Southern Star-December 2022 English

Though classical Sanskrit and Persian language developed separately, many of their basic words are common, as in most of the Aryan languages. The differences in these two languages and art and culture are due to the different environments in which they developed. Persian art seems to be intimately connected to its dry scenery and soil.Where as Indo-Aryan art grew out of Indias snow covered mountains, thick forest, and magnificent rivers.Iran like India had a strong cultural background to influence the invaders to their ways and absorb them in their culture. The Arabs who conquered Iran in 7th century also succumbed to this influence and parted their desert ways to adopt sophisticated Iranian culture. Persian language like French language became a language of sophisticated and cultured people across Asia. Iranian culture and art spread right from Constantinople to the edge of Gobi Dessert. In India Persian was the court language during the reign of Afghans and Moghuls up to the British Raj. All Indian languages, right from Hindustani to Dravidian, have Persian words in them. India has produced brilliant poets and scholars, of Persian language, like, Rahim, Dehalavi,Kakheti, Tabrizi,Bedil,Guru Gobind Singh, Makati etc.

Indus Valley Civilization did have some contacts with the civilizations of Iran and Mesopotamia which show in the architectural designs and Seals.There is also evidence to show that Iran and India were in contact in Pre-Archaemian period, I.e.before Cyrus The Great in 500B.C. India with the description of North India is mentioned in Avesta. In Rig Veda there are references to Persia. The Persians were called 'Parshavas'and then 'Parasiks'from which the name 'Parsi ' has ivolved. The' Parthians ' were referred as 'Parthavas '.The Parthian Empire existed in Iran between 247 B.C. to 224A.D.Indo-Parthian Kingdom called Gondophorus was present in India during 19th century upto 226C.E. Cyrus the Great came upto Kabul and Baluchistan. In 6th century under Darius Persian Empire reached upto North West India, including Sind and western Punjab. That period is referred as Zoraostrian period of Indian history. Sun worshipping was prevalent at that time. Sind of Darius era was very prosperous and populated at that time. 'Herodotus' tells us that 'The population of Indians is by far the greatest of all the people that we know;and they pay tribute proportionately larger than all the rest-(sum of)360 talents (I.e.1talent=weight of a person =50kg.) Of gold dust (equivalent to over a million pounds sterling. )'.He also mentions about Indians in Persian armies consisting of, infantry, cavalry, chariots and elephants.Before 7th century and afterwards there was trading and commercial contacts between India and Babylon through Persian Gulf. From 6th century onwards because of the campaigns of Cyrus and Darius these contacts grew. After Alexander's conqest of Iran,the contacts continued, though Iran was under Greek rule.Ashoka's many buildings are influenced by architecture of Persepolis and Graeco-Buddist art developed in north-west India and Afghanistan has a touch of Iran. Contacts with Iran also continued during Gupta period.Areas near the border  of India like Kabul, Kandahar,Seistan, often were part of India and were the meeting places of Indians and Iranians.They were called 'White India.' French wise man, James Darmesteler says,'Hindu civilization prevailed in those parts,which in fact in the two centuries before and after Christ were known as White India, and more Indian than Iranian till the Mussulman conquest.'

In the North of India, trade and travel was overland unlike South where trade was sea born.There was an exchange of Ambassadors between South India and Sassanid Empire of Iran. The Turkish, Afghan and Moghul rule in India ,resulted in close contact with Central and Western Asia. In 15th century renewed interest in Timurid art and culture (Renaissance)was blooming, in Samarkand and Bokhara, influenced by Iran. Out of that social environment arose Baber,who was of the Timurid (pertaining to Timur)lineage and established himself on Delhi's Throne. This happened in early 16th century, when Iran was having an artistic revival of Persian art, under the dynasty of Safavis,known as Golden age of Persian art.It was one of the Safavi King, 'Shah Tahmasa ',to whom Baber's Son Humayun went for refuge and came back to Delhi, with his help.These Moghul rulers kept close contacts with Iran and there were many scholars and artist from Iran, in the Moghul Court.Out of this emerged a new architectural design ,which was the combination of Indian ideals and Persian influence. The most famous building of this concept is Taj Mahal. A French Scholar Grousset termed it as the' Soul of Iran incarnate in the body of India '.Though 'Nadir Shah's' cruel invasion of India 200 years ago brings out bitter memories in us, India and Iran had a very long and honorable relationships with each other. Then Britsh spoilt everything by barring and closing all overland routes to our Western Neighbors. New sea routes were opened towards Europe and England. Thus overland contacts with Iran, Central Asia,China were stopped, till the coming of air travel.This sudden but brief isolation from the rest of Asia was an unfortunate consequence of the Britsh rule of India. Though contact between Indians and Iranians was broken, there has been a continuous bond with Iran, in the form of Zoraostrian Community, which migrated to India, when Islam overwhelmed Iran. They were welcomed here and settled in the west cost of India. They followed their faith and costoms without interference from others or without interfering with others. They made India their home, quietly fitted into the society but held on to their religion and Old customs Marriages outside the community are not allowed, which was accepted by Indian community, as intercast or Inter religion Marriages are looked down upon in India also.Due to this their population is not growing fast enough. Infact at the latest their number is around 58,ooo.Though less in number they have excelled in business, commerce,education etc.like, Tata,Bhabha, Godarej, Byramjee Jejeebhai, Wadia, Dadabhai Naoroji, Sethana, Pullomji Mistry, Sir,Dinshaw Petit, Cyrus Poonawalla. They have practically no contact with Iran, still they hold to their old traditions and memories of their homeland.Recently there have been resurgence towards the old civilization in Iran, which has got nothing to do with religion, but is cultural and Nationalistic, taking pride in old cultural traditions of Iran.The period of European domination in Asia is over and the Asian countries are coming together for common interests. Pt.Nehru had no doubt that in near future Iran and China will draw closer(Though he proved to be very wrong in this respect.)A leader of a Iranian cultural mission that visited India said, 'The Iranians and Indians are like two brothers, who, according to a Persian legend,had got separated from each other, one going east and the other to the west. Their families had forgotten all about each other and the only thing that remained in common between them were the snatches of a few old tunes which they still played on their flutes. It was through these tunes that, after a lapse of centuries, the two families recognized each other and were reunited. So also we come to India to play on our flutes our age old songs, so that,on hearing them, our Indian cousins may recognize us as their own and become reunited with their Iranian cousins.

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Rotarian Arvind Mavlankar is the backbone of this project, right from day one.....!
Almost singlehanded, he is organising every minute aspect of the project, irrespective of president and chairperson of the committee....!

And his biggest drawback in doing all this is ---
HE NEVER CLAIMS LIMELIGHT.....!!
A true to the core and dedicated to the cause Rotarian.....!!
Rotarian Arvind Mavlankar,
TUSSI GREAT HOOOO!!!

🌸🙏🙏💐🙏🙏🌸

Its a great Humanitarian project done by our club, help saving lives of numerous patients.

Our further donation of equipments will enhance this noble cause. Profound thanks to all the donors. 💐💐🙏🙏

Good thought provoking Programme special thanks P.P. Rtn. Dr. Gore, P.P. Rtn. Sudarshan, Rtn. Abhijit and Rtn. Hemant.

It was an interactive session with students participating with enthusiasm.
This programme was conducted by the Interact Club Committee at Nandadeep High School.
Total 90 students of std 9th and 10th attended the session.