Final Year Project

Project Title

Violence, Death, and Mourning: Exploring Grief as The Foundation of Shi'i Tradition Through Marsiya Nigari

Description

Through the exploration of the intricate interplay of grief, melancholia, and creativity, this paper dives into the depths of grief, interwoven with bittersweetness, offering a profound response to the violence of death. To explore the notions of grief and melancholia this paper focuses on the violent tragedy of Karbala and the death of Imam Hussain (A.S) in the Shia tradition. Marsia Nigari, being deeply rooted in notions of mourning, and lamentation is a creative manifestation of grief serving at the hearts of Shia and Sub-continent traditions. It is the embodiment of the legacy of Imam Hussain (A.S) and his grief that remains present in the archival memories of the community. This persistent presence of the lost in our current reality embodies what is known as hauntology, profoundly shaping our existence today (as expressed in "aik ajab amad o shud hai k na mazi hai na haal" by Jaun Elia). In essence, grief lies at the very core of the existence of Shias providing us with a way of living in which ‘We don't heal from grief; but we heal with grief’.