Persian Homeland and Literature
Homeland, place of birth, Homeland in today's Persian language have substantially the same usage, although from the etymological and cognitive-linguistic point of view each one requires an introduction. Mihan (homeland) however it is a completely Persian word with the suffix -year at the end, with which nouns and especially instrumental nouns are formed.
The homeland, which has always been a source of inspiration for Persian literature, in Persian epic literature is characterized by:
Characteristics of the Homeland in the Persian Epic
- Sacred Land:
The homeland in epic is venerated as the land where national values and ideals were formed.
- Identity Center:
The homeland is the main center of identity and emotional belonging of the individual and society, and the epic, highlighting its unique characteristics, strengthens this feeling in the reader.
- Heroes' Field of Action:
Epic heroes sacrifice themselves in defense of their homeland, and this transforms the homeland into a container of courage and valor, despite their condition as victims.
The Homeland in Ancient Iranian Epics
In the ancient epic literature of Iran, the concept of homeland is presented as an important and central principle. However, what gives meaning to this homeland, more than modern political components, are worship, religion, language and ritual cultural unity. In fact, in the premodern language, we have a homeland whose substance is more mythical and spiritual.
Epics, through the description of tribal and national courage, honors and greatness, somehow strengthen the identity and emotional belonging to the homeland in the reader. Homeland in the past, especially in epic literature (except in mysticism), in the sense of place, native place and land or geographical borders and limits, was more of interest to poets, and the famous poet of Iran-zamin “Ferdowsi” did good justice to this topic.
Ferdowsi's Love for Iran
Because Ferdowsi's love for Iran and the land of his ancestors is precisely “love for the homeland” (hubb al watan), for this reason one of the credential and emotional foundations of the wise scholar of Tus, which manifests itself in every part of his Shahnameh, is the love for Iran and the respect he has for his compatriots:
“If Iran does not exist, my body must not exist
It's a shame that Iran is ruined
May it become the home of leopards and lions
For the land, the soil and our children
For wife and young children and our bonds
All together we will give our heads and bodies to be killed
Rather than give the country to the enemy”
Martyrdom for the Fatherland
The patriotic feelings and affection of the Tus master for Iran-zamin are so much that according to him whoever is killed in war against the enemies of the homeland and in the custody of the Iranian soil, is a martyr and his place in the afterlife will be the supreme paradise. This precious and important point Ferdowsi expressed through the voice of Keykhosrow, before his war with Afrasiyab, addressing the heroes of the Iranian army:
“If anyone from this army is killed
The supreme paradise will be his abode”
The Description of Iran
Ferdowsi described parts of the vast land of Iran, such as the Mazandaran region and the Alborz Mountains, with such wonderful attributes, which indicate his love for Iran-zamin:
“From a mile of road to the Alborz mountains
He saw a very majestic place
Many trees and running waters
“A place of residence for young men”
Iran as a Land of Freedom
Another sign of the master of Tus' love for Iran is that in the Shahnameh he calls Iran by the names of "free land" and "city of free men" and speaks of its inhabitants with the attribute of "free men":
“He arrived at the court of King Fereydoun
Rising from afar he saw Iran
Sitting at the door with the nobles
Behind the curtain, the place of free men”
Ferdowsi's Balanced Patriotism
With this detail, the sage Abu'l-Qasem Ferdowsi, while he loves Iran and calls Iranians a noble, pure and free people, his patriotism is not an extreme nationalism accompanied by contempt for other peoples and races. For he is devoted to God and righteous, and attributes to man a high and noble position.
The patriotic feelings of the sage from Tus have made him reach a position among the Iranian nation that no other poet has reached among his people and will not reach. Ferdowsi has been the ruler of the Iranian spirit for a thousand years and has reigned in the hearts of the Iranian people for a thousand years.
The Homeland in the Iranian Epic
In the epic literature of Iran, especially in the Shahnameh of Ferdowsi, the homeland as a sacred land and the cradle of heroes and great men is also an object of praise. These works, narrating the courage and sacrifices of the epic characters for the preservation and protection of the homeland, arouse in the reader the feeling of patriotism.
Modern Patriotic Literature
In the contemporary and modern period we also meet “watan-iyyeh” (patriotic poems) and patriotic literature, the content of which is love for the homeland, appreciation of national values or grief and regret for lost glories. The content, addressee, grief and subject of patriotic literature is the homeland in its modern meaning, i.e. in the Qajar period a new form, concept and thought about the homeland was formed which became a part of our literature, and later our poets, writers and artists with their feelings and imagination presented their creations on the theme of the homeland and composed “watan-iyyeh”.
Types of Patriotic Literature
The “watan-iyyeh” have different types:
- Lamenting: which are laments and denunciations of deprivation, misfortunes and aggression against the homeland
- Political Poetry: which is a political-social analysis and explanation of the misfortunes of the fatherland and usually deals with the need for unity and solidarity
- Type three, against enemies: in the face of the hostility and ill will of the external enemy
With the Islamic Revolution, the understanding and presentation of the homeland and the soil reached its peak again and not only in epic literature but also in lyric literature, and in various genres and styles it became widely used.