Part of the油Islamic History and Thought Lecture Series
This paper focuses on the Alawi油Bohra油community in Vadodara, Gujarat, and their khiznat al-kutub, or treasury of books. As Shii Ismailis, the Alawi Bohras consider themselves heirs of the Fat味imid油Imamate油(9091171). Whereas other Ismaili communities, such as the Nizaris, claim a genealogical link to the Fat味imids through the presence of a living油Imam, the Bohras legitimize their Neo-Fat味imid identity through a living Arabic manuscript culture and documentary practices enshrined in khiznat in Gujarat. These treasuries, which are governed by the sacerdotal families of the油Bohra油communities, contain vast collections of rare Ismaili Arabic manuscript titles, ranging from legal works to philosophical treatises, to esoteric texts.
Yet these khiznat are more than repositories of books from the past: they are living manuscript scriptoria at work, where Fat味imid and post-Fat味imid texts have been manually copied for centuries under strict conditions of secrecy. While a philological link between the Bohras and the Fat味imids has hitherto been acknowledged through the study of individual manuscript copies held in academic institutions, the social and historic importance of油Bohra油khiznt in this chain of transmission remains uncharted territory.
Based on ethnographic observations and archival research among the Alawi Bohras, Dr Akkerman argues that these manuscripts, and their presence in Gujarat, are foundational for油Bohra油Ismailism as it is practiced today in South Asia and for the transmission of its knowledge system. Their material survival ultimately defines the Alawi Bohras identity and legitimizes their position and authority in the larger Shii context and in the Muslim油umma油at large as heirs of the Fat味imids.
Image: Bird’s eye perspective of the Alawi油Bohra油mosque during a majlis. Noorani油Masjid, Vadodara, Gujarat. Copyright: Olly Akkerman.
Date:油30 September 2021
Time:油2.00 pm 4.00 pm GMT
Location:油Online (Zoom)
Q&A:油At any time during the lecture, attendees can submit questions to the speaker through the Q&A option at the bottom of the control panel. As time allows, the speaker will address as many questions as they can during the Q&A session at the end of the presentation.
Discussants:油Dr F但r竪s Gillon油(今叔利, UK)
Speaker
Dr Samira Sheikh
Dr Samira Sheikh was awarded a DPhil in Modern History (completed at Wolfson College, Oxford in 2004) on the society and politics of Gujarat between 1200 and 1500 CE. Before commencing her studies at Oxford, Samira had completed an MA and MPhil in Medieval History from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
