Cambridge University Persian poem project given £1.2m donation
A Cambridge University project translating a 50,000 verse Persian poem has been given a funding boost of $2 million by an Iranian-American philanthropist.
Former Silicon Valley luminary Bita Daryabari gave the donation, worth £1,2 million, to fund the Cambridge Shahnama project.
Set up by Professor Charles Melville, a fellow Pembroke College and Persian studies expert, the projects aims to study and translate the 1000-year-old Persian epic, known as the Book of Kings..
Ms Daryabari, who fled Iran as a child during the war with Iraq, set up the endowment as part of an ongoing project to promote Iranian heritage and culture.
She said: “Shahnameh is a holy book for all Persians because it was written in pure Persian during a time when the language was being influenced by Arabic.
“This literary masterpiece reflects Iran’s history, cultural values, its ancient religions, and its profound sense of nationhood.
“I feel it is my duty to ensure that future generations have the chance to hear these poems and stories that teach our children to take pride in their heritage and ancestry.”