TEHRAN – Spain’s University of Alicante will be playing host to a seminar on Sadi opening on April 22.

Sponsored by Iran’s Cultural Office in Spain, the seminar is arranged aiming to review thoughts, views, character and the international influence of Sadi, one of the greatest figures of classical Persian literature.
Iranians annually commemorate Sheikh Muslih od-Din Sadi Shirazi (C. 1213-1291), one of the greatest figures of classical Persian literature, on April 21, which has been named Sadi Day.
“Sadi is a world famous poet and one of the pioneers of dialogue among civilizations. His pure words and thoughts are still fresh after all these years and no doubt Persian culture and language is indebted to him,” Iran’s cultural attaché Amir Purpezeshk told the Persian service of IRNA
“Sadi’s two most precious books, Bustan (The Orchard) and Gulistan (The Rose Garden), possess a deep humane attitude embracing the thoughts of mystics and wise men Sadi had met in his life,” he noted.
He regards such events as the best means to increase the knowledge possessed by people, scholars, and academic figures of the two countries and strengthen bilateral cultural relations.
Spanish scholars Jose Francisco Cutillas Ferrer, and Joaquin Rodriguez Vargas will be lecturing on the character, thoughts and works of Sadi.
Cutillas Ferrer is a full time professor at the University of Alicante in the Arabic and Islamic Studies department. He is also a professor of Persian language, Iranian culture and civilization, and Islamology.
Joaquin Rodriguez Vargas has translated Sadi’s masterpiece the Gulistan into Spanish, published under the title “La Rosaleda” by El Cobre Publications in Spain