TEHRAN — Iranian experts and researchers on Rumi were honored in a ceremony named "Molana Is Hidden" held at the venue of Amirkabir University on Monday.

TEHRAN — Iranian experts and researchers on Rumi were honored in a ceremony named "Molana Is Hidden" held at the venue of Amirkabir University on Monday.

Tribute was paid to researcher Mohammad-Ali Eslami Nadushan and expert Bahaeddin Khorramshahi during the ceremony attended by many scholars and students.

Khorramshahi made an opening speech, saying, "We are a harmonious nation that takes great interest in literature and poetry. Due attention has been paid to the Masnavi of Molana over the past 50 years, but whenever the name of Molana Jalal-ad Din Rumi is cited, the names of the scholars Mohammadreza Shafiei Kadkani and Badiozzaman Foruzanfar are also brought to mind," he added.

The head of the Majlis library Ahmad Jalali was the next speaker who handed a medal to Khorramshahi on behalf of the students of Amirkabir University.

Jalali who was Iran's former UNESCO ambassador in Paris and received the Rumi commemorative medal last year, said, "The reason why I was invited here is not to talk about Rumi, but to inform you that the people of other nations are also very interested in him.

"Experts believe that Rumi's Masnavi is one of the most spiritual works composed by mankind and that it was bestowed by God on the Iranian nation. Rumi was a poet who was able to create exquisite forms," Jalali explained.

Vocalist Shahram Nazeri sang a vocalized version of some of Rumi's poetry and later remarked, "I have always had good relationships with students, especially today since they asked me to attend and perform in this ceremony."

Afterwards, a video featuring Shahram Nazeri's musical activities was screened and a medal was presented to him.

Nazeri was awarded France's Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur medal last year.

Eslami Nadushan spoke last, and stressed, "Many countries held celebrations in honor of Rumi last year, and some countries even claimed that he had belonged to their own nations. But the truth is that Iran was Rumi's homeland and his Persian nationality is the best evidence of this fact."

Caption: Celebrated Iranian vocalist Shahram Nazeri (C) raises his hand greeting the audience during the ceremony "Molana Is Hidden" at Amirkabir University on March 3. Literati Mohammad-Ali Eslami Nadushan (R) and Bahaeddin Khorramshahi applaud during the event. (ISNA/Amir Kholusi)