Iran, Turan, Turk, and Arab from the Perspective of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh

This week, we continue our discussion on Ferdowsi's Shahnameh and its perspective on Iranians, Turanians, Turks, and Arabs, as well as concepts of race, lineage, and ancestry. The first part of the discussion aired last week and is now available on Radio Farda's website. At the beginning of this week's program, we asked: How can we distinguish the verses added to the Shahnameh by other poets after Ferdowsi's death from Ferdowsi's original compositions? This week's guests include: Jalal Khalighi Motlaq, a senior professor of Persian language and literature at the Iranian Studies Department of Hamburg University, editor of the Shahnameh, and compiler of what experts call the superior and pure version of the Shahnameh; Ahmad Sadri, translator of the recent illustrated Shahnameh into English and a sociologist in Chicago; and Khodadad Reza Khani, an ancient historian focusing on the Sassanids in Berlin. Khalighi Motlaq mentioned some well-known verses that criticize Arabs, noting that they are not from Ferdowsi's original text but were added later. He emphasized that he has never included these added verses in his corrected version of the Shahnameh. Sadri pointed out that Turanians appear to be a branch of Iranians, sharing common beliefs and names. He noted that many of the derogatory verses about Turks are either not in the Shahnameh or are later additions. Reza Khani discussed the preservation of the Persian language and argued that the Shahnameh reflects a mature and strong language rather than one in decline. The discussion highlights the complexities of literary authenticity and national identity in Persian literature.