Akbari: "Khatoun & Qoumandan" book well received / Role of book in cultural diplomacy development

1402/02/23-11:48

“Our goal in setting up Afghanistan pavilion is to display biographies of Afghan martyrs in Afghanistan, Syria, as well as 8-year Holy Defense, while a series of commonalities and common culture between Iran and Afghanistan also are displayed”,“Sima Akbari” , the responsible for the Afghanistan pavilion at Tehran book fair said to Tehran Book Fair News Headquarters.

She added that this exhibition is considered as a base to show to other countries to know that the people of Iran and Afghanistan will always stand by each other and fight against terrorism and ISIL.

Following is the text of the interview:

What is your assessment of the 34th Tehran Intl. Book Fair?

This is the first time that Afghanistan participates in Tehran International Book Fair, and has a pavilion here. In the first few days, we observed that Afghanistan booth was visited well by Iranians as well as Afghan, Pakistani and Iraqi people.

Our goal in setting up this pavilion is to display the biographies of Afghan martyrs in Afghanistan, Syria, as well as 8-year Holy Defense, while a series of commonalities and common culture between Iran and Afghanistan also are displayed.

Iran and Afghanistan have a lot in common, and this exhibition is considered as a base to show to other countries to know that the people of Iran and Afghanistan will always stand by each other and fight against terrorism and ISIL.

What do you think about copyright exchange?

No decision has been made and no discussion has been done yet in this regard. But, we always respect it.

What books have you presented in the exhibition?

We have presented a collection of books in Persian language. They are including calligraphy books of students, biographies and replicas of Afghan martyrs and defenders of the shrine along with a number of local clothes and handicrafts and artistic works of a number of students.

How can the exhibitions like Tehran Book Fair help publishers to expand their business?

First of all, it should be observed what kind of books people welcome and like. In the initial days of the exhibition, the book "Khatoun & Qoumandan" was well received, the story of the life of Mrs. Umm al-Banin Hosseini, the wife of martyr Alireza Tousali, the prominent and proud commander of the Fatemiyoun Army, which was written in 336 pages by Mrs. Maryam Gurbanzadeh and published by Stareha Publishing House. This martyr has been played a very important role in Syria.

Although, some of the biographies of the martyrs defending Hazrat Zainab's shrine are very impressive, but on the other hand, their jihad movement is considered an honor for all Afghans.

What is the role of book in the cultural diplomacy & development of cultural ties between countries?

Currently, internet has unfortunately become preferable to reading books, and people are less likely to read books. Some are even willing to read their favorite book online through the Internet while the book itself creates a different mood for the reader.

Nevertheless, this exhibition and similar exhibitions will make people return to books more and more and get to know each other's culture, people and characteristics.

Based on this, the book can play an essential role in the development of cultural diplomacy in a country as well as the development of cultural relations between countries.

The 34th Tehran International Book Fair with the slogan “the future is to be read” started on the 10th of May and will continue until the 20th of May 2023 in the Mosque of Imam Khomeini and simultaneously on ketab.ir.