SPONSORS

Asia Society is the leading global organization working to strengthen relationships and promote understanding among the people, leaders, and institutions of Asia and the United States. We seek to enhance dialogue, encourage creative expression, and generate new ideas across the fields of policy, business, education, arts, and culture. The Asia Society has offices in Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Mumbai, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, and Washington, D.C.

The Iranian American Society of New York (IAS) is a non-profit, nonpolitical and non-religious organization whose charter include promotion of Persian language, heritage and culture. IAS takes pride in providing humanitarian, medical and financial assistance to needy Iranians. IAS is established for the purposes of promoting good will and cooperation among its members; providing assistance to individuals of Iranian descent or related to such individuals by the act of marriage; promoting the exchange of ideas among its members; discovering, procuring and preserving whatever may relate to natural, civil, literary history and welfare of Iranians. The said purposes are to be conducted all without pecuniary profit and shall in no way involve political or religious considerations.

The Persian Cultural Foundation (PCF) is a registered 501 (C) (3) non-profit organization. PCF has been established to initiate, encourage and support community projects & cultural activities which promote and showcase Persian cultural heritage, and bring about national recognitions to this heritage. One of the major mission of PCF is to facilitate processes, thereby ensuring our youth, and their American friends and extended families remain appreciatively cognizant of Persia's multifaceted historical and contemporary contributions to the world civilization. PCF is committed to preserving and promoting our cultural heritage in science and technology, art & Literature, medicine & Health, music and performing arts, and trade.; PCF is further committed to the; passage of this rich heritage to future generations.

The Persian Cultural & Humanitarian Association (PCHA) is a non-profit organization established in 1980 to serve the Iranian community in the state of New Jersey. The mission of the organization is:

• To promote Persian culture amongst the Iranian youth
• To provide humanitarian assistance to Iranians living in the US as well as in Iran
• To extend assistance to Iranian students who are attending college
• To promote Persian art and music.

Shiraz University School of Medicine Alumni Association The Shiraz University School of Medical Sciences Alumni Association (SUSMA) was established over twenty years ago in the United States. SUSMA started with the goal of organizing fellow alumni to promote the Persian culture. As a minority group residing in the United States, we thought the strength of our organization would help us to better establish ourselves in the USA, as well as allow us to display our rich cultural heritage for the benefit of our children. We have also made significant strides as a scientific alumni association. Our yearly scientific conference has become a hallmark in advancing the medical community's understanding of many illnesses; our seminars have been compared to and even surpassed other seminars offered by major teaching institutions. Today SUSMA can proudly state that we have achieved and even surpassed the goals we set over twenty years ago.

PROGRAM

Opening Remarks:
Linden Chubin
Associate Director of Cultural Programs Asia Society and Museum

Introduction:
Farahd Talebian, MD
President of Iranian American Society of New York

Speeches:
“Simin Behbehani, the poet”
Ehsan Yarshater, Ph.D
Hagop Kevorkian Professor Emeritus of Iranian Studies Columbia University

“Behbehani’s Poetry: History and Development"
Mohammad Este’lami, Ph.D.
Mc Gill University

Interview:
“Life & Poetry of Simin Behbahani”
Houra Yavari and Roya Hakkakian

Poetry Reading:
Ali Behbahani, in Persian
Sheida Dayyani, in English

Presentation of plaque honoring Simin Behbahani

SPEAKERS

Ehsan Yarshater, Ph.D Director of the Center for Iranian Studies - Columbia University, Founding Editor of the Encyclopaedia Iranica, Professor Emeritus of Iranian Studies - Columbia University
Ehsan Yarshater received a doctorate in Persian language and literature from the University of Tehran and a PhD in Old and Middle Iranian from the University of London. Among his publications are Persian Poetry Under Shahrokh: Beginning of the Decline in Persian Poetry (1955, in Persian); Myths and Legends of Ancient Iran(1959, in Persian); A Grammar of Southern Tati Dialects(1970); “Persian Presence in the Islamic World”(1998). Among the books he has edited are a medieval translation of Avicenna’s Al-Isharat wa’l Tanbihat(1953); Highlights of Persian Art(with Richard Ettinghausen, 1982); Cambridge History of Iran, Volume III in two parts, covering the Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanian empires (1983); Persian Literature (1988). He is the general editor of the 40 volume annotated translation of Tabari’s History (1979-2006). He is also the founding general editor of the Persian Heritage Series, Persian Studies Series, Modern Persian Literature Series and Persian Art Series and of the 15 volume forthcoming A History of Persian Literature.

Mohammad Este’lami
McGill University
Dr. Mohammad Este’lami was born in Arak, Iran in 1936. He received his Ph.D. in Persian language and literature from the University of Tehran in 1966… He is the author and editor of 20 books, including literary texts and analytical approaches to the Persian sufi literature, most of which are well-known as references in his filed of study. Professor Este’lami has been with McGill University, Montreal, Canada, since 1986 as a professor of Persian language and literature and is currently a retired professor living in Montreal and working on his publications. Dr. Mohammad Est’elami is an expert on Molavi & Hafez.

Houra Yavari
Literary & Critic Center for Iranian Studies Columbia University
Houra Yavari is Senior Research Scholar at the Center for Iranian Studies, Columbia University. She holds a B.A. in English Literature and an M.A. in Psychology from Tehran University, and an M. Ed. from the Bank Street College of Education, New York (1990). She has published extensively on topics in psychoanalysis and Persian literature, including Psychoanalysis and Literature in Iran: Two Texts, Two Selves, Two Worlds (Tehran, 1995) and Living in the Mirror: A Literary Perspective (Tehran, 2005). Her articles include, The 'Third Ear' of the Analyst, Critique, and Journal of Critical Studies of the Middle East, fall 1995, Modern Persian Fiction: History and Development, in Encyclopedia Iranica (1999), Ideal Kingship & Failed Monarchs: Speech-Act Theory and Medieval Persian Historiography, Iranshenasi, Spring 2001, The Autobiographies of Jalal-e Al-e Ahmad: Who is Schizophrenic, the Culture or the Self? Goft-e Goo (2002).

Roya Hakakian
Writer
Roya Hakakian is the author of two collections of poetry in Persian. She contributes to a wide range of Persian and English language punlications, including the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and the Weekend Edition of NPR's All Things Considered. Her acclaimed memoir of growing up a Jewish teenager in post-revolutionary Iran, Journey from the Land of No, was Elle Magazine's Best Nonfiction Book of 2004.

Executive Committee:

• Linden Chubin
• Reza Moini
• Jasmin Moshirpur
• Asal Shakeri
• Farhad Talebian
• Houra Yavari
• Faranak Zamani

Special Thanks To:

• Ali Behbahani
• Sheida Dayyani
• Salar Ghahary
• Roya Hakakian
• Mahdis Keshavarz
• Minoo Varzegar

Persian Cultural Foundation
2 Ackerman Ave., Clifton NJ 07011 | T: 973-546-9200 | F: 973-546-9966
www.persiancultural.org

PCF California, P.O. Box 5533, San Mateo, CA 94402
T: 650-619-6800 | F: 650-345-9797