Tehran, IRNA – The head of Iran’s Association of Cultural Works and Figures has said that great Iranian poet Nezami Ganjavi, through his notable works Panj Ganj (meaning Five Treasures), promoted the Persian Language to a high position in literature and connected Persian-speaking countries.
Hassan Bolkhari was speaking at a virtual meeting held on Monday ahead of a national seminar dubbed “Hakim Nezami Persian Poet of Sixth Century” scheduled to take place on March 12-13.
Bolkhari hailed Nezami, saying that the 21st of Iranian month of Esfand (falling on March 12, 2022) has been designated as the day of commemorating Nezami on the national Iranian calendar.
He said Hakim Jamal ul-ddin Abu Moammad Elyas ibn-Zaki ibn-Mo’ayyed, known as Nezami, was among great Persian-speaking poets, who is famous for his precious work Panj Ganj that serves like a connection point among Persian-speaking nations, especially Iran and Tajikistan.
Bolkhari added that Panj Ganj is also considered a notable work in the world literature, citing the praise made by famous German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel who hailed Nezami for transferring epics from a non-romantic content to a romantic one.
Mohammad Taghi Saberi, the Iranian ambassador to Tajikistan also addressed the Monday virtual event. He said Nezami is among prominent figures of the Iranian and Islamic civilizations and created precious works which always remain in the minds of all Iranians and those interested in the Persian Language.
Another speaker was the former Iranian ambassador to Tajikistan, Nezamodin Zahedi. He also praised Nezami for his precious works that are still shining despite the passage of time. Zahedi said Nezami Ganjavi gave a significant boost to the literature of Persian speakers, as many other great poets such as Jami, Vahshi Bafqi, and Khwaju Kermani who followed Nezami and created masnavis (poetic collection of anecdotes and stories).
Sarvar Bakhti, the president of the ECO Cultural Institute, addressed audience in the meeting, stipulating that Nezami is one of the unique treasures of the ECO region, who inspired many literature figures.
The Khamsa or Panj Ganj consists of five long poems, including Makhzan-ol-Asrar (The Treasury of Mysteries), Khosrow and Shirin, Leyli and Majnun, Eskandar-Nameh (The Book of Alexander), Haft Peykar (The Seven Beauties).
Nezami Ganjavi’s Haft Peykar was translated into English in 1924 by Charles Edward Wilson.
According to his own poems, the poet got married three times. Nezami pointed out to his wife’s death at the end of composing the Khowsrow and Shirin poem, his second wife passed away at the end of Leyli and Majnun poem, and his third wife died at the end of Sharafnameh (The Book of Honor).
Source: Islamic Republic News Agency – IRNA
