Taj Mahal symbol of love and friendship between people of Iran,india

Taj Mahal is a symbol of love and friendship between the people of Iran and India, said Sayed Mahdi Nabizadeh, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of India.

Addressing the two-day International seminar on “Taj Mahal: A symbol of Indo-Iranian craftsmanship”, that began Friday at University of Delhi, Iranian official said: “The seminar is in fact an inevitable need for the present world at the beginning of the 21st Century and a matter of honor.

The seminar has been organized by the department of History of Delhi University in collaboration with Culture House of the Islamic Republic of Iran, New Delhi and Indian Council of Historical Research.

Elaborating on the issue of the seminar, Nabizadeh said that the relations and exchanges between the great civilizations have always led to further enrichment of them as a certain fact.

“The relations between Iranians and the inhabitants of the Indian Sub-continent go back to many centuries”, said Iranian Ambassador.

Adding that the glorious civilization of Mohanjodaro and the Sind Valley, which developed during 1500-2500 BC, contains visible signs of the art and cultural links with the Iranian civilization, he said the period of the Shahabuddin Shah Jahan is characterized by the rich art and culture of Iranian’s in the Sub-continent.

He was of the view that holding such seminar would play a distinguished role in further improving the already friendly ties between Iran and India, in keeping alive the cultural heritage of the two nations and protecting the archaeological facts which are deep rooted in the ancient civilizations of the two countries.

Nabizadeh hoped that this seminar would also work out suitable ways to establish working groups, particularly in the private sector, how to repair and maintain the cultural heritages of Iran and India and also to transfer the Islamic and Iranian art of architecture to the coming generations of the two countries.

Meanwhile, Karim Najafi the Cultural Counsellor of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi while highlighting on the issue of the seminar said: “The main aim of this seminar is to enable the Indian and the Iranian scholars to share their views on the common cultural legacy and to highlight the contribution of Iranian calligraphy and miniature on the tomb of Taj Mahal.

“Iran and India, enjoying a common civilizational background, can play a very important role in preserving the cultural heritage”, said Najafi, adding that a spirit of mutual respect, close coordination and lasting friendship can be implemeted through this seminar.

Iranian Counsellor, while recalling Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the former Prime Minister of India who in his book, ‘Discovery of India’, has said “Few people have been more closely related in origin and throughout history than the people of India and people of Iran”, said: “India and Iran are the cradle of ancient culture and civilization that continue to have their impact on the world for about 5000 years.

Prof. Saiyid Zaheer Husain Jafri, Head, Department of History, Delhi University, Professor Irfan Habib, Professor Emeritus, Aligarh Muslim University, Mahmud Vaezi, Ishrat Alam, Member Seretary, Indian Council of Historical Research also addressed the seminar.

Beside great historians, scholars from Iran and India, large gathering of students of the Department of History, Delhi University were present at the seminar.

During two days of seminar, an academic session will be held wherein scholars from Iran and India will present their valuable papers on various aspects of Taj Mahal.


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