For as long as I can remember I have been a huge fan of Rumi, the Sufi saint and poet from 13th century Persia. His poetry has this incredible ability to captivate one with its sheer beauty and profound insights about life. Rumi’s association with Shams of Tabriz, a wandering dervish made him discover Sufism, a religion that emphasises love, unity, and tolerance. Sometimes when I think about photography, I often find myself turning to Rumi's words for inspiration. His poetry is imbued with great wisdom and also possess a lyrical quality that resonates deeply with me. And so I thought I would showcase some photographs along with lines from Rumi’s poetry in today’s newsletter.
Rumi's poetry transcends time and feels relevant even today. His work is extremely popular and is celebrated by diverse people because it touches on various aspects of life. Rumi has talked about divine love, freedom, suffering, spirituality and much more in his poetry. I have often thought about how Rumi’s poetry and photography share some similarities. For instance, both aim to capture the essence or soul of a moment. Rumi also uses metaphors of light and shadow, which photographers understand as crucial elements in their craft.
Juxtaposing Rumi's poetry with photographs makes the overall viewing experience more immersive and profound. Witnessing an image that is framed with Rumi’s lines intensifies the emotional impact to create something more beautiful. Over a period of time, lines that have been taken from his works have become very popular quotes. Personally, Rumi's words offer me comfort in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming and chaotic. Through his works I feel he moves us towards healing, inspiration and self-reflection.
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©Shital Morjaria
Truly, the photos have added depth to the profound words. It's as if the photos were taken just to give a form to these very thoughts. Beautiful!
Beautiful words, beautiful photos.