Hafez was a Persian lyric poet whose collected works are regarded by many Iranians as one of the highest pinnacles of Persian literature. His works are often found in the homes of Persian speakers, who learn his poems by heart and use them as everyday proverbs and sayings. His life and poems have become the subjects of much analysis, commentary, and interpretation, influencing post-14th century Persian writing more than any other Persian author. He is also known by his sobriquet Lisan al-Ghayb (Tongue of the Unseen).
Speakers highlighted the influence of Hafez, the renowned Iranian poet, on the poetry and literary traditions of Central Asia and Kazakhstan. Persian language students at Kazakh universities also recited verses from his works.
Dr. Islam Chaman, a writer, researcher of history and literature, and university lecturer in Kazakhstan, told Iran Press that Hafez had attracted the attention of Central Asian and Kazakh scholars since the 18th and 19th centuries. He noted that Abai, Kazakhstan’s celebrated national poet, had studied the works of Hafez, Saadi and Ferdowsi and drawn on them in his own writings. Abai also encouraged his student 'Shakarim' to study Hafez in depth, leading Shakarim to become the first person to translate ten of Hafez’s poems into Kazakh.
Dr. Mehdi Khodadadian, a professor of Persian language and literature at Kazakh universities, told Iran Press that two universities in Almaty offer programs in Persian language, Iranian studies, and Oriental studies, with instructors working to encourage interest in and facilitate the learning of Persian.
Hossein Vaez - ahmad shirzadian
