"RUMI IDEAS AND THOUGHTS" IN ARMENIA
Iranian Students News Agency, Iran
Dec 18 2006
TEHRAN, Dec.18 (ISNA)-On the occasion of Rumi’s 800th birthday
anniversary, a ceremony entitled "A Survey in the Ideas and Thoughts
of Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi" in the Acharian University of
Yerevan, Armenia.
"On the occasion of Rumi’s 800th birthday, the UNESCO will organize
various cultural programs in Egypt, Afghanistan, and Turkey and
particularly in Iran," stated Iran’s cultural official in Armenia,
Reza Otoufi while speaking in the ceremony.
He also recognized the meeting with Rumi’s inspiring master, Shams
Tabrizi as the turning point of Mawlana’s life.
"He was a poet who bridged the Persian literature to Islamic
mysticism," observed Otoufi while noting the competency of Rumi in
interpreting the Holy Koran and Islamic words.
Also in other parts of the meeting, an Armenian professor at Acharian
University, Garnic Georgian and the Armenian Writers Association
director, Leon Ananian presented a summary of Rumi’s life and poetry
in their speeches.
In the final section of the meeting, a few students at the Iranology
department of Acharian University recited the works of Rumi.
Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi was born in Balkh (then a city
of Greater Khorasan in Persia, now part of Afghanistan) and died
in Konya (in present-day Turkey). His birthplace and native tongue
indicate a Persian heritage. He also wrote his poetry in Persian and
his works are widely read in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and in
their translation in Turkey. He lived most of his life and produced
his works under the Seljuk Empire.
Rumi’s importance is considered to transcend national and ethnic
borders. Throughout the centuries he has had a significant influence on
Persian as well Urdu literature and Turkish literature. His poems are
widely read in the Persian speaking countries of Iran, Afghanistan and
Tajikistan and have been widely translated into many of the world’s
languages in various formats.
After Rumi’s death, his followers founded the Mevlevi Order, better
known as the "Whirling Dervishes", who believe in performing their
worship in the form of dance and music ceremony called the Sema.