Rumi is 800 this year
The poet Rumi, who is celebrated now in American poetry circles for his poems of love, would be 800 this year. Jalal ad-Din Rumi was born in the year B.C.E. 1207 (that’s a politically-correct A.D., more or less) in what is now Afghanistan; his family moved from Afghanistan during the Mongol invasions, travelling through Central Asia to Baghdad, Mecca, Damascus, and eventually settling in Western Turkey.
Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.
–Rumi
Rumi is closely identified with Sufi mysticism. He was also a composer of music. The Freer-Sackler Gallery in Washington DC (part of the Smithsonian Institution) had a celebratory evening earlier this month, featuring his music as played by Turkey’s Ahmet Ozhan ensemble (please excuse, Mr. Ozhan, the lack of proper diacritical marks on your name). The Embassy of Turkey to the United States sponsored this first event of the Freer-Sackler’s year of Rumi celebrations. Mr. Ozhan is considered the premier interpreter of the music of Jalal ad-Din Rumi.
The Freer-Sackler will continue to celebrate the many accomplishments of this world literary and religious figure throughout the year. If you can’t get to the Freer, however, you can still read the world’s best-selling author by visiting your local book shop, and you can find more information about this revered author, composer, and religious figure at the following sites:
Quotes from Rumi’s work
A quick biography
Deciding on a Rumi translation
The Freer and Sackler Galleries of the Smithsonian Institution
Special thanks this week to everyone who wrote in to comment!
March 30th, 2007 at 7:52 pm
[…] Bonnie Boyd notes that Rumi, the famous poet often associated with Sufism who was born in what is now Afghanistan, was born 800 years ago and she reports on a celebration of his work that took place in Washington, DC. Nathan Hamm […]
April 5th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
[…] Another event celebrating the life and work of Jalal al-Din Rumi: […]
April 10th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
Thanks for the heads-up. I am from Afghanistan, currently living in DC area, and a big fan of Rumi’s poetry - and will try to attend one of these events.
Btw. that is 1207 C.E. (Common Era, which is the modern, PC form of A.D.) - B.C.E. (Before Common Era) would be the equivalent of the old B.C. (Before Christ.)
April 10th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Dear Safrang,
Thanks for the correction–I almost had it but not quite.
Check back and fix my words anytime!!
Bonnie