Reflection of Iranian culture in the ode ‘Murder of Buzarjomehr’ from a Lebanese poet, Khalil Matran

The cultural, political, and social associations among Iran and Arabic nations such as Lebanon has consistently existed from Achaemenids era and led to the common cultural-scientific points between the two nations. However, the noteworthy outcome is the effect of Persian language on Arabic language which has a long history and plays an important role. This progression started from the pre-Islamic period, when Persian terms affected Arabic poetry, and has continued to the contemporary era. However, what has been paid less attention to, is the effect of Persian culture and language on Lebanese literati. Khalil Mutran is known as one of the great Lebanese poets who revolutionized traditions and created a new prospect in the poetry of the Arab world. The ode ‘Murder of Bozarjomehr’ is one of his works which is an exclusive epic in representing some aspects of Persian history. Mutran’s goal in writing ‘Murder of Bozarjomehr’ was the uprising of Arabs against Ottoman regime to set themselves free from autarchy. In this Ode, Khosrow Anushiravan is a hidden secret to the Ottoman king; and Bozarjomehr’s story has an exemplary aspect that aims at awakening the new generation in the Arab world. This study attempts to review and evaluate ‘Murder of Bozarjomehr’, written by Khalil Mutran the great Arab poet, known as “the poet of Qutrain” (Lebanon and Egypt), using content analysis method, in which the Persian language effect is well evident.
 
Keywords: Persian language, Iranian culture, Lebanon literature
 

1.     Introduction

There is a considerable number of poets and great figures of the contemporary Arab literature who have been familiar with language and culture (Persian, Turkish and Arabic) and have written some works under the influence of these cultures; figures such as Ahmad Fares Al-Shadyagh, Abd-ur-Rahman Al-kawakabi, Al-Baroudi, Aisha At-teimuria, Hussein al-mojib Al-Misri and Suleiman Al-bostani (Jurji Zidan: 1922: 323). Khalil Matran, the great Lebanese poet, also has written ‘Murder of Buzarjomehr’ under the influence of the rich Persian culture and literature. Buzurgmehr who is called Buzarjomehr in Arabic was vizier of Khosrow I (Anu Shirvan Sasani) who is considered as the pillar of wisdom and intellect among the Iranian administrators. He has always been a perfect sample of wise, intellectual, counselor and scholar viziers. His influence on the process of development, construction, and administration of the country has been unique in the history of Iran.
1.1.Statement of the problem and research questions
In this article. it has been tried to analyze the influence of the rich Persian culture on the great Lebanese poet, Khalil Matran in three categories: introduction of Khalil Matran, a review of the conditions of Iran in the Sasanid period and kingdom of Kisra, and also interpretation and analysis of ‘Murder of Buzarjomehr’ in the descriptive-analytic method. The study tries to answer these questions: what has made Khalil Matran to turn to the writing of historical poems? What was his objective of writing fiction poems and getting the influence of Persian culture? It is highly hoped that these surveys play great roles in blooming and enrichment of both kinds of literature and in maintaining the achievements of both languages.
1.2.Research objectives
-          Brief introduction of Khalil Matran, the great Lebanese poet, and his works
-          Introduction to perspectives of poets outside the Iranian borders about the Iranian elites
-          Introduction to influence of Iranian history and culture on Khalil Matran
1.3.Literature
A lot of studies have been carried out about Khalil Matran in Arabic and Persian. In the comparative field, ‘The position of women in Khalil Matran’s and Ahmad Shamlu’s poetry’ (Hourizadeh: 2013) has been conducted; also ‘The symbol of lion in Nima and Matran’s poems (Salimi: 2011); ‘Matran between political struggle and history’ (ZArkoub and Suleimanzadeh: 2012); ‘Comparison of Buzarjomehr’s wisdom in Shahnama and in the Arabic sources’ (Sizian Pour: 2012); and some of Khalil Matran’s odes such as As-samaa have also been studied and analyzed. However, about the interpretation and analysis of the ode Murder of Buzarjumehr, no study has been carried out even in the comparative form.
1.4.Conclusion
Poetry has been the narrator of events in the societies from long ago. Khalil Matran who is the pioneer of innovation in the contemporary Arabic poetry revolted against the imitational traditions. He who was the poet of culture, intellect, and sensation, and had sufficient mastery of languages and cultures, was able to present a beautiful reflection of these cultures in his poetry in the way of achieving his objectives and influencing his audiences. In this historical ode, Khalil Matran was after achieving these objectives.
Chanting the call of freedom
Livening democracy
Awakening the modern young generation of Arab countries
Attacking the nations who have admitted inferiority and have become reasons for formation and sustenance of tyrant governments
Importance of counseling and councils in government
Showing the peerless glory and power of Khosrow
Showing weakness and inferiority of people against this system
The abrupt presence of Buzarjomehr’s daughter among people and passing the main message of the dramatic poetry collection to the ears of history that if it doesn’t admit tyranny, the tyrant will not reach their goal.