CENTER FOR IRANIAN STUDIES - کانون پژوهشهای ايران شناختی

The Persian Cultural Association
of
South Australia

Wednesday, 24 October 2007

Dear Professor Coleman Barks
Your contribution to encouraging a global understanding and enjoyment of the work of Rumi is appreciated and affirmed by Persian communities throughout the world including Australia.
I endeavour to benefit from every opportunity whenever and wherever I can hear about Rumi and learn more about him; as did I from your interview by Rachael Kohn on ABC Radio Australia on Sunday 7 October 2007. I am a Rumi lover, a Persian (Rumi’s compatriot), speak his language and live with his poetry. Being familiar with your works on Rumi, in particular Essential Rumi, I was keen to hear you, for the first time, talking about him. Your passion about Rumi was reflected in your talk and also in the recitation of his poetry. On Saturday 6 October 2007, in a concert by a Persian-Sufi musician and singer on Rumi organised by the Persian Cultural Association of South Australia in Adelaide, your program was promoted. As a result, a considerable number of Persians (Iranians) attending the concert listened to your program the following day which was followed by intensive deliberations in the Association regarding your interview. In what follows, I am conveying the message of the Persian Cultural Association of South Australia to you:
Professor Barks, we recognise the significance of your work on Rumi and thank you for it. However we have some concerns which we would like to share with you. Listening to your program on ABC Radio Australia created contradictory feelings in us. On one hand you made us happy as you demonstrated that someone, without enjoying any knowledge of Rumi’s language (Persian), has had the capacity to produce a best seller book on Rumi. On the other hand you made us painfully sad as knowingly or unknowingly, every attempt was made in that program by the interviewer and interviewees not to mention the name of Rumi’s birth country, Persia (Iran), and also the proper English name of his language, Persian. Afghanistan which, in that program was introduced as Rumi’s birth place was born as a country about 550 years after Rumi’s birth when it was detached from Persia (Iran). Rumi was from Balkh of course but not Afghanistan. As a scholar you know this and you have mentioned it in the introduction of Essential Rumi (though mistakenly stated that Afghanistan was a part of Persian Empire at Rumi’s time. The Empire, not Persia of course, unfortunately had already collapsed after the invasion of Arabs six centuries prior to Rumi). Afghanistan was a part and parcel of Persia (i.e. not occupied by the Persian Empire). To further clarify the matter, let us draw an analogy. If Stratford, the birth place of Shakespeare is, for the sake of argument, detached from England today and becomes an independent country called, say, Singland, would you call Shakespeare Singlish from tomorrow or he remains English? Why is it that everyone, even Turks including the other interviewee in the program Dr Zeki Saritoprak, correctly say that Rumi migrated to the Roman Empire (not Turkey) and that’s why he was nicknamed Rumi, but even scholars incorrectly state that he migrated from Afghanistan (not Persia or Iran)? Is it not strange?
PO Box 424, Hove, SA 5048, Australia PO Box 424, Hove, SA 5048, Australia
The other thing in that radio program which inflicted sadness upon us was that Rumi’s language was introduced as Farsi instead of PERSIAN. You as a scholar know very well that Farsi is the native name of Rumi’s language (unknown to many many people of the world) while PERSIAN, its proper English name, is well known, as is Deutsch vs. German, Francais vs. French etc. In that program everybody, including you, made every effort by repeating the word Farsi to avoid uttering the genuine and internationally known English name of Rumi’s language (PERSIAN). You mentioned PERSIAN once, though this further confused the non-Persian speaking listeners as they could not figure out what Rumi’s language was, Farsi or PERSIAN! In the Year of Rumi, 2007, people of the world should receive genuine information on Rumi from scholars like you that Rumi was Persian (Iranian) and spoke and wrote in PERSIAN (the language of Omar Khayyam, Hafez, Sa’di, Ferdowsi…, and also the official language of Iran). We are really bothered by hearing the word Farsi in English communications, as it is an unknown and strange language to the majority of people of the world. In contrast, we love PERSIAN as, unlike Farsi, it associates us with the glory of our culture and history, i.e. Persian Empire, Persian Poetry, Persian Literature, Persian Gardens, Persian Carpet, Persian Gulf, and even Persian Cat, and sparks these romantic images in the mind of non-Persian speaking listeners.
Dear Professor Barks, promoting the above-mentioned simple historical facts by a scholar like you can also ease the tension, caused by George Bush and some other politicians, on Iran and Persians (Iranians) in today’s turbulent world. By introducing Rumi’s nationality and language as PERSIAN you would indirectly teach your audience, listeners and readers that Rumi’s compatriots (Iranians), like their father and spiritual Master, Rumi, are peace lovers, they love to promote love and peace, and that their country Iran (Persia), i.e. Rumi’s birth country, is known as the land of Roses and Nightingales. What else, other than love, you may observe in relationship between roses and nightingales?
At the end of your interview you said you fell in love with Rumi’s poetry and he keeps unfolding in you. What a great feeling. We pray to our Lord Beloved Supreme to help you fall also in love with Rumi’s language (PERSIAN) and enjoy the unique mystic wealth and music of his language. We also ask you to properly introduce Rumi’s birth country (Persia/Iran) and his language (PERSIAN) to your audience and readers, and beg you to avoid usage of Farsi in this context. By observing these simple things you bring joy to Rumi’s soul.
For your further information I have attached the Verdict of the Iranian Academy for the Persian Language and also an article by a Persian Scholar, both on Farsi vs. Persian.
For any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. I would be delighted to provide you with any additional resources.

Yours sincerely
Kazem Abhary


Authorised signatory by the President of the Association

در همين زمينه، گفتار ِ دكتر كامران تلطّف از دانشگاه پرينستون را در نشاني‌ي ِ زير، بخوانيد:
http://www.iranian.com/Features/Dec97/Persian/


٤. رهنمودي به شناخت مُرده‌ريگ ِ فرهنگ ِ باستاني در بخش ِ بوكان ِ كردستان


تارنماي انجمن دوستداران یادگارهای باستانی ایزیرتو
http://www.izirtu.blogfa.com/

اين اثر ِ بديع و خواندني – كه پيش از اين در چند تارنماي ِ فرهنگي نشريافته بود – اكنون در تهران چاپخش‌ شده‌است. بررسي‌ي ِ كوتاه ِ زير در باره‌ي ِ اين نوشته‌ي استاد رجبي را به گفتاوَرد از نشريّه‌ي ِ الكترونيك ِ روز در اين جا مي آورم:
«سفر نامه ي اونور آب،‏‎

نوشته‌ي پرويز رجبي (ناشر: اختران، چاپ ِ اوّل - ١٣٨٦‏)، اثري خواندني است از خاطراتي كه يك ايراني در خارج از ايران داشته است. اين ‏خاطرات اغلب در شمال قاره ي آمريكا اتفاق افتاده است و بيشتر در تورنتوي كانادا. اساسا خواندني ترين ‏مطالب آن هم در همين قسمت به چشم مي خورد كه به بررسي نوع معماري در ايران و مقايسه اش با معماري ‏‏"اونور آب" مي پردازد. نويسنده اثر خود را"جامعه شناسي مهاجرت"خوانده است و اين تعريف روي جلد ‏كتاب هم قبل از عنوان اصلي كتاب نقش بسته است. البته مهاجرت ايرانيان اغلب سياسي بوده است و از اين ‏رو قشر مهاجران ايراني اغلب تحصيل كرده و به نوعي از وضعيت داخلي ناراضي هستند و اين مسأله هم در ‏كتاب به چشم مي خورد.

در بخشي از كتاب "سفرنامه ي اونور آب" مي خوانيم:‏‎

‎‏كريم خداحافظي مي كند. ‏بهرام مي آيد. او در تورنتو معتقد شده است به انديشه‌ي ِ نيك، گفتار ِ نيك و كردار ِ نيك. دلم مي خواهد كه كلاهش را ‏امانتم دهد، تا اندوه ماسيده بر آن را بشورم. امّا احساس مي كنم كه به آزادي در باور بيشتر احترام مي گذارم، ‏تا به آزادي در اختيار ِ رفتار. ‏»


٦. بخش ِ تازه‌اي از پژوهشي آموزنده و روشنگر درباره‌ي ِ زبان ِ فارسي و كيستي‌ي ِ ايرانيان


مزدک بامدادان
۱۶. آذربایجان و کیستی ِ ایرانی- بخش دوم
زبان ِ مادری و کیستی ِ ملی


فهرست ِ عنوانهاي پانزده بخش ِ پيشين ِ اين زنجيره گفتارهاي سودمند – كه پيشتر در همين تارنما بدانها پيوند دادم – بدين شرح است:
١. فروپاشی از درون، جای‌گزینی برای جنگ رودَررو٢. آن "سد" و آن "سی سد"٣. زبان مادری، زبان رسمی، زبان سراسری٤. ملت سازی، ملت چیست؟٥. ملت سازان، پیشینه سازی و بازی با آمار٦. قبیله گرا کیست؟ ۷. آن قبیلۀ دیگر٨. گفتمان پارسی ستیزی٩. گفتمان شاهنامه ستیزی١٠. گفتمان ستیز با ایران باستان۱۱. سخنی چند در ميانه راه۱۲. و چند سخن ديگر...۱۳. قره باغ، فلسطين قبيله‌گرايان۱۴. بيست و يكم آذر، عاشوراى قبيله‌گرايان۱۵. آذربایجان و کیستی ِایرانی - بخش نخست

October 2007
RUMI RAP
Concert
26 October 2007, 7.30pmQueen Elizabeth Hall, South Bank Centre, London .A rap and pop concert by Iranian artists with music and words that are inspired by the writings of Jalal al-Din Rumi.


Organised by
Future Generation Committee of the Iran Heritage Foundation and Nava Art Group
Supported by
Targetfollow GroupJulius Baer (Middle East) Ltd.

Jalal al-Din Rumi's mystic poems have inspired musicians and artists of all genres throughout the world, arching over all culture, religion and language barriers reaching out and unifying millions of people of all ages.As part of the Iran Heritage Foundation's celebratory programme of the 800th birthday of Jalal al-Din Rumi, prominent young Iranian artists will get together for a Rumi inspired Iranian pop and rap seated concert. Contemporary Iranian pop and rap musicians could be seen as a sign of change in Iran and the birth of a new alternative thinking. In the late 1990s Iranian rock emerged from homemade guitars, and during the past few years Iranian rap music discovered new rhythmic lyrics.Invited performers include the classical Persian and hip-hop fusion artists Reveal, Simorgh and rappers Erfan and Entegham. This unique concert promises to be an extraordinary opportunity to experience young Iranian artists celebrating Jala al-Din Rumi through their music.
Tickets
15, 20 and 25 Pounds (less 50% for limited availability concessions)
Box Office
South Bank Centre, +44 (871) 6632500 (daily 9am-8pm) and on-line www.southbankcentre.co.uk/how-to-book

For additional information about this event and the performers click here

Rashid Khatib-Shahidi,

http://au.f511.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=rashid@raksfilm.co.uk

or Farzaneh Yeganeh,

http://au.f511.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=info@iranheritage.org,

Iran Heritage Foundation,

5 Stanhope Gate, London W1K 1AH,

Tel +44 (20) 74934766,

Fax +44 (20) 74999293.

USTAD MOHAMMAD REZA LOTFI INTERPRETS RUMI

Concert

Play by Mehrdad Seyf

Play by Amrit Kent and Mohini Kent Noon

THE CINEMA OF RAKHSHAN BANI-ETEMAD

Conference

VISUAL REPRESENTATIONS OF IRAN

Conference, Film season, Photographic exhibition

٨. دروازه‌اي گشوده به سويه‌ها و فروزه‌هاي ِ گوناگون ِ زندگي و فرهنگ ِ مردم ِ تاجيكستان


آهنگ‌ها وكتاب‌هاي تاجيكي
معرّفي برنامه‌هاي تلويزيون سفينه تاجيكستان
اخبارروزانه از تاجيكستان
وكلي پيوند به تارنماهاي وابسته به كشور تاجيكستان
در نشاني‌ي زير:
http://tajikestan.blogspot.com/


٠۹ دست‌آوردهاي هنرمندان ِ معاصر ِ ايران در چشم‌اندازي جهاني


حراج آثار مدرنيست های ايرانی در ساتبيز لندن

آثاری از هنرمندان معاصر ايران، در يک حراج در لندن، با قيمت هايی غير منتظره به فروش رفت.
اين آثار که در قالب يک نمايشگاه فروش آثار هنری تحت عنوان «هنر معاصر جهان عرب و ايران» چهارشنبه گذشته برگزار شد، قيمت آثار هنرمندان ايران را در بازار جهانی، به نحو بی سابقه ای افزايش داد.
يکی از آثار محمد احصايی هنرمندی که با مجموعه نقاشی‌خط های خود اعتباری جهانی يافته است بيش از ۲۱۷ هزار دلار و مجسمه ای برنزی از پرويز تناولی مجسمه ساز مدرنيست ايرانی با عنوان «هيچ» نزديک به ۱۸۰ هزار دلار فروخته شدند.
علاوه بر آن يکی از عکس های عباس کيارستمی نيز در همين حراج به قيمت ۵۵ هزار دلاربه فروش رسيد. اثر محمد احصايی

در حراجی چهارشنبه شب گرانترين اثری بود که در ميان کليه آثار ايرانيان، اعراب، هندی ها و پاکستانی ها به فروش رسيد.
علاوه بر اين سه هنرمند صاحب نام، آثار ديگری از منيره فرمانفرمائيان، ابوالقاسم سعيدی، حسين زنده رودی، بهمن جلالی، رکنی حائری زاده، فريده لاشايی، صادق تير افکن، فرهاد مشيری، شادی قديريان، فرهاد احرارنيا، نيکی نجومی، گلناز فتحی و رضا درخشانی نيز در اين حراجی عرضه شد
فروش اين آثار از سوی موسسه ساتبيز در لندن در حالی است که موسسه معتبر ديگری به نام کريستيز نيز هفته آينده نهم آبانماه ۶۰ اثر از هنرمندان معاصر و مدرنيست ايران را يکجا در هتل جميرا در شهر دبی به حراج خواهد گذاشت.
بسياری از ناظران بر اين باورند که رکورد فروش آثار ايرانيان در آن روز باز هم جابه جا خواهد شد.
به گفته کارشناسان هنری، روند رو به رشد توجه مؤسّسات بزرگ جهانی به آثار هنرمندان معاصر و مدرنيست ايران چه در زمينه تابلوهای نقاشی و چه عکس و آثار حجمی، نشان از رويدادی تازه در تاريخ هنر معاصر ايران دارد.
اين کارشناسان معتقدند که فصل تازه ای از شکوفايی هنر معاصر ایران در عرصه های بين المللی، عليرغم به گفته آنان عدم حمايت وزارت ارشاد و دولت، در حال رخ دادن است.


١٠. پي‌گيري‌ي ِ انتشار ِ يك نشريّه‌ي ِ سودمند و آگاهي‌رسان ِ ايران‌شناختي در تهران


بر پايه‌ي ِ گزارش ِ نشريافته در تارنماي ِ روزنامك:
اَمُرداد شماره ي ِ ١٧١ همراه با كوروش‌نامه در هشت رويه (صفحه) منتشرشد.

١١. مجموعه اي بزرگ از سندهاي مهمّ ِ تاريخي و افشاگرانه در باره‌ي ِ جنگ ِ عراق با ايران در فيلم‌هاي ويديويي
‌
در اين نشاني، بيابيد و ببينيد و بشنويد:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Iran+Iraq+war&search=Search


١٢. چند سند ِ از رده‌بندي خارج شده درباره‌ي طرح و توطئه‌ي نهادهاي جاسوسي‌ي آمريكايي - انگليسي براي كودتاي سياه ١٣٣٢ (/ ١٩٥٣) بر ضدّ ِ دولت ِ ملّي و مردمْ‌سالار ِ دكتر محمّد مصدّق