RoudakiÕs Tomb in Tajikistan

TEHRAN, Feb. 14--Restoration works on the tomb of the famous poet Roudaki, which is located in Tajikistan, will be carried out by Iranian architects, reported CHN.
The decision to the effect was made following President Mohammad KhatamiÕs visit to the poetÕs tomb during a trip to Tajikistan. The president pledged to extend all cooperation to the Tajik government to rebuild the tomb.
The tomb of the renowned Persian poet is located at Panjroud, Tajikistan. Iranian and Tajik governments have decided to rebuild RoudakiÕs tomb in view of the special status the poet has in Persian literature and the culture of the two nations.
Tajik Ambassador to Iran Ramezan Mirzayev said that the Tajik Embassy is following up the dispatch of Iranian architects to Tajikistan adding that they are expected to hold consultations with their Tajik counterparts on the reconstruction operation.
Mirzayev said that Iran and Tajikistan have a history of cooperation in rebuilding cultural heritage sites citing the reconstruction of the tomb of the poet Saeed Ali Hamedani in Tajikistan several years ago.

TEHRAN, Feb. 14--A music hall will be built in the satellite city of Hashtgerd, near Karaj, reported the Persian daily Aftab.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development Ali Abdolalizadeh announced this in a ceremony at Fajr International Music Festival, which was also attended by President Mohammad Khatami. He said that the auditorium will be modeled after TehranÕs Vahdat Hall and on completion will be handed over to Music House.
The ministry, he said, has also decided to allocate a plot of land to build a Music House there and a section of the land will be placed at the disposal of the housing cooperative of the Music House, Abdolalizadeh said.
Asked why the ministry is not undertaking the construction of such a large auditorium in Tehran, he said that there no land available in the capital to build another Vahdat Hall.
ÒHowever, since Tehran metro will be soon be extended to Hashtgerd, the ministry decided to implement the project there,Ó he said.
Responding to another question about the governmentÕs current term ending in the next few months and whether implementation of the project will be pursued by the next government, Abdolalizadeh said that the Music House should follow up the project.
The daily criticized the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for holding up the implementation of the project and questioned why such a plan has been announced belatedly at the end of the governmentÕs term in office.
ÒThe question is that how is it possible to build such a large hall in Hashtgerd while only a few months are remaining from the term of the outgoing government?Ó the daily asked.
Aftab said that the Music community is suffering from shortage of hall for both rehearsal and performance and hoped that the minister take practical steps to expedite the implementation of the project.

TEHRAN, Feb. 14--A Moroccan painter said that the paintings by Iranian artists are richer and have more profound insight than those produced in other Muslim countries, reported Fars news agency.
Public Relations Department of the Arts Academy quoted Hossein Talal, who is participating at the third Muslim world contemporary painting biennial, as saying that he is very satisfied with the level of the entries at the event, particularly those from Iran.
ÒIranian paintings are not comparable to other works since they have viewed the phenomena from a deeper perspective,Ó he noted.
Noting that Iranian paintings are not imitative, the Moroccan artist said, ÒI did not expect to see such deep and beautiful works by the Iranians.Ó
He further stated that diversity is another important feature of the entries of the event and said that each artist has presented the Islamic art in his/her own style.
ÒWell-known artists are participating at the event,Ó Talal said, adding that this is yet another feature of the biennial.
Third International Muslim World Contemporary Paintings Biennial is currently underway and will continue at Saba Cultural and Artistic Center until March 10.
The exhibition is open to the public everyday (except holidays) from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

TEHRAN, Feb. 14--The largest collection of manuscripts which includes 420 copies in Persian, Turkic and Arabic languages is maintained in the Russian National Library.
The collection was compiled after the wars between Iran and Russia during the Qajar era.
In a press release, News Center of the New Iran National Library Building Inauguration Headquarters quoted the Head of Iran National LibraryÕs Development Group Farzaneh Shadanpour as saying that RussiaÕs National Library currently holds 1,000 Persian language manuscripts, 140 of which date back to 1951.
Meanwhile, a copy of Shahnameh--an epic work by the great Iranian poet Abolqasem Ferdowsi--illustrated with miniatures is among the manuscripts.
She further said that some have attributed the miniatures to Behzad Mohammadi, notwithstanding that some of the works have been signed by Reza Abbasi.
Sultan Ali Mahshadi and Shah Mahmoud Neishabouri are among the calligraphers involved in writing the manuscripts, she noted.
Iranian manuscripts maintained at the Russian National Library are unique in terms of miniature, calligraphy, leather binding and illumination.

TEHRAN, Feb. 14--Radif, an orderly succession of melodies with a logical connection within each Dastgah or system, forms the basis of music used in Tazieh (mourning plays).
However, since this theatrical performance of religious background is enacted nationwide, it has been influenced by indigenous, devotional and sacred songs, observed a researcher in Maqami music.
Jahangir Nasr-Ashrafi, in an interview with Cultural Heritage News agency, further said that the first congress titled ÔReview of Styles of Music and SongsÕ will be held here this year.
Observing that Tazieh is an amalgamation of various kinds of arts, he said that sound, dramatic and aesthetic arts have all been incorporated in Tazieh, which is a play performed during ceremonies to mark the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Imam of the household of Prophet MuhammadÕs (PBUH) infallible household.
ÒAs Tazieh uses many Iranian traditional plays, the music used in Tazieh is based on traditional Iranian music,Ó he noted.
Nasr-Ashrafi called for further research on the music used in Tazieh.
ÒSince the structure of music used in Tazieh is based on Radifi music, musicians specializing in this field should conducted research studies on song styles and schools of Tazieh,Ó he said, noting that unfortunately, nobody except the late Rouhollah Khaleqi, who was well-versed in the field, has conducted serious studies in the field.
The musician also said that the congress, which will be held here in Arts Cultural Center from March 5-10, will provide an opportunity to begin research works.
The congress, which will be attended by well-known figures in the field of instrumental music, will discuss the impacts of devotional melodies used in different regions of the country on Tazieh.

TEHRAN, Feb. 14--A novel ÔFour-Men BrigadeÕ by Ahmad Dehqan has been published by Sureh Mehr Publishing House.
The publisher said in a press release that the novel is about the events of the sacred defense era, the 1980-1988 Iraqi-imposed war. ÒIt is about four Iranian soldiers who embarked on reconnaissance mission of the Iraqi fronts one night ahead of an offensive to liberate Iranian territory from Iraqi occupation,Ó it said.
ÒFour Iranian soldiers: Ali, Hassan, Saeed and Nasser, went into Iraqi camps one night ahead of an offensive to repel their surprise attack on Iran in early stages of Iraqi-imposed war,Ó the press release said.
ÒThey face numerous trouble and difficulty in carrying out their reconnaissance mission. Some breathtaking incidents occur. They are besieged and cannot leave the Iraqi camp for 24 hours. They remain there until the Iranian troops launch the scheduled offensive to capture the Iraqi camps freeing the four soldiers,Ó part of the novel said.
The novel, which has 108 pages, has been published in 3,300 copies.

MADRID, Spain, Feb. 14--Iranian film ÔThe Secret BallotÕ will be screened in the second festival of ÔCinema and Human RightsÕ in Spain.
The comedy film by Babak Payami produced in Iran in 2000 will be screened in a movie theater in Girona in northeastern Spain on February 18.
A cultural institute, ÔAsia HouseÕ which is affiliated to the Spanish Foreign Ministry, is the sponsor of the ÔCinema and Human RightsÕ festival.
In the past two years, the festival focused on films from different countries in various Spanish cities. The third ÔCinema and Human RightsÕ festival will be held in Barcelona next September-October.
Meanwhile, a series of programs introducing Iranian films were held in Lleida in the state of Catalonia, Spain last November.