IRANAT A GLANCE MIRRORPUBLICATION OF THE CULTURAL COUNCIL OF THE EMBASSY OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN, NIAIROBI-KENYA MARCH 2018 Issue No.1 ESFAHAN Profile Contents The Cultural Council of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Nairobi promotes mutual understanding and cultural co-operation among peoples in Kenya and Iran in line with the principles of cultural heritage. The Council’s aim is to create enduring partnership between Iran and other cultures, and we do this by creating opportunities to connect with the latest skills, ideas and experience from Iran. Activities Library: Editorial...................................................................................4 The Cultural Council has a very rich library consisting of myriad of books in the field of Persian language and Islamic Revolution in Iran .................................................... 5 literature. Besides books on human sciences, history of Iran, Islamic studies, world history, religions, Islamic philosophy, 39th Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution .................... 7 a large number of books on social sciences, political science, culture and art are also available for readers Women in Islam ................................................................... 8 and scholars. Besides a good number of bilingual and multilingual Persian dictionaries have also been obtained Art & Culture ......................................................................12 for the benefit of scholars. The membership of the library is open to all. Religion in Iran .................................................................. 20 Film and Art Division: Economy ............................................................................. 24 The film and art division of the Cultural Council consists of video and audio tapes of classical Persian music, art books, Education in Iran .............................................................. 30 calligraphy models, attractive sceneries, handicrafts and various prominent Iranian films. In addition, film festivals Health Care in Iran .......................................................... 34 and cultural exhibitions in various parts of Kenya are also organised by this Office. Science and Technology .................................................. 40 Public Relations Department: Women in Iran ................................................................... 52 The department arranges meetings with prominent personalities from the domain of Kenya art and culture. Tourism in Iran ................................................................... 54 Organising seminars, round table discussions and cultural programmes. Persian Cuisine .................................................................. 58 Information Centre: Scholarship ........................................................................ 61 The centre provides necessary information about Iranian art, culture and all other facets of the Islamic Republic of Pictorial ............................................................................. 62 Iran. Distribution Unit: This unit is responsible for providing Persian books, periodicals, magazines to the Persian loving people. Persian Language Teaching Centre: This unit is responsible for organising Beginners, Intermidiate CULTURAL COUNCIL and advance level Persian courses for interested students. EMBASSY OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN Besides, the unit has introduced Persian language teaching programme in one of the Universities in Kenya known as NAIROBI-KENYA Jamiatus Saifee University located in Karen. Apart from the above the Cultural Council also organize AmBank House, 11th Floor, University Way religious programs, offers Scholarship for Kenyan Tel: 0713 836041 Students, Seminars and Conferences and translation of Email: [email protected] books among others. Website: www.nairobi.icro.ir www.irankenya.org Facebook: irani culture Editorial ear reader, allow me to share plateau. EDITORIAL TEAM the good news, our first edition of Throughout its development, Persian DIran Mirror is here with us, Finally artistic achievement has normally been we have the opportunity to offer a imperial in nature, with impressive Executive Director panoramic view of the stories and majestic monuments or associated with Mahmoud Majlesain perspectives that are emerging from royal patronage in book illustration. the Rich Iranian Culture. Countless painters, weavers, potters, This year marks the thirty-ninth calligraphers, metalworkers, stone anniversary of the Islamic Revolution; masons etc. have produced some of Editor/Research a revolution that transformed Islamic the most beautiful works ever created, Khamis Mohamed Republic of Iran into a powerhouse in and contributed to the Persian artistic not only Middle Eastern Map but also heritage that is known throughout the the World equation. world. Graphic Editor/Production What is even more remarkable with One such artistic prowess is that of Athman Farsi Islamic Republic of Iran is that it has an extremely talented Iranian painter, made enormous progress in many vital Mahmoud Farschian world-renown fields despite facing many challenges. for his distinctive and creative style Distribution Iran has achieved remarkable of painting. His paintings are a joy to Mwinyi Ramadhani breakthroughs in numerous scientific admire and have such an intense depth Osman Rajab arenas, all thanks to the victory of the to them. You really do get carried Islamic Revolution. away into some kind of fantasy land Today, Iran is one of the top ten admiring this man’s work. countries in the world in stem cell Iran is a land of vast discovery research, Nanotechnology, nuclear through the ancient and historical technology, and space. Iran recently Tourist attractions, preserved in the launched its fourth satellite into orbit. Great Persepolis, Tehran, Beautiful As the Google CEO mentioned, Esfahan and Lovely Shiraz and a Iran is so advanced in technology that Desert beauty like Yazd, Iran is a it can hack into a US drone system and land that everyone should visit and land it safely. experience at least once in a life-time. Who helped science progress to There is no shortage of touristic sites such a degree in Iran? Who founded for any first time traveler to Iran. the scientific movement in Iran? Who Iran Mirror is a monthly informative has put the inherited Iranian talent e-magazine of the Cultural Council of Cultural Council in the service of innovation and the Embassy of Iran Nairobi, which will Embassy of I.R.I invention? Of course it was the Islamic strive to give an incisive view of Islamic P.o. Box 59595-00200 establishment that proved both its Republic of Iran. Nairobi perpetuity and its capability to make Enjoy your read. Email: [email protected] Iran progress. Mahmoud Majlesain http://www.nairobi.icro.ir Persian art and architecture reflects Cultural Counsellor Embassy I.R.I a 5,000-year-old cultural tradition Nairobi-Kenya shaped by the diverse cultures that have flourished on the vast Iranian 4 Islamic Revolution in Iran 5 The Islamic Revolution of Iran: Glory and Honor ach and Every February Iranians salvation. the monarchial, puppet rule of the around the World celebrate the A very important point to be hireling Pahlavi regime, women were EVictory of the Islamic Revolution mentioned here is that from the start in fact humiliated most, so much so that of Iran; a revolution that brought about of the Islamic Revolution on Khordad they were encouraged by the regime the Islamic system of governance in 1342 (1963) till it’s victory in to set aside all religious values and Iran. Bahman 1357 (1979), Iranian women instead make themselves like painted Undoubtedly, the Islamic Revolution had outstanding participation; their dolls for the pleasure of men and/or of Iran is the most significant and activities in the struggling against for their material gains through movies the greatest political, social and the oppressive policies of the corrupt and advertisements. Under such cultural event of the present era. This anti-human Pahlavi regime, their deplorable conditions, many religious Revolution has brought about the most exemplary resistance in the face of the families were even afraid to let their profound and most extensive cultural constant threats as well as arrests and daughters go to universities, for fear and socio-political developments in tortures at the hands of the mercenary of the corrupting influences. And when the life of the Iranian nation and being agents of Shah’s SAVAK, their selfless by Allah’s grace, the Islamic Revolution based on humane values and virtues, support for their husbands and sons gained victory, conditions became has called not only the other Muslim in their revolutionary tasks and their favorable for the fruitful presence of peoples, but also all the oppressed tolerating the exile, imprisonment chaste, pious women in various social world nations to awakening and rising and martyrdom of their dear ones, areas, including in universities. Before in the face of the world arrogant besides their courageous participation the Revolution, there was a marked powers. in all anti-Shah demonstrations have shortage of physicians in Iran, even The impressions made by the been really marked, so much so that male physicians, let alone female ones, Islamic Revolution upon Islamic the leader of the Islamic Revolution, while now after about 39 years, Iran countries are undeniable facts. In Imam Khomeini(ra)would on various is proud of having many competent fact, the Islamic