INTRODUCTION
Following the legacy of passing on knowledge, the School of Arab and Asian Studies of English and Foreign languages University, Hyderabad organized a two days International conference on 11th and 12th November on Persian manuscripts. The conference had a vibrant gathering with many scholars and professors from India as well as abroad. The theme of the conference was Persian Manuscripts: Their Significance to Past, Present and Future. The conference was hosted by EFLU’s department of Asian languages, in collaboration with the University of St. Andrews, United Kingdom.
DAY 1 OF THE CONFERENCE
The conference commenced with an inaugural session where the lead guest was Dr. Sudha Gopalakrishnan, Executive Director of International Research Division, India International Centre, New Delhi. Professor Haribandi Lakshmi, the acting vice-chancellor of EFLU, led the session and highlighted the roots of Persian culture in the Golconda Sultanate, emphasizing its support under the rule of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah. The session followed many seasoned educators such Dr. Mahmood Alam, the director of the conference, guest of honor Andrew peacock,from Middle Eastern and Islamic History at University of St. Andrews,Prof. Syed Akhtar Husain from JNU, Delhi, Prof. Syed Rashid Naseem dean of the School of Arab and Asian Studies at EFLU and Dr. Smitha S. Kumar, superintending archaeologist, Hyderabad Circle, Archaeological Survey of India.
Highlights
Almost 9 papers were presented on day 1, some of the highlights were:
- A.C.S. Peacock’s paper examines Persian manuscripts in British collections linked to the exiled Safavid court at Lucknow, focusing on those associated with Abu’l-Fath Muhammad Sultan Mirza Safavi. These manuscripts, held mainly at Edinburgh University and the British Library, include older works and those commissioned in India as gifts for British officials like John Baillie and Henry Yule.
- Another topic presented by Charles Melville Professor Emeritus of Persian History at the University of Cambridge and Emeritus Fellow of Pembroke College, Akbar’s History of the Mongols: The Chingiznama or Jami‘ al-tavarikh of Rashid al-Din from completion to dispersal is a highlight.
- Sunil Sharma a Professor of Persianate and Comparative Literature at Boston University, presented his paper on Single Text Manuscripts of Amir Khusrau’s Poems in British Collections which covered the evolution of Amir Khusrau’s manuscript culture, noting that by the sixteenth century, his works were often copied as individual texts rather than in collected volumes. Based on eight British collections, it highlights the popularity of Qiran al-sad’ain and Qissah-yi Duvalrani va Khizr Khan. This shift reveals insights into the readership and manuscript production of Khusrau’s works.
DAY 2 OF THE CONFERENCE
The second day of the conference continued, and the rest of the papers were presented.
- Dr. Mahmood Alam , Assistant Professor of Persian and Head of the Department of Asian Languages at the School of Arab and Asian Studies in EFLU presented his paper on Historical Traces: Exploring Seals and Annotations. This paper delves into the hidden narratives within Persian manuscripts by analyzing seals, stamps, and annotations that trace these texts’ paths across regions and centuries. Through marks of ownership, readership, and interpretation by scholars and nobles, the study reconstructs the manuscripts’ journeys, illustrating cultural exchanges and evolving significance within dynastic settings.The speaker highlighted how incorrect assumptions can distort understanding, illustrating this with the discovery of a later manuscript that corrected earlier beliefs about a historical event.
- Dr. Sanghamitra Basu highlighted the historical bond between India and Iran, emphasizing how Persian scholars translated key Indian works into Persian during the medieval period. Under rulers like Akbar, Indian religious and philosophical texts were rendered into Persian, fostering cultural synthesis. This collaboration led to unique manuscripts, blending Indian and Persian artistic traditions.
CONCLUSION
The valedictory session featured reflections from participants on personal journeys, gratitude, and Hyderabad’s cultural richness. Host T. Srivani humorously noted her newfound appreciation for Persian, while Chief Guest Reddy highlighted Hyderabad’s ties to Persian culture. Dr. Ursula Sims-Williams emphasized the conference’s role in revitalizing manuscripts, and Prof. Andrew Peacock expressed hope in the younger generation’s role in preserving this legacy, thanking organizers and supporters.
