The scientific conference titled “Rabia Balkhi — A Genius of Persian-Tajik Poetry” was held in Tajikabad district of Tajikistan to mark the 1050th anniversary of Rabia Balkhi.
The event was organized at the initiative of local authorities and focused on examining the position and significance of this prominent poet’s works in classical Persian literature.
During the conference, it was emphasized that Rabia Balkhi is considered the first female Persian-language poet, who has been respectfully mentioned in literary biographical anthologies. She was renowned for her beauty, knowledge, sharp intellect, and exceptional poetic talent, composing poetry in Persian-Tajik, Dari, and Arabic. The scholarly and cultural environment of her family, along with her father’s support for her education, provided the foundation for her literary growth and excellence.
It was also noted that Rabia Balkhi was a contemporary of the Samanid dynasty and Abu Abdollah Rudaki, and that she was born more than a thousand years ago in the city of Balkh. At that time, Balkh was one of the major centers of science and culture, playing an important role in shaping her broad worldview.
On the sidelines of the conference, a literary and artistic program was held with the participation of artists and students, featuring performances of selected poems by Rabia Balkhi.
At the end of the event, 21 winners of the district stage of the national Shahnameh Recitation Competition were honored with certificates of appreciation.