Persian teachers’ conference concludes

Persian teachers’ conference concludes
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 29
Persian scholars from India and abroad, who gathered here to participate in the 28th international conference of Persian teachers, were unanimous that Persian be made part of syllabi compulsory in Indian universities and other educational institutions.

They also resolved that a council for the promotion of Persian be constituted by the union government.

The Amritsar conference also resolved that the posts of Persian teacher in different educational institutions be filled immediately. Short-term courses in Persian should be introduced for advocates.

These were the important resolutions passed at the academic session of the conference and read out at valedictory function in Conference Hall of Guru Nanak Bhawan of Guru Nanak Dev University.

Sikhism scholar Prithipal Singh Kapoor, former pro-vice-chancellor of GND University, presided over the concluding session. Prof Shashi Bala, coordinator of the conference, presented a vote of thanks.

The conference was organised by the Guru Nanak Studies Department of the university in collaboration with the All-India Persian Teachers Association, New Delhi.

More than 150 Persian scholars from India, Iran and Afghanistan participated. More than 25 papers were presented on the relation of Persian with Sikhism and also on the importance and relevance of Persian language.

Scholars favoured making Persian course compulsory for students of MA (history), especially at GND University.

They wanted the central government to provide a special grant for the publication and reprinting of existing Persian literature and translate it into other languages of the country.

They resolved that posts of Persian in the Department of Archaeology, museums and universities be filled.

They urged the government to establish a council for the promotion of the Persian language and literature because most of the manuscripts were available in Persian.

Persian posts in the Department of Oriental Studies in Arabic and Persian hanging in court since 1993 should be mobilised through advocates to fill the posts early.

Persian interaction programmes of students, researchers and other active groups be encouraged between India, Iran and Afghanistan.

Prof Prithipal Singh Kapoor highlighted the importance and relevance of Persian language and its placement in Punjab. Professor Kapoor said the interaction of the language started with Guru Nanak.

He went to Puri, Mathura, Hardwar, Mecca, Madina and Baghdad and interacted with great men of the area. Guru Nanak used words of Indian and foreign languages like Persian in his baani.

He expressed concern over the rich Persian cultural heritage’s rotting in Dyal Singh Library and Public Library in Lahore. He said steps be taken to preserve this valuable literature.

Prof Azarmi Dukht Safavi, president, All-India Persian Teachers Association, Prof A.W. Azhar, general secretary, AIPTA, Prof Asgar Dad Beh from Iran, Prof Ahmad Ansari from Mumbai and Prof Ali Mohammad Moazzni of Teheran also spoke.