Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar inaugurated the Syed Mohammad Gesu Daraz Research Academy on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, within the precincts of the historic Khwaja Banda Nawaz Dargah in Kalaburagi. The launch underscores the state’s commitment to cultural preservation and positions the academy as a pivotal hub for Sufi scholarship in the Deccan.

Historical Vision

The idea for the academy was first articulated by the late Hazrat Syed Shah Mohammad Al‑Hussaini, a revered scholar who envisioned a centre dedicated to the saint’s spiritual and literary output. Later, the late Hazrat Syed Shah Gesu Daraz Khusro Hussaini championed the project, mobilising resources and community support to bring the vision to fruition.

Core Objectives

According to Academy Director Prof. Mohammad Mustafa Shariff, the institution focuses on three pillars: (1) collection of rare manuscripts and original works, (2) translation into multiple languages and digitalisation for global access, and (3) facilitation of rigorous academic research. The academy intends to serve scholars, students, and the general public by making the saint’s corpus widely available.

Current Holdings and Ongoing Projects

Presently the academy safeguards more than 500 rare Arabic, Persian and Dakhni‑Urdu manuscripts, including a silk‑embroidered handwritten copy of the Holy Quran. It also houses over 30 original treatises authored by Khwaja Banda Nawaz. Ongoing translation projects cover seminal Sufi texts such as Asmar‑ul‑Asrar, Sirr‑e‑Mohammadi, Maktubat‑e‑Banda Nawaz and the celebrated Ma’arif‑ul‑Awarif.

Government Support and Future Outlook

Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwar, Health Minister U.T. Khader and several senior officials attended the ceremony. Chief Minister Shivakumar pledged full state backing, emphasizing that the academy will play a “significant role in preserving the Deccan’s Sufi tradition” and in transmitting the saint’s teachings to future generations.

Why This Matters?

Preserving the Sufi heritage of the Deccan reinforces India’s pluralistic identity and offers a unique lens into the region’s syncretic past. By making rare texts accessible, the academy not only fuels scholarly research but also promotes intercultural dialogue on a global scale.