By TCN News,
Hyderabad: Composite Culture of medieval India which still persists and has become hallmark of national identity is in-fact the gift of Persian Language, believes Lt. General Zameeruddin Shah, Vice-Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University.
Lt. Gen. Shah was speaking at the Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad in the inaugural session of the All India Persian Teacher’s Conference as Chief Guest.
Dr. Ghulam Raza Ansari delivering his lecture.
Speaking about the topic, “Persian Language and Literature at Hyderabad Deccan”, Lt. Gen. Shah said that right from the rulers, poets, historians to the Sufis and saints of Deccani particularly, Hyderabad played important role in promotion of Persian Language and Culture.
Prof. Mohammad Miyan, Vice-Chancellor, MANUU Presided over, while Dr. Ghulam Raza Ansari, Iranian Ambassador in India, was the Chief Guest.
In his address, Iranian Ambassador threw light on the role played by Persian language in different spheres of life in India during the last 800 years. He appreciated the efforts being taken in India to promote Persian.
Lt. General Zameeruddin Shah delivering his lecture
Deccan, Specially Hyderabad served the Persian language better than any other place, he said. In 1810 when first Persian Newspaper published in India, there was no newspaper at all in Iran, he revealed.
Persian language has immense potential in furthering cultural ties between Iran and India, the Ambassador reminded.
Persian language in India faced a difficult period during British Rule. However, personalities like Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad supported the language of ‘heart and love.
The Iranian Ambassador also thanked the Government of India for always patronizing the Persian language. “Indian Civilization is the best example of peaceful co-existence. Persian cannot be separated from Indian Culture,” he remarked.
Audience
Prof. Mohammad Miyan, Vice-Chancellor in his presidential address said that the University has proposed to establish a Centre for Central Asian Studies with a major focus on Iranian Studies. He suggested making Persian a language of common man so that it could survive.
Persian also has the major influence over Urdu language.
Prof. Azarmi Dokt Safavi in her address described the inaugural session, which saw speakers using three languages, as symbolic representation of Indian Culture. Speaking on the impact of Persian on medieval India, she revealed that Chatarpati Shivaji letters and Faraman, almost 5000 in number, are all in Persian.
One of the most impressive outcomes of the Indo-Iranian interaction was the impact of Persian on Indian Language and Literature is the well head of research for almost a thousand years of history and culture and has played a pivotal role in weaving its most unique culture pattern earlier.