Images

Sheema Kermani defies act of terrorism, performs at Lal Shahbaz Qalandar's shrine

Sheema Kermani defies act of terrorism, performs at Lal Shahbaz Qalandar's shrine

Four days after the deadly bomb blast, the dancer/activist was seen dancing at the shrine.
Updated 21 Feb, 2017

Last week, nearly 85 people were killed and over 300 injured in a suicide bomb explosion at Lal Shahbaz Qalandar's dargah in Sehwan Thursday evening.

A day after the attack, devotees gathered at the shrine to resume dhammal in defiance of not only the attackers but also the police. "This is no place for the police," said Haja Shah, one of the shrine's caretakers, with tears in his eyes. "This is our place."

Sunday afternoon, dancer/activist Sheema Kermani showed consolidatory with the victims and people of Sehwan by dancing at the shrine.

She shared with Images: "The message is basically of love and peace. I feel that to counter hatred and death, dance and music and other related arts work as therapy and as a bridge."

"The purpose of the performing arts is to 'uplift humanity' - to make us better human beings, to create an atmosphere of harmony and togetherness. The land of Sindh has always reverberated with the sound of the drums, the beat of the dancing feet and the poetry of these great Sufi saints who taught us all this - and I did the dhammal with all of us in my mind and my heart - along with the sorrow for those who were killed one has the hope that life will go on with beauty and love. This was my message and my dance!"

Kermani added that her dance invited other women to join her as well.

"The response of the crowd was amazing, other local women got up and started doing the dhammal along with me - even when we were singing and dancing on the road leading to the shrine the shopkeepers were throwing rose petals on us - I think we helped to revive a feeling of joy and strength in the continuity of dhammal and music and song."

Her colleague Waheed Ali told us the reason of the visit to Sehwan. "We keep visiting various shrines and cultural places as such that promote peace and the arts but to go to Sehwan at this time was more important than ever. We went to show solidarity, to remind the locals that they've not been forgotten."

Sheema Kermani performs at Lal Shahbaz Qalandar's shrine just days after the bomb blast - Photo credits: Waheed Ali
Sheema Kermani performs at Lal Shahbaz Qalandar's shrine just days after the bomb blast - Photo credits: Waheed Ali

"Our message was that we are not afraid and we will continue to dance; we are still standing here," he added.


An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Waheed Ali as Sheema Kermani's employee. He is in fact the activist's colleague. The error is regretted.

Comments

YOURSTRULY Feb 20, 2017 02:38pm
Salutations to the devotees and the believers..
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P.K. Jain (India) Feb 20, 2017 03:14pm
That is great news from Pakistan. The matter is really about diversty of thuths and a Central Truth. My namaskar to Ms Sheema Kirmani and the other devotees.
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SN Feb 20, 2017 04:27pm
An inspiration to us all, as always.
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snagesh Feb 20, 2017 05:02pm
Hats off the lady and the Shrine team. You are the inspiration and hope. Every faith should have rationalist like you which makes us believe in it more
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sATT Feb 20, 2017 05:18pm
This is the light of sub-continent nobody can douse off.
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shopman Feb 20, 2017 05:44pm
Hats off to Ms. Kermani. Someone please post a video of her dance. The pictures doing rounds on the net are simply brilliant.
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Calypso Feb 20, 2017 05:49pm
Thank you for your courage Ms. Kermani. I have an urge to quote "Non passaran" (We won´t let them come through), the slogan of Nicaragua revolution. And, Ms. Kermani, I just listned to Bob Dylan´s Mr. Bojangles sung by Sammy Devis Jr. Both of them would certainly bow to your courage. Ms. Kermaini and other participants in Dhamal (hopefully many ladies): I knew a man Bojangles and he'd dance for you in worn out shoes Silver hair, ragged shirt and baggy pants, that old soft shoe He'd jump so high, he'd jump so high, will he likely touch down ? Mr. Bojangles, Mr. Bojangles, dance. (Dance, Dance, Dance for peace and love)
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Wonderful Feb 20, 2017 06:05pm
Sheema thru her dances epitomizes what life is about. It is about sharing, it is about living, it is about giving joy and happiness, it is about realizing and experiencing the very joy of being alive. We are most fortunate that we have a wonderful flower that is blooming, where there is despair. She gives hope and strength to so many victims.
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abbas Feb 20, 2017 06:49pm
Hats off to Sheema g; manifesting defiance in the face of social intolerance and male chauvinism. She is our pride and we all love her.
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Amir Ayub Feb 20, 2017 07:08pm
This way is also a solution to discourage terrorists. I hoped after watching these videoes the master mind of the terrorists will not be happy and that we people want.
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S. A. M. Feb 20, 2017 07:11pm
all strengths to you sheema.
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Harun al shEikh Feb 20, 2017 07:13pm
Sheema Kermani -- you are a brave lady. Hats off !!! A lady with highest courage. This is exactly what is needed. Terrorism defeated all the way. You made me very proud. Jiye Sufism !! Jiye Sindh !!!
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Hoop Feb 20, 2017 07:15pm
there are warriors and there are warriors! Well done Sheema. That took some courage
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Ayan das Feb 20, 2017 07:48pm
Thumps up and respect for madam
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Akram Feb 20, 2017 09:00pm
I support them in spirit even though I cannot be there, it is when we are too afraid to follow our convictions that the terrorists have won. The best answer to them is to confront them and Dance!
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Mirza Feb 20, 2017 09:27pm
Hussaini laal qalandar, dama daamm mussst qalandarr
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Mahendra Singh Feb 20, 2017 09:38pm
This is what called faith, this is religion, this is humane... respect for Sheema
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Ash Feb 20, 2017 10:47pm
Kabir once said - Laali mere laal ki - jit dekhon tit laal laali dekhan main gayi - main bhi ho gayi laal!
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zs Feb 21, 2017 07:10am
Publicity stunt.
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aslam shaikh Feb 21, 2017 07:24am
Our daughters and mothers should learn this sacred art.
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Paras Kumar Feb 21, 2017 09:32am
Great act of passion and a slap to redicals !!
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vimla Feb 21, 2017 10:55am
Commendable effort by the spirited lady. Lets share love & hopes.
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Qazi Salahuddin Feb 21, 2017 12:04pm
Its goods, but dancing on the floor where many innocents killed seems a double meaning. One to the terrorist that we will not step back against the terror threat. Another, also vital we as a nation are more inclined to our culture rather than innocent lives. Instead, there should be some action to help the victims for help. Heard that the hospitals in Sehwan are not enough to meet the local demand. If Shima performed for this cause, it would be a value addition to the society. Otherwise it seems a status quo. The art and culture is for live and people to develop their thoughts, that what I understand the meaning of it.
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Parvez Feb 21, 2017 12:30pm
Sheema Kermani not just bold and courageous.......but iconic as well.
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Surya kant Feb 21, 2017 02:25pm
Sufis are people of Truth. I would love to dance with them as well.
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KnowTheTruth Feb 21, 2017 04:42pm
Hats off to classical dancer Sheema Kermani. She is doing a great job by defying terrorism and hatred using these ancient dance forms that teach harmony. She is keeping these dance forms alive in a society that (by and large) does not value its cultural roots. Her contribution to the field of art/culture would deserve some of the highest cultural awards/recognition in India, such as the Padmashree or Padmabhushan if she were to perform in India. The existence of these dance forms in Pakistan does a great job in reminding the people of both nations that they are connected by a common history and culture that dates several hundred years prior to the partition (which is not even 70 years old!) . It only means that people from the two nations can connect better with each other than they can with any other people in Asia, Europe or America. Wishing her good luck, good health and vigour to take the cause of peace forward.
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DM Feb 21, 2017 10:19pm
@Qazi Salahuddin you understand nothing!!! first give colors to women and allow them on road in colors...all the violence will stop automatically,....but this will require a rebirth for almost every man in Paksitan and in many parts of the world....
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indersoni Feb 22, 2017 07:08am
Sheema ji you are life pro invite you to usa for your courage please
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Zulu Feb 22, 2017 10:32am
@aslam shaikh ...scared art????? No thanks
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