Hyderabad: Persian language is still relevant as nine students from MANUU’s Department of Persian have landed jobs in MNCs like Genpact and Facebook. These companies are offering a package ranging between Rs 5 to Rs 6 lakh per annum, according to Prof Shahid Naukhez Azmi, Head, Persian Department.
Time was when Persian held sway as the language of administration in Deccan. But centuries after the Deccan sultanates vanished, Farsi still seems to hold good. This was evident from the liberal use of the language at a programme held on Tuesday at the Maulana Azad National Urdu University here.
The 36th international conference of the All India Persian Teachers’ Association saw speakers waxing eloquent in Farsi. The auditorium resonated with the couplets of celebrated poets like Hafez Shirazi, Rumi and Saadi.
What was interesting was that audience cherished and enjoyed the sweetness of Persian. Particularly its soft-sounding and passionate verses enthralled everyone. “Persian and Urdu languages are interlinked with each other. When one language flourishes, the other will also get strengthened,” remarked noted Persian Scholar, Prof. Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, former Speaker, Iran.
Paying rich tributes to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India’s first education minister and a renowned Persian scholar, Prof. Haddad referred to the contributions and impact of Persian language in medieval India and its role in propagation of Islam. He also hailed Indo-Iranian friendship and said coming to Hyderabad he felt totally at home.
The three-day conference on “Contribution of Deccan (India) to the Persian language and literature” is being attended by more than 100 Persian teachers and scholars, including delegates from Iran and Afghanistan.
Dr Mohammad Aslam Parvaiz, Vice-Chancellor, MANUU, in his presidential address welcomed the usage of Persian language in Iran to promote knowledge and wanted a similar approach to be adopted towards Urdu in India.
Prof. Azarmi Dukht Safavi, President, AIPTA, said the Deccan plateau extending over eight Indian states encompassed a wide range of habitats, cultures, languages and political dimensions. It produced dynasties like the Cholas, Pallavas, Satavahanas, Kadambas, Maratha empires, Bahamani Sultanat, Qutb Shahis, Adil Shahis and Asif Jahis. The region had also been a cradle of many languages belonging to the Indo-Aryan and the Dravadian families of languages.
The Adil Shahi rulers were deeply under the influence of Persian culture and even adopted customs and manners of that land. The Qutb Shahis were also great patrons of Persian and Daccani. The intermingling of Iranian tasawwuf with Hindi bhakti gave impetus to a syncretic society in Deccan.Influence of Persian and its penetration in Deccani Culture began even before the arrival of Khilji in the13th century, Prof. Safavi said.
Prof. K. Muzaffar Ali Shahmiri, Vice-Chancellor, Abdul Haq Urdu University, Kurnool, invited the research scholars to the treasure house of Persian literature available in the Rayalaseema region. This area was still unexplored, he remarked.
