Simurgh
Simurgh is a club for those interested in the (Classical and) Modern literature and films of the Middle East and Central and South Asia specifically concerned with texts-in-translation from Arabic, Persian, and Urdu poetry.
We will be looking at media-in-translation from the canon of Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and Urdu. We are drawn to the diversity and interconnectedness within these traditions and feel they have been neglected at Haverford and in the English-speaking world in general. We are tempted by the pregnant themes of love and war, mysticism and politics, the beloved and the colonizer, the lover and the ego, among countless others. Our meetings will also involve drinking Chai.
بنى آدم اعضای يک پیکرند که در آفرينش ز یک گوهرند
چو عضوى به درد آورد روزگار دگر عضوها را نماند قرار
تو کز محنت دیگران بی غمی نشاید که نامت نهند آدمی
Human being are members of a whole,
In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you've no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you cannot retain!
Translated by M. Aryanpoor
We believe that the studies mentioned above can contribute to a diverse and intellectually stimulating education. Our readings might include several major literary figures of the Middle East such as Ferdowsi, Khayyam, Rumi, Hafez, Saadi, Hafiz Ibrahim, Nazik al-Malaika, Mahmoud Darwish, Qabbani, Faiz, Iqbal, Ghalib, Khusro, Dağlarca, Özel, Berk, Hikmet, and others. In addition, we will like to include film screenings and discussions once a month.
If you are interested in learning more about the club, please contact the club’s manager Navid Soroush at: nbsorous@haverford.edu