The recipients of the third "Zarrin Criticism" National Award were honored, hosted by the University of Lorestan.

The laureates of the third edition of the National Zarreen Criticism Biennial Award (in memory of the late Professor Dr. Abdolhossein Zarrinkoub) were honored, hosted by Lorestan University.

According to the Public Relations of Lorestan University, on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, the closing ceremony of the third edition of the National Zarreen Criticism Biennial Award was held in the Shahid Mirbaharsi Hall of Lorestan University, with the presence of a group of various academic literary figures from the province and the country, and the laureates of this edition were honored.

It is recalled that in the third edition of the National Zarreen Criticism Biennial Award, 17 professors from universities across Iran, 49 literary journals, and nearly three thousand articles published in the years 2022-2023, along with 40 articles submitted to the conference secretariat, were reviewed, and in the end, 29 articles were deemed worthy of evaluation in the second stage.

In the second stage, Alireza Nikouei, Issa Amnikhani, and Rahman Moshtaghmehr evaluated the articles based on the criteria announced by the Iranian Scientific Association of Literary Criticism, and a total of 6 articles (five authors) were selected for the third stage.

The names of the final laureates who were honored at Lorestan University:

First rank: Dr. Mahmoud Fatuhi Rudmaajani, for the article "Epistemological Classification of Mystical Propositions."

Second rank: Dr. Alireza Mohammadi Kalehsar for the article "The Poverty of Theoretical Foundations in the Trends of Persian Language and Literature."

Third rank: Mostafa Gorji, for the article "Kohl of Thought: A Study of the Image of 'Life as the Illusion of Free Will' in the Views of Rumi and Spinoza."

Also, a plaque of appreciation was awarded to Dr. Mehrdad Dadestani, the head of Lorestan University, as a token of appreciation from Lorestan University for hosting the event.

Professor Zarrinkoub is the pride of Iran.

The head of Lorestan University said in a speech at the closing ceremony of the third edition of the National Zarreen Criticism Biennial Award: "It is an honor for Lorestan province that the late Professor Dr. Zarrinkoub, the pride of Iran, is a native of this province."

Dr. Mehrdad Dadestani explained: "Professor Zarrinkoub is one of the lasting scientific and literary figures who has national and international fame."

Dr. Dadestani added: "It is a pleasure that such distinguished scientific and literary gatherings are held at the national level, hosted by Lorestan University."

He stated: "Holding credible scientific gatherings at Lorestan University should be strengthened and expanded."

Professor Zarrinkoub's prose is Iranian, Platonic.

Dr. Asghar Dadbeh, a Hafez scholar and distinguished professor of literary texts, said in a speech at the ceremony, {via video conference}: "Professor Zarrinkoub, in his writing, chose the Iranian, Platonic style, and for this reason, his prose is a very pleasant, beautiful, and attractive prose."

Dr. Dadbeh explained: "Professor Zarrinkoub's writing style is such that it has a great impact on the mind of the audience."

He stated: "Professor Zarrinkoub's goal in the book 'From the Alley of the Rind' was to interpret Hafez's poetry in the path of Hafez's life; the professor has tried to show how this personality was formed and how these ghazals, this declaration of Rindi, were said, which is a very interesting work."

This distinguished professor of Persian language and literature stated: "When we follow the chapters of the book 'From the Alley of the Rind' {written by Professor Zarrinkoub}, which begins from the city of the Rinds, an image of that city is shown, which ultimately says: a beautiful city full of contradictions; in this city, various power institutions have divided among themselves, and how the young Hafez takes shape in such a city, and at the same time does not lose his intelligence."

Dr. Dadbeh stated: "Hafez's Divan, according to Professor Zarrinkoub's view, is a declaration of freedom and liberation."

He explained: "Based on the content of the book 'From the Alley of the Rind', Hafez's poems are full of variety and repetition, which Professor Zarrinkoub calls the blessing of practice; the source of Hafez's inspiration was the poetic power that this great poet possessed, which was connected with love; Hafez's main teacher was also Saadi; the meaning of love is divine love; human love also takes on a divine color and turns into a heavenly love."

Dr. Asghar Dadbeh added: "Professor Zarrinkoub raises two characteristics for Hafez's poetry that are very important: the characteristic of variety and the characteristic of repetition; it is natural for the poet to create a subject in various and diverse forms; the result of repetition is variety; Professor Zarrinkoub believes that the reason for repetition is the central points of the poet's thought; the central points are philosophical; all great poets have been both thinkers and poets; therefore, poetry is a tool for expressing their thoughts."

The distinguished Hafez scholar of the country continued: "The reason for repetition and variety in Hafez's poetry, from Professor Zarrinkoub's point of view, is the great philosophical points that exist in Hafez's mind; Professor Zarrinkoub considers the reason for the longevity of a great poet like Hafez to be the benefit of high thought and how to express {how to put thought on paper}; the philosophical points of Hafez's mind have been expressed in the form of poetry in such a way that it circulates in all times; how to express thought is of great importance."

Professor Zarrinkoub brought new literary criticism to maturity in Iran.

The secretary of the third National Zarreen Criticism Biennial Award said at the ceremony: "Professor Zarrinkoub, with his unparalleled mastery of history and literature, brought new literary criticism to maturity in Iran by utilizing the global heritage of literary criticism."

Dr. Ebrahim Khodayar explained: "Professor Zarrinkoub, in addition to writing the book on literary criticism, in practice, by writing original criticisms and showing the ups and downs of the Persian literary heritage, artistically showed the passionate pleasure of living in the Persian language and Persian literature in a critical context to the lovers of the eternal culture of Iran and provided the opportunity to see this colorful garden with a new perspective."

Dr. Khodayar stated: "These days, when interdisciplinary knowledge has gained a high position and credibility in the scientific environment of Iran, literary criticism, by utilizing its rich heritage, has also been able to be a helping hand for all academic fields, especially humanities, art, and more or less even management and economics; therefore, in every corner of this vast land, the supporters of this knowledge are increasing day by day; for this reason, the criticism of criticism can be helpful to the audience by showing the right path; the most prominent characteristic of Professor Abdolhossein Zarrinkoub in literary criticism has been not being intimidated by the global heritage of criticism."

He continued: "Professor Zarrinkoub's remarkable mastery of the history and literature of Iran had led him to believe that the owners of the greatest treasure of Iranian literature could also show their glory in the world of literature and criticism by using the scientific and conscious use of the global heritage, and this was a very deep belief in Professor Zarrinkoub."

The secretary of the third National Zarreen Criticism Biennial Award said: "The Iranian Scientific Association of Literary Criticism, considering these considerations, in this edition, with the aim of identifying and introducing original critical research in the field of literary criticism, based on the award regulations, from among nearly 3,000 published articles, with the selection of 50 journals in the period of 2022 and 2023, based on the evaluation of 17 professors from different universities of the country, including Lorestan University, finally, 29 articles were selected from among 3,000 articles in the first stage; in the second stage, from among these articles {29 articles} and 30 articles that the researchers had sent, finally, 6 articles were nominated to receive the third edition of the National Zarreen Criticism Biennial Award."

Dr. Ebrahim Khodayar noted: "In the final stage, which was held at Lorestan University, three articles are honored as the selected articles."

Dr. Seyed Ali Ghasemzadeh, the president of Imam Khomeini International University, also in a short speech, called for the strengthening of quality in literary criticism at the national level.

Establishment of the first university branch of the Iranian Editing Association at Lorestan University.

The vice president of the Iranian Scientific Association of Editing, announced at this ceremony: "The first university branch of the Iranian Editing Association will be established at Lorestan University."

Dr. Seyed Mohsen Hosseini explained: "The field of editing is one of the important opportunities for empowerment and skills that can be helpful to academics."

It is worth mentioning that each of the laureates also expressed their views in short speeches.

This year, the Iranian Scientific Association of Literary Criticism and the Institute of the House of Books and Iranian Literature were the organizers, and Tarbiat Modares University, Lorestan University, Imam Khomeini International University (RA) of Qazvin, Lorestan Studies Center, and the Research Center for Persian Language and Literature of Tarbiat Modares University were the supporters of this award.