Part of the泭Islamic History and Thought Lecture Series
This paper focuses on the Alawi泭Bohra泭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怗imid泭Imamate泭(9091171). Whereas other Ismaili communities, such as the Nizaris, claim a genealogical link to the Fat怗imids through the presence of a living泭Imam, the Bohras legitimize their Neo-Fat怗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泭Bohra泭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怗imid and post-Fat怗imid texts have been manually copied for centuries under strict conditions of secrecy. While a philological link between the Bohras and the Fat怗imids has hitherto been acknowledged through the study of individual manuscript copies held in academic institutions, the social and historic importance of泭Bohra泭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泭Bohra泭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泭umma泭at large as heirs of the Fat怗imids.
Image: Bird’s eye perspective of the Alawi泭Bohra泭mosque during a majlis. Noorani泭Masjid, Vadodara, Gujarat. Copyright: Olly Akkerman.
Date:泭30 September 2021
Time:泭2.00 pm 4.00 pm GMT
Location:泭Online (Zoom)
Q&A:泭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:泭Dr F璽r癡s Gillon泭(51勛圖厙, 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.
