali Naqvi
Dr. Ali Naqvi is an associate professor at the University of York who comes from Leeds. He grew up as a reciter deeply rooted in the literary traditions of Marsiya and Noha, inspired by his grandfather, the poet and Iqbal scholar Alama Agha Sadiq. He has worked extensively throughout the Middle East, Africa, and USA. His current research interests revolve around Narratives, Organizations, Leadership, AI, Inclusion, Power, and EDI.
About the Speaker
Owais Hassan
Owais Hassan hails from a distinguished family deeply rooted in the service and promotion of Azadari of Syed-e-Shohada (AS) and the Zikr of Ahl-e-Bait (AS). This spiritual devotion has been passed down through generations and is regarded by the family as a sacred gift, humbly accepted as a blessing from the Ahl-e-Bait (AS) themselves. The art of reciting nohas, soaz, and marsiyas, along with a profound talent for poetic expression, has been a hallmark of Owais’s lineage. His forefathers were revered soazkhwans and contributed significantly to the literary and spiritual traditions associated with Azadari. From childhood, Owais has been actively involved in reciting devotional poetry and nohas, carrying forward the rich tradition of expressing love and loyalty to Imam Hussain (AS) and the Ahl-e-Bait (AS) through his voice and words.
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