DU Foundation Course Syllabus – Language, Literature, and Creativity –I (Persian)

1. Objective and Expected Outcome

This course will consist of XIV units to be covered in one semester and is primarily aimed at

• Imparting elementary knowledge of Persian language and culture
• To develop proficiency in reading and writing and should be able to handle the language in different situations.
• To express their ideas and observations regarding the issues highlighted in the texts.
• To understand, evaluate and express their views on texts other than the book syllabi.
• To enhance the creativeness and also improve the presentation skill of the students regarding the concerned language

There will be 56 period, 14 Presentation

Every Semester, teaching will be spread over 16 weeks including two weeks for review.

2. Themes & Sub-Themes

Unit I-IV

• Elementary applied Persian grammar (6 periods)
• Reading and comprehension on Human beings, Ecology, Traditions and customs, my city and its environment. (6 periods)
• Creative writing (6 periodS)

Unit V- IX

It includes topics on

• Current news ( print and electronic media) (3 periods)
• Tourism (3 periods)
• Transport system (3 periods)
• Value-based ethics (3 periods)
• Family (2 periods)
• Health (2 periods)
• Culture and history (including certain past administrative terminologies ) (2 periods)

Unit X-XIV

To encourage students to make further enquiry into social environment and its reflection in writings of various modes-

• Newspaper articles, Media discussion (2 periods)
• Literary genre and colloquial especially satirical sayings (3 periods)
• Short stories from Gulistan (3 periods)
• Modern short stories from Dastanhai Farsi (3 periods)
• Prose and poetry of Amir Khusrau, Hafiz, Iraj Mirza (a satirical poem on corruption of 19th C, Qajar Period), SohrabSiphari. (3 periods)
• Court Politics for the knowledge of activities in historical perspective ( a small event in the court of Shah Jahan, between Dara Shikoh and Sadullah khan). ( 3 periods)
• Brief accounts on renowned literary figures of Persian literature especially from the Indo- Persian literature. (3 periods)

3. Project Works

Assignments and project works on various subjects related to the field of Persian studies. A list of topics will be made available to them at the beginning of the course. Evaluation of their performance will be based on the knowledge of the language, collection of information, presentation and style of narration.

Topics for Project Work:

i. Development of Persian language/script literature.
ii. Influence of Indian culture on Iranian Norooz & vice versa.
iii. Indo-Iran cultural and trade relations.
iv. Drama writing on any current topic.
v. Persian terminologies in Indian music/dialects.
vi. Sanskrit classics and Persian translations.
vii. Translation bureau in the court of Akbar. viii. Influence of Ghazal on Urdu/Hindi poetry. ix. Persian inscriptions and architecture.
x. Indian stories/folk tales in Persian literature.
xi. Umar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat’s translation in Indian language (, Hindi, Marathi, Urdu, Gujarati etc.)
xii. Influence of Iranian culture on Indian customs & costumes. xiii. Persian food and delicacies.
xiv. Moghul paintings.
xv. Shahnama in Mss & Print in India
xvi. Indian Libraries and Persian Mss./rare published books collection. xvii. Book on medicines by Persian scholars.
xviii. Oil refineries in Iran and its impact on world trade. xix. Importance of Persian Gulf in the field of world trade.

End Semester Examination: 40 marks

Continuous evaluation of project work: 35 marks

4. Essential Reading Lists

All above mentioned units will be part of a book entitled: Farsi-e-Bonyad Guzar-I (Dept. of Persian University of Delhi, Delhi. –to be published shortly)

1. Rubah-o-Zagh-pp76-79
2. Kulyat-e-sa‘di: (Dar Sirat-e-Padshahan) pp-90-91
3. Dars-e-Farsi:Baraye Farsi Amoozan-e-Khareji (i) Pizishk-e-Dana pp 387-391
4. Dora-e-Amozish-e- Zaban-e-Farsi: Vol-III (i) Tarikh-e-Adabyat-e-Farsi –I pp 212-219 (ii) Tarikh-e-Adabyat-e-Farsi –I pp 219-226
5. A Thematic Dictionary of Modern Persian: Colin Turner, London & New York pp -9-151
6. Mir’atual Istelah: by Anand Ram Mukhlis, ed. by Prof. Chander Shekhar, H.R. Qlichkhani & H. Yusufdehi, NMM, New Delhi
7. Hafiz’s Ghazal: (only one Ghalzal, which is recited by Qawwals) Saqi be Noor-e-bade bar Afrooz Jam-e-Maa.
8. Amir Khusrau’s Ghazal: (only one Ghalzal, which is recited by Qawwals) Jan ze tan bordi –o-dar Jaane Honooz.
9. Iraj Mirza: Mast Hoshiyar
10. Sohrab Sepahri: Shooram ra: Ketab-e-Farsi

Reference Books:

1. Indo-Persian Literature: Prof. S.A.H. Abidi, Vol-I & II, ed. By Prof. S.B.F. Husaini, Dept. of Persian, University of Delhi, 2003
2. History of Indo-Persian Literature: Prof. S.H. Qasemi, Dept. of Persian, University of Delhi, 2008
3. A Critical Study of Indo-Persian Literature: Prof. S.B.F. Husaini, Dept. of Persian, University of Delhi, 1988
4. Indo-Persian Literature (DRS series): ed. Prof. Chander Shekhar, Dept. of Persian, University of Delhi, 2007,2008,2009 & 2012
5. Iran, Past and Present: D.N. Wilbert, Princeton University Press,1945
6. History of Indo-Persian Literature: Nabi-Hadi
7. Maqalat-e-Mahmood Shirani: Mahmood Shirani, Majlis-e-Taraqqi-e-Adab, Club Road, Lahore. 1968
8. Majallah-e-Tahqiqat-e-Farsi, Dept. of Persian University of Delhi. 1980 to 2012
9. Hamari Khatti Miras ( Textual Heritage), Ed., Prof Chander Shekhar, NMM, New Delhi, 2011

Useful Websites:

http://persianbooks.com/
http://www.farsicity.ir/
http://fa.wikipedia.org/
http://www.persian-language.org/
http://www.booksahneh.com/
http://www.iketab.com/
http://www. iranfarhang.com/
http://www.tarikhema.ir
http://www.ganjoor.net
http://vistabook.com
http://www.persianacademy.com
http://www.kanoon-e-adabiyat.com

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