Saffron in South Asia Webinar
Persian was born in Iran but flourished in South Asia, join us as we uncover the history and tragic decline of South Asian’s Persian tradition.
Persian: A South Asian Language?
Today, ‘Persian’ conjures up thoughts of Iran, but just a few centers ago, the home of Persian literature was not Tehran, but Dehli. At one point during the 16th and 17th centuries, more Persian poets were writing in India than in Iran. Just a century after that peak, Persian began to decline, and eventually it was killed at the hands of British colonization and decline in Muslim high culture. Join us as we learn about the rich history of Persian in South Asia.
Saturday, October 12th at Noon Eastern time. Live via Zoom, recorded in case of absence.
What will you accomplish?
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Learn the history of Persian in South Asia.
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Learn the difference between ‘sabk-i hindī’ [Indian style] and ‘istiʿmāl-i hindī’ [Indian usage] in Persian poetry.
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Learn how colonization had a hand in erasing South Asia’s Persian history.
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Learn whether South Asian Muslims can be considered ‘Persian.’
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Learn about the diverse history of Persian as a multi-faith language, including Sikh, Hindu, and Christian contributions to the South Asian Persianate tradition.
Meet your teacher
Muhammad Ali Mojaradi
Founder, Instructor, Translator
[email protected]
After living and studying in Jordan, Turkey, Kuwait, and Iran, Detroit native Muhammad Ali Mojaradi is hosting Rumi and Persian classes in his Manhattan home. His first translation, "The Flame of Love," was published in 2025.
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