Punjab University Department of French organised a lecture on ‘Sufism in Pakistan’ here at the department on Tuesday. Department Incharge Dr Saleha Nazir, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion. Centre for South Asian Studies, CNRS-EHESS France Research Fellow Prof Dr Michel Boivin delivered a lecture on his recent research project related to Sufism in Sehwan Sharif. The research work titled “Artifacts of Devotion: Approaching Sufism through Material Culture” was published in October 2011. Boivin is a distinguished scholar with a double specialisation in Islamic studies and contemporary history. He also heads an interdisciplinary study group working on Sehwat Sharif, and is the Karachi Centre of Social Sciences director. Boivin’s focus is on the social and cultural evolution of Muslim communities, from British colonisation to the post-partition period. A collaboration to launch research projects on social and cultural aspects of Pakistan was also discussed on the occasion. At the end, Dr Saleha presented a memorial certificate to Dr Boivin.
