Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti: The Pioneer of Sufism in India

GS 1: Culture and History: Sufism in India

Why is it in the news?

• An Ajmer court on November 27 admitted a petition by the Hindu Sena claiming a Shiva temple lies beneath the Ajmer Sharif dargah and requesting an archaeological survey.
• The dargah, the mausoleum of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, is a significant site in the spread of Sufism in India.

Early Life and Spiritual Awakening

• Born in 1141 CE in Sistan, Persia (present-day Iran), Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is believed to be a descendant of Prophet Muhammad. Orphaned at 14, his spiritual journey began after meeting Ibrahim Qandozi, a mystic who inspired him to seek life’s deeper truths.
• Motivated by this encounter, Moinuddin embarked on a path of self-discovery, studying theology, grammar, philosophy, ethics, and religion in the seminaries of Bukhara and Samarkand by age 20.
• His spiritual quest led him to Khwaja Usman Harooni, a Sufi master of the Chishti order, near Herat. Under Harooni’s rigorous mentorship, Moinuddin was initiated into the Chishti silsila (chain of spiritual descent) and set on his mission.

Arrival in Ajmer and the Title of Garib Nawaz

• Moinuddin’s journey brought him to India, where he accepted Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki as his first disciple in Afghanistan before moving to Multan and Lahore.
• In Lahore, he meditated at Ali Hujwiri’s shrine and later travelled to Delhi and Ajmer around 1191. At the time, Ajmer was the capital of the Chauhan kingdom, ruled by Prithviraj III, whose reign ended after Muhammad of Ghor’s victory in 1192.
• Witnessing the suffering caused by the conqueror’s armies, Moinuddin chose to remain in Ajmer. He and his wife, Bibi Ummatulla, established a modest mud hut, offering refuge, food, and solace to the needy.
• His selfless service earned him the title “Garib Nawaz” or “Friend of the Poor.” They also established a langarkhana (community kitchen) to feed all, regardless of religion or status.

Teachings and Inclusivity

• Moinuddin interacted with Hindu sages and mystics, finding common ground in their devotion to the divine and rejection of orthodoxy.
• His teachings emphasized equality, divine love, and service to humanity, transcending sectarian boundaries during an era of Islamic conquest and political upheaval. His approach to spirituality integrated Indian cultural practices, fostering inclusivity and harmony.

Legacy and Spread of the Chishti Order

• Sufism, which emerged between the 7th and 10th centuries as a devotional and ascetic movement within Islam, organized around spiritual orders like the Chishti, founded by Abu Ishaq Shami in the 10th century.
• Moinuddin and his disciples were instrumental in spreading the Chishti order across the Indian subcontinent. Prominent disciples included Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, who established the order’s base in Delhi and influenced rulers like Iltutmish.
• Baba Fariduddin carried the teachings to Punjab, while Nizamuddin Auliya and Chirag Dehlavi continued the legacy in Delhi. Hamiduddin Nagauri served as a spiritual leader in Nagaur.

Royal Patronage and Continuing Influence

• Moinuddin’s teachings gained immense popularity, receiving patronage from rulers like Mughal Emperor Akbar, who made multiple pilgrimages to Ajmer, beautified the shrine, and helped revive the city.
• The Ajmer Sharif Dargah became a spiritual and cultural hub, attracting pilgrims from diverse communities. Moinuddin’s teachings of love, compassion, and inclusivity remain relevant in India’s religiously diverse society, serving as a bridge between communities and fostering unity.

Notre-Dame Cathedral

GS 2: International Relations: Cathedral’s renovations and additions

Why is it in the news?

• Paris’ iconic Notre-Dame cathedral is set to reopen on December 7, five and a half years after a fire caused extensive damage. Ahead of the reopening, French President Emmanuel Macron will visit the site on November 29 to inspect the renovations.

Notre-Dame: A Gothic Masterpiece

• Notre-Dame de Paris, meaning “Our Lady of Paris,” is a renowned medieval Gothic cathedral and one of Paris’ most beloved landmarks. Famous for its rib vaulting, flying buttresses, stained-glass windows, and carved gargoyles, it has been a symbol of architectural brilliance since construction began in 1163.
• Over centuries, the cathedral saw major restorations and additions, including during the 17th and 18th centuries. Immortalized in Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, the cathedral has inspired adaptations in Hollywood and Disney, making its cultural impact undeniable.
• The restoration, which took five years, was supported by donations exceeding €840 million ($882 million) from individuals, organizations, and prominent French billionaires.
• These funds not only covered the reconstruction of the spire, roof, and other damaged parts but also left resources for additional investments in the building. Thousands of skilled craftspeople contributed to restoring the cathedral to its former glory.

Odisha’s Proposed Anti-Cheating Law

GS 2: Polity and Governance: Law curbing cheating in exams

Why is it in the news?

• The Odisha government plans to introduce the Odisha Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, to curb cheating and discrepancies in recruitment exams conducted by state agencies.
• This move aims to deter individuals, groups, and institutions involved in unfair practices that undermine the integrity of public examinations. Currently, Odisha lacks specific legal provisions to prevent examination malpractice.

Some of the Key Features

• The proposed legislation categorizes several actions as offences, including leaking question papers, unauthorized assistance during exams, tampering with answer sheets or documents, and violating security protocols.
• Other offences include manipulating computer networks or seating arrangements, creating fake websites for fraud, and holding exams in unapproved venues without written consent from the authorities.
• Offences under the law will be cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable. Individuals involved in unfair practices could face imprisonment of three to five years and fines of up to ₹10 lakh.
• Service providers found guilty of malpractice will be fined up to ₹1 crore and may also bear the examination’s proportionate cost. They will be barred from conducting public exams for four years.
• Senior management or directors of service provider firms found guilty may face imprisonment of three to ten years and fines of ₹1 crore. Organized crimes involving individuals, groups, or institutions could lead to imprisonment of five to ten years and fines starting at ₹1 crore.
• Additionally, properties of offending institutions may be seized, and examination costs recovered. Investigations under the law will be conducted by officers of DSP or ACP rank or higher.

The Need for the Law

• The decision follows widespread protests in October by job seekers demanding the cancellation of online exams for posts like revenue inspectors and ICDS supervisors, citing significant discrepancies.
• Allegations included exams being held in insecure venues like cyber cafes and small computer centres. In 2022, the Odisha Staff Selection Commission had to cancel exams for over 1,200 vacancies after question papers were leaked.
• This law aims to restore confidence in the state’s recruitment process by ensuring stringent penalties for violations.

Scientists Capture First Detailed Image of Star Outside Our Galaxy

GS 3: Science and Technology: Capturing images of stars outside our galaxy

Why is it in the news?

• For the first time, scientists have successfully captured a zoomed-in image of a star located outside our galaxy. The star, known as WOH G64, is situated 160,000 light years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, one of the smaller galaxies that orbits the Milky Way. The star appears surrounded by an egg-shaped cocoon.
• These observations were documented in the paper “Imaging the innermost circumstellar environment of the red supergiant WOH G64 in the Large Magellanic Cloud,” published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

How the Picture Was Taken

• Previously, scientists could only capture images of stars in other galaxies as points of light. However, using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI), researchers were able to reveal a detailed image of WOH G64.
• The VLTI, located in Cerro Paranal, Chile, consists of four 8-meter diameter telescopes and an interferometer called GRAVITY. This setup combines the light from the telescopes to create a resolution equivalent to that of a much larger telescope, enabling the high-resolution capture of WOH G64.

About WOH G64

• WOH G64 is believed to be the largest star in the Large Magellanic Cloud, with a size approximately 2,000 times the diameter of the Sun. The newly captured image shows that WOH G64 is nearing the final stages of its life.
• The star has recently shed its outer layer, surrounding itself with wreaths and arcs of gas and dust. According to study, “Massive stars explode with an energy equivalent to the Sun shining for all of its 10 billion years of life.”
• These supernova explosions have been observed, but this image is the first to show a star undergoing changes signalling its imminent death.

The Fate of Massive Stars

• As massive stars like WOH G64 deplete their nuclear fuel, which sustains their burning, their cores collapse.
• This collapse can lead to two possible outcomes: either the formation of a black hole, where gravity is so strong that not even light can escape, or a supernova explosion.
• These explosions create a host of elements, including zinc, silver, tin, gold, mercury, lead, and uranium.

UGC to Offer Flexible Duration Options for Undergraduate Degrees

GS 2: Society: Accommodating diverse academic needs

 Why is it in the news?

• Undergraduate students will soon have the flexibility to complete their degrees in shorter or longer durations than the standard three or four years. This decision, announced by the University Grants Commission (UGC), aims to accommodate diverse academic needs.
• Starting from the 2025-26 academic session, higher education institutions will have the option to offer Accelerated Degree Programmes (ADP) and Extended Degree Programmes (EDP), allowing students to tailor their education timelines.

About ADP and EDP

1) Accelerated Degree Programmes (ADP):

• Under ADP, students can complete their undergraduate degrees more quickly by earning additional credits. Students can opt for this programme at the end of the first or second semester.
• A three-year programme can be completed in five semesters (shortened by one semester), while a four-year programme can be completed in six or seven semesters (shortened by up to two semesters).

2) Extended Degree Programmes (EDP):

• EDP, on the other hand, allows students to take fewer credits per semester, extending the degree duration. This option is designed for students who need more time to complete their courses, with the possibility of extending the course duration by up to two semesters.

Objectives and Benefits of ADP and EDP

• These programmes aim to accommodate the varied academic abilities and needs of students. ADP is beneficial for high-performing students who wish to complete their degrees faster and enter the workforce or pursue higher studies sooner.
• EDP, on the other hand, supports students facing academic challenges, offering them an extended timeline to complete their studies without the stress of a heavy workload. Both options promote equity by ensuring that all students have the opportunity to achieve their educational goals.

Implementation of ADP and EDP

• Institutions will need to set up a committee to review applications for ADP and EDP at the end of the first or second semester. The committee will evaluate each student’s “credit-completing potential” based on their academic performance.
• For ADP students, up to 10% of the intake can be selected, while there is no cap for EDP students. The committee will also determine the minimum credits to be earned each semester based on the UGC’s Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programmes.
• The exams for ADP and EDP students will remain the same as those for standard degree programmes. ADP and EDP degrees will be treated on par with degrees completed within the standard duration.
• A note on the degree will indicate that the academic requirements were fulfilled within a shorter or extended timeframe. For students in ADP or EDP, the degree can also be awarded with honours or honours with research, depending on the programme and the credits completed.