Srinagar, Mar 09 (KNS): Making Jammu and Kashmir proud again, a young Persian lecturer from Beerwah tehsil of Budgam District Dr. Muhamamd Ibrahim Wani and former Head Department of Persian University of Kashmir Prof. Muhammad Munawar Masoodi has been awarded this year's "Sheikh Saadi Award" by Iran Culture House New Delhi.
This is the highest literary award given to any Indian citizen by Islamic Republic of Iran for his/her contribution in the field of Persian language and Literature in the India.
The award was conferred to Mr. Wani and Prof Masoodi in a grand function held in Iran Cultural House New Delhi which was attended by ambassador of Iran in India, Dr. Ali Chegeni,
Director Cultural House, Dr Ali Rabani,
Professors, teachers and scholars from all over India.
Dr. Wani is the youngest Persian scholar to receive this award.
Dr. Wani, who is working as Lecturer in Persian in School Education Department, JK and posted in Govt Boys Higher Secondary School Beerwah, is a gold medalist from Kashmir University and has doctorate in Persian from University of Delhi.
Prof. Masoodi was Head Department of Persian and 14 years and has acted as dean and chief Proctor of kashmir university as well.
Dr. Wani visited Iran in 2018 and wrote a book titled 'Iran-e Sageed sa Iran-e Kabeer Tuk', which was highly appreciated by the readers.
During Covid lockdown Dr. Wani came up with an android application "Ibrahim.Persian" for the Persian students of class 11th and 12th, which was first of its kind in the country.
Prof. Masoodi during hes tenure as HOD Persian has taken the Persian department of Kashmir university to new heights.
Talking to media the awardees expressed their gratitude towards ICH New Delhi.
They said that Persian in not a language but a culture as well.
"Iran and Kashmir had very close relations since decades and this award is the continuation of the acceptance of Kashmir's contribution to Persian language and literature which has started when a famous Persian poet Saib Tabrazi visited Kashmir to meet another famous Ghani Kashmiri, a famous Persian poet of Kashmir in 17th century."
Mr. Wani said that in Persian lies the solution of hundreds of modern day problems from degradation of moral values to violent behavior of younger generation.
Prof. Masoodi added that to save our societies from moral bankruptcy and to build a peaceful society we must study Persian literature of Rumi, Saadi, Khusroo and Ghani Kashmiri and others.
They hoped that Persian will be developed and kept widely available in schools, colleges and universities as mentioned in the New Education Policy 2020. (KNS)