JMI Persian dept honours Hafez Shirazi at commemorative ceremony
Synopsis
Jamia Millia Islamia marked the legacy of Hafez Shirazi with a ceremony that drew Iran's cultural counsellor, senior academics, and students together — a reminder that Persian's centuries-old literary bridge between India and Iran still resonates in Indian universities today.
Key Takeaways
Jamia Millia Islamia's Department of Persian organised a commemorative ceremony for poet Hafez Shirazi on 12 October 2026 in New Delhi .
Chief Guest Fariduddin Farid Asr , Cultural Counsellor at the Culture House of the Islamic Republic of Iran , spoke on India-Iran literary and cultural ties.
Vice-Chancellor Mazhar Asif addressed the evolution of Persian ghazals and the humanistic values in Persian literature.
Students Nargis Zehra , Hera Zeba , and Faizan Ashraf performed soulful renditions of Hafiz's ghazals.
Dean Iqtidar Mohd Khan highlighted Iranian contributions to Islamic studies and literature as Guest of Honour.
Jamia Millia Islamia's Department of Persian hosted a commemorative ceremony on Monday, 12 October to celebrate the legacy of celebrated Persian poet Hafez Shirazi, bringing together academics, scholars, faculty, and students to reflect on his enduring literary and cultural significance. The event underscored the deep historical ties between India and Iran through the shared heritage of Persian literature.
Distinguished Speakers and Key Themes
Chief Guest Fariduddin Farid Asr, Cultural Counsellor at the Culture House of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Delhi, spoke at length about the cultural and literary bonds between India and Iran. He emphasised the historical role of Persian as a language of scholarship, literature, and cross-cultural exchange across the Indian subcontinent. He urged Persian scholars and students to cultivate a deep interest in Hafiz studies as a path to intellectual and personal growth.
Vice-Chancellor Mazhar Asif reaffirmed the enduring value of literary heritage and the humanistic ideals embedded in Persian literature. He also offered an accessible explanation of the evolution of Persian ghazals to the audience.
Academic Reflections and Cultural Contributions
Mohsin Ali, Head of the Department of Persian, opened the programme by reflecting on the continuing relevance of Hafez Shirazi's literary legacy and its role in nurturing cultural understanding and intellectual inquiry. Abdul Halim, former head of the department, examined various dimensions of Hafiz's ghazals, situating them within the broader tradition of Persian verse.
Guest of Honour Iqtidar Mohd Khan, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Languages at Jamia Millia Islamia, highlighted the substantial contributions of Persian scholars to Islamic studies, noting that Iranians had rendered remarkable service in both the religious and literary spheres.
Student Performances and Ghazal Recitals
The ceremony's concluding segment featured ghazal singing and student speeches dedicated to Hafez Shirazi. Nargis Zehra, Hera Zeba, and Faizan Ashraf received praise from the audience for their soulful renditions of Hafiz's ghazals, adding an immersive musical dimension to the academic proceedings.
Significance of the Event
The commemoration highlighted the enduring relevance of Hafez Shirazi's poetry and its contribution to the literary, cultural, and intellectual traditions of the Persian-speaking world. For Jamia Millia Islamia, the event reinforced the university's commitment to preserving and promoting classical literary traditions amid shifting academic priorities. Such gatherings are seen as vital in keeping Persian literature accessible to younger generations of Indian scholars.
Point of View
In a modest way, a soft-power moment in the India-Iran relationship. Yet the deeper question is whether such commemorations are translating into sustained enrolment and research interest in Persian studies, which has been declining across Indian universities for decades. Celebrating Hafez once a year is meaningful; rebuilding an academic ecosystem around classical Persian literature requires institutional commitment well beyond a single ceremony.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jamia Millia Islamia organise a ceremony for Hafez Shirazi?
Jamia Millia Islamia's Department of Persian organised the ceremony to commemorate the legacy of Hafez Shirazi, one of the most influential figures in Persian literary history. The event aimed to highlight the enduring cultural and intellectual significance of his poetry and reinforce India-Iran literary ties.
Who is Hafez Shirazi?
Hafez Shirazi was a 14th-century Persian poet from Shiraz, widely regarded as one of the greatest masters of the ghazal form. His poetry, celebrated for its spiritual depth, lyrical beauty, and philosophical insight, has had a profound influence on Persian, Urdu, and broader South Asian literary traditions.
Who were the key guests at the JMI Hafez Shirazi ceremony?
Chief Guest Fariduddin Farid Asr, Cultural Counsellor at the Culture House of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Delhi, and Guest of Honour Iqtidar Mohd Khan, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Languages at Jamia Millia Islamia, were among the key dignitaries. Vice-Chancellor Mazhar Asif also addressed the gathering.
What cultural significance does Persian literature hold for India?
Persian served for centuries as the language of literature, administration, scholarship, and cultural exchange across the Indian subcontinent, deeply influencing Urdu, Hindi, and regional literary traditions. Fariduddin Farid Asr emphasised these historical connections at the ceremony, calling on students to deepen their engagement with Hafiz studies.
