TEHRAN- The Director of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center (Indian Cultural Center) at the Embassy of India in Tehran has expressed great respect for Iran and the Persian language.

"Indians have a profound appreciation for Iran and the Persian language," Balram Shukla said in an interview with IRNA on Wednesday.

He noted that Indians are familiar with and admire the great figures and icons of Persian literature, and are able to read their works. "We have a deep understanding of Persian literature and its rich heritage," he said.

The official also highlighted that most literary works in India do not require translation, as many books are written in Persian and can be easily understood by readers. However, he lamented that many Indian literary works have not been translated into Persian, despite the presence of Indian cultural events in Iran.

The lack of translation is particularly evident when it comes to Indian literature, which has flourished in hundreds of languages in the modern era. "Unfortunately, we do not have many literary works from India translated into Persian," he said.

Shukla explained that while there are books about Indian culture and philosophy available in Iran, they are largely focused on Indian poets who have written in the Persian style. "We also have books about Indian religions and philosophy, but Indian literature, which has flourished in hundreds of languages in the modern era, has not been translated into Persian," he said.

The official also expressed his disappointment at the lack of a dedicated section for Hindi literature in Iran's book market, which makes it difficult for Iranians to understand and appreciate Indian literature. "In India, we respect Persian culture and literature, and many Indians can read and appreciate Persian literature," he said.

As a result of the lack of cultural exchange, Shukla noted that Iranian readers are limited to only reading about ancient or contemporary Indian culture, but not contemporary literature. "Culture has become one-sided, and we don't have any books from India or ancient or contemporary ones in Iran," he said.

Shukla emphasized the importance of learning Hindi for Iranians, given the long-standing cultural ties between the two nations. "India is a major country with a significant population and economy," he said. "Without learning Hindi, it is difficult to understand and appreciate Indian culture."

The official also highlighted the need for a more serious approach to intellectual property rights in Iran. "In India, we take copyright very seriously," he said. "However, Iran has not signed the Berne Convention, which makes it difficult for Indian authors to publish their works in Iran."

SAB/