In the name of God, the Lord of wisdom and life,
Distinguished guests…
Esteemed scholars, poets, and friends of literature…
It is both a pleasure… and a great honor…
to welcome all distinguished speakers and participants to this gathering today.
The ECO Cultural Institute is privileged to host this event…
and to be associated with this meaningful intellectual and cultural engagement.
It is a great pleasure and honor to participate in the unveiling ceremony of Kamand-e Zolf (The Lasso of Hair), authored by Ms. Zulfiya Atayi, one of the most prominent contemporary poets of Tajikistan.
Persian literature is the shared heritage of nations that have lived for centuries within the cultural sphere of this language. Among these nations, the people of Tajikistan hold a special place. Despite the many historical challenges they have faced, they have preserved the Persian language and literary tradition as a vibrant and living legacy. The publication of works by Tajik poets in Iran is not merely the publication of a book; it is a cultural bridge connecting the peoples of the ECO region.
In recent years, the ECO Cultural Institute has played a significant role in introducing the literary and cultural achievements of ECO member states, particularly Tajikistan.
The Institute has translated and published dozens of works by Tajik poets and writers, thereby strengthening cultural ties and fostering mutual understanding among our nations.
Today’s book is another manifestation of this cultural bond. While preserving the authenticity of the Persian language, Tajik poetry simultaneously reflects the historical, social, and human experiences of the people of Tajikistan.
These poems acquaint us with the emotions, aspirations, and worldview of a people who, beyond geographical borders, continue to regard themselves as heirs to our shared Persian cultural heritage.
Poetry has often been described as the mirror of a poet’s soul, and the poet as the chronicler of the age. The poetry of Zulfiya Atayi, a beloved poet of Tajikistan, is the voice of a woman who has gazed upon the world through the mirror of her heart and transformed both wounds and blossoms into a new kind of enchantment.
Her words soar across the years like a bird in flight—at times a gentle breeze of tenderness, at times the fire of a passionate outcry, and always a truth arising from the depths of the soul.
Kamand-e Zolf is a vessel…
filled with passion… and subtle sweetness.
Within its pages…
we find intimate expressions of feminine love…
alongside reflections of homeland… hardship… hope…
and the enduring resilience of ordinary people.
Reading this collection…
is like walking through a quiet corridor…
where every verse… lights a lamp…
every poem… gently places a reassuring hand on the reader’s shoulder…
and every word… reflects a woman standing in the world with dignity…
A presence that is not only visible…
but illuminated… steady…
and radiant with inner light.
In this collection, readers encounter a world in which love is not merely an emotion but a force for understanding oneself and the world.
Zulfiya Atayi depicts love much as a mother cherishes her child—with care, apprehension, longing, and a courage known only to the feminine heart.
Her poetry reflects both the pains and the universe of women.
In her lines, one hears the flow of the Syr Darya River, glimpses the shadows of ancient cities, and feels the sorrows and hopes of the people of Tajikistan rising like waves through her words.
Kamand-e Zolf belongs to that rare category of works in which every poem becomes a key… opening the hidden locks of human emotion.
Within its pages, sorrow and joy exist side by side in delicate balance; nature seems to acquire the colors of sound; and the poet’s language—simple, fluid, and unforced—flows like a clear river.
It gently carries the reader, almost without notice, toward the farthest horizons of feeling… where thought turns into reflection, and emotion becomes understanding.
In conclusion, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the literary community on the publication of this valuable work.
I sincerely hope that the poet’s inspiration will always remain abundant and that the spring of her creativity will continue to flow with vitality and brilliance.
I thank you for your patience.