UNESCO To Offer 1st Edition Of Shahriar World Award After Feasibility Studies

Tehran, July 10, IRNA – The UNESCO National Commission of Iran said on Tuesday that the first edition of the UNESCOˈs ˈShahriar World Awardˈ will be possible once necessary feasibility studies are conducted on capacities, facilities and programs specified by Shahriar Foundation. Issuing a statement on the award, the Shahriar Foundation said the poet enjoys a higher position in Iranian contemporary literature and culture and UNESCO is proud of introducing an award after his name. The National UNESCO Commission said that in a joint meeting with Shahriar Foundation officials, the UNESCO Secretary General and director of the National UNESCO Commission had highlighted UNESCOˈs precise and expert views on dedication of such a prize. The two sides agreed that the world award would be initiated after carrying studies about capacities, budget, technical and executive aspects and considering necessary standards. The prize was reportedly scheduled to be dedicated to institutions, organizations and individuals whose efforts contribute to the works and life of contemporary Iranian poet and scholar Shahriar. The event will reportedly select the works focusing on the innovation and research in Persian literature and language, in particular, through Shahriar’s works. The first edition of Shahriar World Award was programmed to be held in September 2013. Seyyed Mohammad Hossein Behjat-Tabrizi (1906-1988), known by his pen name Shahriar, was born in Tabriz and is best known for his straightforward language and easy-to-understand poetry. Shahriar was the first Iranian to write poetry in Azeri language and his most famous poem Heydar Babaya Salam, known by many as one of the best modern poems in the language, has been adapted into a few plays. Published in 1954, the poem is about a mountain where the poet spent his childhood and has been translated into more than 30 languages. Shahriar has written many different forms of verse, including lyrics, quatrains, couplets, odes, and elegies. His works have also been set to music by renowned Iranian musicians such as Rouhollah Khaleqi. Shahriar was also a talented calligrapher and played the sitar. He passed away on September 18, 1988, and the day was named as Iranˈs National Day of Persian Literature and Poetry./end