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Tehran International Book Fair Has a Highly Valuable Impact on Promoting Iranian Culture
1403/02/27-14:32
Angel Orbetsov, highlighting that the Tehran International Book Fair attracts millions of visitors annually, stated: "This exhibition undoubtedly has a highly valuable impact on promoting Iranian culture among both domestic and foreign audiences."
Angel Orbetsov, a professor of history and Iranology at Sofia University and the special envoy of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the East, in an interview with the news headquarters of the 35th Tehran International Book Fair, spoke about his attendance at this exhibition: "In the early 1990s, during my mission in Iran as a diplomat at the Bulgarian Embassy in Tehran, I had the chance to visit three editions of the Tehran International Book Fair in 1990, 1991, and 1992. I was deeply impressed by the extensive participation of numerous publishers, both domestic and foreign, and by the attention given to this exhibition by the leader of Iran and the country's officials. This attention clearly reflects the intrinsic interest and passion of the Iranian people for literature and reading. I remember purchasing several books from the fair, including a 3-volume collection of short stories by Mahmoud Dowlatabadi titled 'Karnameh Sepanj,' a 3-volume work on the history of the Persian language by the distinguished scholar Parviz Natel Khanlari, and a reprint of the famous travel book by the French traveler Madame Jane Dieulafoy titled 'La Perse, la Chaldée et la Susiane.' If given another opportunity to visit the exhibition, I would look for contemporary Iranian literature as well as books on Persian linguistics, history, diplomacy, and art by both Iranian and foreign authors."
He emphasized that the Tehran International Book Fair, attracting millions of visitors annually, has a highly valuable impact on promoting Iranian culture among both domestic and foreign audiences. He added: "This popular event, which is open to the public and held in the vast space of the Imam Khomeini Mosalla, facilitates communication and interaction among various publishers, allowing them to learn from each other and employ innovative methods to spark the interest and curiosity of readers. Undoubtedly, it is an exciting and unforgettable experience for readers to meet and converse with their favorite authors. The Iranian people are known for their deep respect for their rich literary and cultural heritage and their willingness to share it warmly with the world."
He added: "The Tehran Book Fair is the largest showcase where Iran can present the best works of its culture. As far as I know, more than 2,000 publishers, both in-person and virtually, have registered for the 35th edition of this fair under the slogan 'Read and Build.' The innovative approach of this edition, particularly the provision of a rich cultural program including seminars, screenings of short films, discussions, and debates, seems very inspiring. Additionally, special attention to booths containing literature for children and adolescents is noteworthy."
The professor of history and Iranology at Sofia University also mentioned: "Unfortunately, because Bulgarian media is preoccupied with hot political topics, such as the upcoming national and European elections, these types of cultural events fail to capture their attention. However, information about the Tehran Book Fair is usually transferred from the Cultural Counselor's Office of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Bulgaria to social networks."
**Orbetsov: Tehran International Book Fair Plays a Highly Valuable Role in Promoting Iranian Culture**
Angel Orbetsov, the special envoy of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the East, highlighted that the Tehran International Book Fair attracts millions of visitors annually, stating: "This exhibition undoubtedly has a highly valuable impact on promoting Iranian culture among both domestic and foreign audiences."
Orbetsov, a professor of history and Iranology at Sofia University, spoke about a similar event in Bulgaria, the Sofia International Book Fair, which has a long tradition as the largest book exhibition in the country. He said: "The fair was first held in 1968 and was held annually throughout the socialist period until 1989. Sofia was the fifth European city to host such international events. The number of participating countries increased year by year, reaching 47 countries in 1986. After the democratic changes in Bulgaria and the transition to a market economy, it took some time to reestablish the fair. This happened in 1993 at the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, which became the venue for the fair in subsequent years."
He continued: "That period's fair hosted 170 publishers from 12 countries and coincided with another significant event: the establishment of the Bulgarian Publishers Association (now known as the Bulgarian Book Association), which began awarding prizes for the best-published books. In subsequent years, fairs were held almost annually, with the number of participants gradually increasing. The Bulgarian Ministry of Culture and other government authorities played a more decisive role in organizing them. The opening ceremonies were auspicious, and foreign countries were invited as special guests. Since 2013, fairs have been intertwined with festivals, the main idea being to introduce various authors and diversify the range of events. The fairs usually take place before Christmas, covering an area of 1,600 square meters with around 200 publishers and over 60,000 visitors. They also have a second edition called the Spring Book Market or Spring Fair, held outdoors in the park in front of the National Palace of Culture in May, coinciding with Bulgaria's celebration of Education and Culture Day and the Day of the Bulgarian Alphabet."
In response to a question about Iran's place in Bulgaria's publishing industry and which Iranian books are translated there, Orbetsov said: "Iran first participated in the Sofia Book Fair in 2003 and has been actively involved in its events ever since. Recent editions of the fair have featured booths arranged by the Cultural Counselor's Office of the Iranian Embassy in Sofia, each displaying over 100 titles, mostly in English. The Iranian booths typically include travel guides, albums of Iran's cultural and historical attractions, luxurious editions of the Quran, and other religious and non-religious books. A special section is dedicated to children's literature. Bulgarian translations of classic Persian poetry like Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, contemporary Iranian literature, the famous monograph on Iranian art by Habibollah Ayatollahi, studies on the political and religious heritage of Imam Khomeini, and others can also be found. Notably, editions of two Persian-Bulgarian and Bulgarian-Persian dictionaries recently compiled by a group of scholars are also on display."
Orbetsov concluded: "The tradition of studying Persian language and literature at Sofia University 'St. Kliment Ohridski' dates back to 1959. Sofia University has emerged as an enduring hub and leader of Iranology studies in Bulgaria, although other educational institutions have also included Persian language and Iranian history in their curricula at various times. The Cultural Counselor's Office of the Iranian Embassy has significantly contributed to promoting the Persian language by organizing courses for young people interested in Iranian culture, publishing books, and holding public events. Additionally, the Center for the Study of Iran, the Balkans, and Central Europe, based in Sofia, should be mentioned for its efforts to enhance academic cooperation. This center collaborates well with the Iranology specialization at Sofia University and the Association of Friends of the Persian Language in the Republic of Bulgaria in organizing international scientific conferences."
The 35th Tehran International Book Fair, under the slogan "We Read, We Build," will be held from May 8 to May 18, 2024, at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla in person and on the ketab.ir platform.
