Ferdowsi with the Shahnameh united Iranians in a time of turmoil
Khorasan Razavi – Mir Jalaleddin Kazzazi said: At a time when Iran was plagued by turmoil and fragmentation, Ferdowsi, by composing the Shahnameh, created an army of Persian words and language that helped preserve Iranian identity and reunite Iranians.
According to the reporter of Iran's Ambassador Arjan in Mashhad, Mirjalaluddin Kezazi, in the 6th Shahnameh Reading and Shahnameh Study Training Course held today in Mashhad Hall, stating that the Shahnameh has been one of the most important factors that unite Iranians throughout history, he said: Ferdowsi, in a time when Iran was plagued by chaos and fragmentation, by composing the Shahnameh created an army of words and Persian language that helped to preserve the Iranian identity and reunite Iranians. did
By raising the question of what Ferdowsi did for Iran, Kazazi stated: To answer this question, one must look at the historical background of Iran and the ways of ruling in ancient times. Because knowing the historical ups and downs of Iran makes it easier to understand the position of Ferdowsi and Shahnameh.
Referring to the Achaemenid ruling style, he added: One of the prominent features of this period was the governance structure based on the delegation of authority to various parts of the land. In such a way that the local rulers had authority in their internal affairs, but they followed the emperor in major issues. According to Kazazi, this method was one of the important and efficient features of the Achaemenid political structure.
Referring to the position of women in the Achaemenid era, this Shahnameh scholar also pointed to the historical evidence obtained from Persepolis and said: the documents of this period show that women played an effective role in various activities, including in the organization and management of affairs.
Kazzazi further considered the Parthian period as one of the brilliant times of Iranian history and explained the importance of the word "Pahlavi" in the Persian language by referring to the cultural expansion and coexistence of different groups in that period. He also criticized the change of the governance structure in the Sassanid era and stated: the concentration of power and dismantling of local authority, among other factors, created the ground for Iran's greater vulnerability.
Shahnameh; An army of words to protect the Iranian identity
Referring to the chaos of Iran after the collapse of the ruling system, this writer considered the Shahnameh as one of the important factors in preserving the historical and cultural continuity of Iranians and said: In a time when Iran was politically fragmented, Ferdowsi created an internal army of words and Persian language with the Shahnameh. An army that united Iranians from different origins and dialects.
Emphasizing the role of the Persian language in the formation of the common identity of Iranians, he added: Despite linguistic and ethnic differences, Iranians consider themselves Iranian and are proud of being Iranian. The Persian language is the link between Iranians, and Ferdowsi, by composing the Shahnameh, played a big role in safeguarding this cultural heritage.
Referring to a conversation attributed to the Egyptian journalist, Mohammad Hassanin Heikal, about the difference between the cultural fates of Iran and Egypt, Kazazi said that in response to the reason why the Iranian language and culture persisted, the presence of Ferdowsi was considered one of the most important factors of this persistence.
Shahnameh stories; Capacities for performing arts
In another part of his speech, this Shahnameh scholar linked the Shahnameh with the performing arts and said: If we read the stories of the Shahnameh from a dramatic point of view and carefully, we will find that many of them have the capacity to become a play or visual work.
Pointing to Ferdowsi's ability to tell stories and characterizations, he emphasized the wide capacity of Shahnameh to be adapted in performing arts and considered it a valuable treasure to be used in today's artistic formats.
Ferdowsi's Shahnameh is a wise book to respond to the needs of today's people
In another part of this meeting, Abdul Hamid Ziyai, a writer and literary researcher, emphasized the necessity of rereading Ferdowsi's thoughts and said: Shahnameh should not be limited only to narration and narration; This work is a wisdom that by exploring its hidden layers, one can find answers to the problems of man and society today.
Referring to the place of Khorasan in the history of Persian thought and literature, Ziyai mentioned Ferdowsi as one of the greatest figures of this land and said: The history of Persian literature from another point of view is also the history of philosophy and thought. Because poetry has provided a platform for expressing the thoughts of philosophers and mystics in different periods.
He considered the Shahnameh to be an open work and ready to talk with the audience and added: This book is silent, but it is waiting for our questions. We should share our presuppositions and questions with it and draw out the answer according to the needs of today's society. Reading the Shahnameh does not mean stopping in the graveyard of ancient texts or sanctifying the works of the past, but it should lead to the discovery of ideas that are applicable in our lives today.
Referring to the beginning of the Shahnameh with the phrase "In the name of God, life and wisdom," this literary researcher said: By choosing these two concepts, Ferdowsi emphasizes the importance of human life and wisdom; Two values that he believes have been neglected in many periods.
Zia'i continued: Ferdowsi's emphasis on life and wisdom reminds us of the necessity of protecting human life and prioritizing people's lives over ideas and ideologies. Also, wisdom has always needed attention and recognition in our culture.
Referring to the verse "To the beholders of the Creator / Don't see the two beholders", Ferdowsi said: Ferdowsi called the audience to reflect and overcome superficial perceptions with such verses at a time when some currents of thought presented a humanistic image of God. This view shows that Shahnameh has the capacity of philosophical and rational reading.
Shahnameh; Beyond the epic narrative
Referring to Rostam's character and his relationship with political power in the Shahnameh, Ziyai said: One of the important features of this work is the independence of the warrior against political power and authority. Rostam is not a character who surrenders to the king unconditionally; Therefore, the Shahnameh can be a text for reflection on power, criticism of the existing situation, and the individual's relationship with the ruling structures.
Referring to Mahmoud Ghaznavi's indifference to the Shahnameh, this philosophy researcher considered this issue to be examined in connection with the critical capacity of the work and added: The Shahnameh is not merely a praise of war and power; The wisdom that flows through its layers provides the possibility of questioning and criticizing authority.
Emphasizing that one should not stop at the superficial layers of the stories of the Shahnameh, he noted: Narrative and retelling of the Shahnameh is valuable, but the audience should also know its deeper layers and tell others the thoughts hidden in the stories.
metaphor of life; The difference between the views of Ferdowsi and Arifan
In another part of his speech, Zia'i discussed the role of metaphors in the formation of human's view of life and said: Metaphor is not only a literary array, but also plays a role in creating meaning and shaping our awareness and attitude. If someone considers life as a prison, he sees the world as a space to escape from the cage; But if he imagines life as a story or an adventure, his view and way of facing the world will change.
By comparing some mystics' view of the world with Ferdowsi's view, he added: In a part of the mystic tradition, the presence of man in the world is connected with the concept of descent, alienation and remoteness from the original homeland. But in a reading of the Shahnameh, man can be considered a part of existence and connected with the world, not an alien and exiled creature in it.
This literary researcher emphasized: Such a difference in attitude affects the way a person encounters the body, nature and life. In this view, body and soul are not in conflict with each other, and the material world is not just an obstacle for human excellence.
Today's society needs wisdom, happiness and freedom
Stating that the Shahnameh has the capacity to present a more humane view of life, Ziaei said: Ferdowsi's fighters are not the only martial artists, and Bazm also has an important place in the world of the Shahnameh. Human life is also close to perfection when happiness and physical and spiritual needs are considered along with wisdom.
Emphasizing the necessity of contemporary rereading of the Shahnameh, he noted: Today's society needs wisdom, happiness and freedom, and it can benefit from Ferdowsi's thoughts to strengthen the human outlook on life. Therefore, it is necessary for researchers to go through the obvious layers of the stories and reveal the gems hidden in the depths of the Shahnameh for today's audience.
We follow the establishment of Shahnameh houses all over the country
In another part of this meeting, Abdol Rahim Saeedirad, the head of culture, sports and tourism affairs of the country's management and planning organization, announced the holding of training courses to identify and empower Shahnameh activists in different provinces of the country and said: Setting up Shahnameh houses throughout Iran is one of the programs we are pursuing with the aim of rereading and providing a new definition of the Shahnameh.
Referring to the role of the Program and Budget Organization in advancing the country's major plans, he said: The Program and Budget Organization is the beating heart of the country, and many important events and developments in the country take place with the role of this organization.
Referring to the serious entry of this organization into the field of research in recent years, Saidi Rad added: Knowledge-based companies, which are the source of many scientific and cultural developments and advances, are also formed based on ideas, and we have tried to provide the ground for development in cultural fields with a research-oriented approach.
Stating that the Shahnameh has been one of the focal points in this approach, Saidi-Rad continued: In this context, we came to the conclusion that we can try to create a transformation in the field of the Shahnameh, and for this purpose, we put the rereading and presentation of a new definition of this valuable work on the agenda. In this regard, six decisions were made, one of which is the establishment of Shahnameh houses across the country.
About the implementation of this plan, he said: The starting point of our activity was to hold training courses so that we could identify those who are interested and active in this field in different provinces, provide them with basic training, and provide the basis for their activities in Shahnameh houses.
The head of culture, sports and tourism affairs of the country's management and planning organization said: The first course was held before the Ramadan war, and after that, other courses continued in different provinces, including East Azerbaijan and Kermanshah.
In the end, Saidi Rad noted: The current course is the sixth training course of this project, which includes the provinces of North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, South Khorasan and Golestan.
Persian language is the most important cultural heritage of Iranians
Ayoub Dehghankar, Scientific, Cultural and Management Advisor, Deputy Director of Cultural Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, emphasizing the place of the Shahnameh in Iranian culture, considered the Persian language to be the most important cultural heritage of Iranians and said: The Shahnameh is very important for the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and we are trying to use the potential of this great work with all our might.