Kamal Khujandi", The Poet of All Generations and Eras

According to the ECO Cultural Institute, Mr. Sarvar Bakhti, President, ECI, while welcoming the speakers and the audience, said: "Language and literature are among the factors of convergence and compromise between societies and the basis of cooperative interactions between the ECO member states; an effective solution to create an atmosphere of agreement and unity, they will prepare the ground for expansion of cultural cooperation.
"Kamal is the poet of all generations and era, the poet of all peoples who speak Persian, Dari and Tajik. He is the link between nations and belongs to the literature of the world. His poems are brimming with love, freedom, Sufism, mysticism and philanthropy." he added.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to Iran, Mr. Nizomiddin Zohidi, appreciated the initiative of Mr. Sarvar Bakhti and stressed that: "After the independence of Tajikistan, marking the 675th birth anniversary of Kamal Khujandi, Kamal Studies were developed in Tajikistan as a literary discipline which were fruitful. On this occasion, scholars of the Kamal Khujandi Research Center and universities in Tajikistan published dozens of books and dissertations that are of great importance in recognizing Kamal Khujandi's works.
Later at the meeting, Mr. Abdul Ghafoor Lival, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to Iran, stating that Kamal Khujandi is also well-known in Afghanistan and is one of the figures in the Dari literature on whom many studies are conducted in Afghan colleges and comprehensive researches on Kamal are available in the Afghan Science Archive. "Poets like Kamal Khujandi can be effective as a bridge in relations between nations," he said. He also wished prosperity for Tajikistan which is famed for being a literature enthusiast country. the ambassador further expressed hope that more personalities such as Kamal Khujandi will be brought up in the ECO region would observe the future, and such programs on the common cultural heritage would continue.
Mr. Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, President, the Academy of Persian Language and Literature, was the next speakers at the meeting. He called the ECO Cultural Institute the guardian of the common cultural heritage of countries in the region and added: Poets like Kamal Khujandi who are born in one country and buried in another, are considered the permanent ambassadors of those countries. Kamal entered transcendent mystical concepts into Persian language with his fluent, delicate and mystical poetry and he was highly honored by the literary figures.
Mr. Rajabboy Ahmadzoda, Governor of Sugd province, Tajikistan, referring to the lasting contribution of Professor Allama Sadriddin Ayni, who founded the school of literature studies and Kamal studies, said: "The commemoration of Sheikh Kamal Khujandi marks the beginning of a new phase in further recognizing the literary and mystical works of this distinguished poet and it's part of Tajikistan's program for Kamal Studies since the independence of the country.
Mr. Mohammad Reza Pourmohammadi, Governor of East Azerbaijan, was another speaker of the webinar who stressed the need for utlizing cultural diplomacy in expanding relations between Iran and Tajikistan and said: "Cultural commonalities and historical and literary connections are the main ground for strengthening relations between the two countries, because the same historical roots, same language, common religion and similar traditions and rituals such as Nowruz provide unique circumstances for the further development of cultural and social relations. In this regard, the tomb of Kamal in Tabriz is considered the symbol of cultural commonalities connecting Iran and Tajikistan.
Dr. Ali Ashraf Mojtahed Shabestari, President, Iran-Tajikistan Friendship Association, referring to personalities and figures such as Kamal Khujandi as the facilitators of maintaining and strengthening friendship, and said: "Conducting joint research on Kamal and other luminaries, producing a joint film about Khajeh Kamal, increasing the exchange of professors and students as well as joint inscription of Kamal Khujandi in the UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Tajikistan and Iran, can be considered on the agenda for cooperation between the two countries. Iran-Tajikistan Friendship Association which has contributed inscription of Mir Seyed Ali Hamedani and Chogan(polo), is willing to cooperate for the inscription of Khajeh Kamal before UNESCO.
Dr. Hassan Bolkhari, a professor at the University of Tehran and President of the Society for the Appreciation of Cultural Works and Dignitaries of Iran, was the next speaker at the meeting, who elaborated on similes and allegories in Kamal's Ghazals, noting that no Ghazal in his poetry could be found without numerous excellent allegories and similes. While comparing the common themes in the poetry of Hafez and Kamal Khujandi, Bolhari explained with a new approach the lexical capacities of Kamal poems.
Dr. Ahmad Khatami, Dean of Literature and Humanities Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University, delivered a speech entitled "The Human features of Kamal Khujandi's Poetry." He said: "Kamal has been lasting in the history of the Persian poetry for seven hundred years due to his deep thoughts, worldview and inclusion of ontological views in his poetry. He is alive in history. Kamal became heavenly with his rich and divine thoughts, and this is one of the characteristics of those who emerged from the heart of history and immortalized themselves in history.
Dr. Sarverasa Rafizadeh, a professor at RANA University in Kabul explained in her speech about Kamal's Ghazals based on intertextual relations. She examined the intertextual relations of Kamal's Ghazals and Persian speaking poets in three categories: the pre-Kamal poets from whom he has adapted; the contemporary poets whose poetry had an intertextual relationship with Kamal and post-Kamal poets who adapted from him.

Dr. Bagher Sadrinia, a professor at the University of Tabriz, spoke about the various aspects of Kamal's life during his stay in Tabriz. He explained issues such as determining the approximate time of Kamal's arrival in Tabriz; His place of residence in Tabriz; His forced departure to "Saray"city ; His return to Tabriz; His relations with his contemporary poets and mystics and the exact date of Kamal's death.
Dr. Badriddin Maghsudzodah, a professor at the State University of Tajikistan, elaborated on the history of Kamal studies in Tajikistan. He introduced the stylistic aspects of Kamal's poems by introducing the background of proofreading and research among prominent Tajik thinkers.
Referring to the history of relevant studies and correction of Kamal's poetry conducted by the prominent Tajik thinkers, he described the stylistic features of Kamal's poems.
At the end of the meeting, Mr. Mohammad Kazem Mohammadi Bagh Mollaei, a writer and researcher, gave a speech entitled "Kamal's art of speech". " Kamal Khujandi was trained in the Great Khorasani School and the Tabriz School. He has conquered the hearts of the East and the West of the Persian-speaking realm with his magical and pleasant words. With his literary and artistic creation, with his strange and new words, he has voiced the demands of the public and has requested for improvement of their life conditions.
The meeting also included various videos showing artists from Afghanistan, Iran and Tajikistan, the tomb and museum of Kamal Khujandi in Tabriz and Khujand", songs by Bay Mohammad Niyazev, Jorehbek Moradaf and Sobhan Saeed as well as calligraphy works containing Kamal poetry by Master Mohammad Mehdi Mirzaei, an Afghan artist.