Persian poetry necessary to understand Ottoman poetry: Turkish professor

Professor Hicabi Kirlangiç, translator of Divan of Hafez into Turkish and deputy chancellor of University of Ankara, has said that knowledge of the Persian poetry is necessary for learning and understanding the Ottoman poetry.  

In his remark made for the commemoration of Hafez Day which was recently held, professor Kirlangiç said that Hafez along with Persian poets Saadi, Mowlavi, Jaami, Khaqani, and Nezami is among the very famous poets in Turkish literature.      

Kirlangiç also added that Hafez poems are available in school books of Turkey.

He said that the majority of works of the big Persian poets have been translated into Turkish and that almost 40 theses on Hafez have been presented in the universities of Turkey.  

Shams al-Din Mohammad Hafez-e Shirazi, better known as 'Hafez', is the 14th-century lyric poet of Persian classical literature who lauded the joys of love but also criticized hypocrisy. He is considered as the symbol of the Iranian nation's identity and their historical and cultural memory.   

The collection of his sonnets, known as Divan-e Hafez, is very popular in the Persian-speaking world. Hafez has influenced many writers and philosophers worldwide. His Divan, which was translated into English by William Jones, influenced Western writers and philosophers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Goethe. October 12 has been named as the National Day of Hafez in Iran's calendar year and ceremonies are held every year to commemorate the great Persian poet.

MM/FM