CHANDIGARH, Nov 1: Eminent Persian scholars from Indian universities and some 125 foreign scholars are among the 550 delegates to the three-day All India Persian Teachers' Conference that got underway here today.Aside from scholars from Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkmenistan, Egypt, USA, England, Russia, Uzbekistan and West Asia, Afghanistan's Ambassador to India Masood Khalili and Iran's cultural counsellor Issa Rezazadeh attended the opening session.Union Minister of State for Home Affairs I.D. Swamy inaugurated the conference's 21st international session at the Panjab University Law auditorium. Addressing the gathering, Swami proudly pointed to Nazar Sohanvi, the Punjabi poet who first translated the Bhagwad Gita into Persian under the title Kalaam-e-Rabbani.Ambassador Khalili, the guest of honour, also spoke. "The seed of love destroys hate and develops the concept of brotherhood and one should build it by bridging the cultural barriers," he said.The conference bestowed the Baba-e-Farsi award on Gulwant Singh for his lifetime contribution to the language.Speaking to mediapersons on the status of women in Iran Rezazadeh said: "Contrary to general belief, 52 per cent of Iranian women attend universities. Our religion lays down regulations for women, but it also lays down regulations for men, these are an accepted part of our culture." Referring to India and Iran's centuries-old relationship, Rezazadeh asserted "the two countries are torch-bearers of civilisational dialogue in Asia".
