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Iranian Identity |
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Philosophy@iranianstudies.org Iranian identity seminar at SOAS – |
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The national and religious identity is one of the most
important issues for young generation and theorists, in the globalization time,
especially for Iranians who have one of the most influential cultures and civilizations
of the world. There are three major approaches to Iranian identity:
Those following the national approach, are of the
opinion that the golden ages of Iran is history of pre Islam, and that the fall
of Sasanian system was a result of Arab attack against Iran. They believe
the Arab culture destroyed their national Iranian culture. These individuals
think the main elements of Iranian identity have drawn of pre Islam history,
culture and civilization of In the national
approach, the main heroes and social characters are Kaveh, Fereidon, Rostam, Kowrosh,
Darush, Barbad, Anoshirawan. But there is no place for the post-Islam Iranian
characters such as Farabi, Ibn-I Sina, Sohrewardi, Zakaria Razi, Khaorazmi,
Mawlawi Rumi, Mulla Sadra, Mulla Hadi Sabzewari. In contrast, the followers of religious approach
believe that
They dismiss
the Iranian characters from pre-Islam period from Fereidon to Anoshirwan and
only emphasise on Iranian Muslim characters from Farabi to Imam Khomeini.
They believe
that the Iranian identity is based on Islamic culture and civilization, only. However the synoptically approach presents a wither
perspective of the Iranian identity. This identity is a combination of national
and Islamic honours. This is a result of cultural, social, and political dynamic
of Iranian society.
In this view,
the different layers of Iranian identity are taken into considerations. Here, the
Iranian identity is a reflection of national as well as religious, political as
well as cultural beliefs and history. Thus all Iranian characters from pre Islam to today
are Iranian heroes and worthy social figures from Nakisa and Barbod to Abolhasan
Saba and Shajarian, Bozorgmehr to Sadredin Shirazi, Anoshirwan to Mosadeq,
Korosh to Shah Abbas and Imam Khomini, Mani to Farshchian, Zoroaster to Prophet
Mohammad, Kaweh to Satar Khan and Baqer Khan… . This paper explains some Iranian identity elements,
based on the (Islamic-national) synoptically approach. However, it is
useful to explain In works done
during the Sasanian period, Iranians called their land Main Iranian identity elements:
1- Arian Race: according to works
done in the Pahlawi language, the Arians began to come to
Iranian immigrants combined from various Clans such as Mad, Pars, Part, Soghd, however it seems that none of these clans were of pure race. They were a mixture of North and South’s race characteristics so that some were tall and light haired and eye and some were short and dark haired and eye.
There is no doubt that there were various languages and accents in ancient time, which is an indication that different races mixed together from beginning of history.
Although
during the path of history some foreign sects or races such as Greek, Semitic (Arab-
the Jews) Turk and Mogul came to
2- Iranian language: From the age in which Arians migrated to
Modern linguistics believes that Iranian language can be divided into 3 periods.
A- Ancient Farsi, which is a branch of Avesta language and is close to Sanskrit language.
B- Middle Farsi, which are Ashkani, Pahlawi and Sasani Pahlawi.
C- New Farsi, which is Dari Farsi and has been used after Islam.
Farsi language is one of the richest of world languages. Many of the works done in Farsi are well known in the world, such as Ferdosi’s Shahnameh, Avicenna’s works, Saadi’s Boustan and Golestan, Diwan-e Hafez, Rumi’s Mathnawi.
Ferdosi and Sohrewadi have had very important role in Iranian culture. Through their works, Shahnameh and Illumination wisdom, they revived the Iranian culture at very important historical time.
3- People of Religion and spirituality: Iranians always have been religious. Religion is the foundation and the most important part of Iranian identity, culture and civilization.
Before Islam, Zoroastrianism was the main
national Iranian religion. Zoroaster is the prophet of this religion, who was
born 6500 B.C. (according to ten well known historians like
Other
religions in ancient
4- Iranian Theosophy: there has been very rich theosophy School in Iran since beginning of Iranian culture up to the present time, based on “intuition”, “intelligence” and “lights doctrine” from pre-Zoroaster, Fahlawion School to post-Islam Mulla Sadra School.
Works done by Fahlawion, Zarwany, Mitraei and Zoroastrian schools are the sources of Iranian theosophy in the pre Islam period. In these, works they present various discussions on themes like: “Soul”, “Ideal world”, “Unity of Being”, “Intuition”, “Future life”, “After this world”, “Government”, “Utopian City”, “Creation”, “Perfect Man”, “Spirituality” and “Spiritual journey”.
The sources of Iranian theosophy in the post Islam period are Shahnameh of Ferdosi, Sohrewardi (Safir-e Simorgh, Aql-e Sorkh),Qotb al Din Shirazi, Nizami Ganjawi, Rumi, Hafez, Khawjeh Afsal al Din Kashani, Mulla Sadra and Mulla Hadi Sabzewari works.
Here I present some verses of Nezami Ganjawi
on Lights Doctrine as common concept in Iranian theosophy pre and post Islam: DAR AN KHALWAT KEH HASTI BI NESHAN BOD, BEH KONJE NISTI ALAM NEHAN BOD….P92. Ferdosi,
Shahab al din Sohrewardi and Mulla Sadra are the greatest architects of Iranian
theosophy in post Islam
5- Iranian Arts: include Poetry, Music, Singing, Dance, calligraphy, handcrafts, Architecture, painting, Miniature, Film industry, and Theatre. Iranian arts are another symbol of Iranian identity that present different aspects of Iranian Sense, Imagination, Understanding, Illumination, Faith, Love, Pain, Life, Spiritual Experience, and History.
I believe Iranian arts are the best indicators of Iranian identity. Some of most important Iranian artists figures from modern to ancient time are: Shahriar, Nima, Saadi, Hafez, Rumi, Ferdosi (in poetry),
Farhad Fakhrodini, Mohammad Reza Shajarian, Banan, Abdolvahab Shahidi,Abolhasan Saba, Barbod, and Nakisa (in Music & Singing),
Mir Khani, , Farshchian, Kamal al-Molk, Behzad, Mani (in Calligraphy and Painting),
Mohsen
Makhmalbaf, Abbas Kia Rostami, Ali Hatami and Daruosh Mehrjuei (in Film). Finally, I would like to say that the
Iranian Identity is a rich identity distinguished from other identities and is
a source of pride and honour. And now, at the globalisation era, Iranians can
have dialogues with other civilisations and cultures with the assurance and
guarantee that they shall not lose their unique great identity.
2004-01-15-London-UK
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