Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, paid tribute to the martyrs of the Islamic homeland at the fifth commemoration ceremony for the enduring figures of cultural heritage, held this afternoon on Tuesday, September 23, 1405, under the slogan "Iran; Home of the Good Ones" at the Saadabad Cultural-Historical Complex.
Respect for the Esteemed Martyrs
The Minister of Cultural Heritage, in this ceremony, referred to the sacrifices of the brave men and women of the country, stating: "We bow our heads in reverence to all the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives and blood so that the dignity, honor, pride, and security of this nation remain steadfast throughout history." He also paid tribute to the esteemed martyr scholar, Dr. Zahra Hadad Adel, who was a prominent scientific figure in the country.
The Necessity of Attention to Cultural Heritage
The Minister of Cultural Heritage, while posing a question about the national commitment to cultural heritage, elaborated on four fundamental fruits and outcomes of culture in societal development. He stated: "Culture has four vital functions in the geometry of collective life." First, "cohesion" and connecting hearts, which lays the groundwork for national empathy and harmony. Second, "character formation," where authentic Iranian culture has depicted a noble and dignified character on an international level. Third, "strengthening identity," where our identity foundation is tied to the two wings of "Iran" and "Islam," with the Persian language being its fundamental pillar.
He continued: "The fourth function is social compatibility and the expansion of affection and ethics, as culture is considered the spirit of a nation, and its absence leads to a disconnection of social life." Salehi Amiri distinguished between the "body" and the "spirit" of cultural heritage, emphasizing: "Cultural heritage is not limited to over 43,000 registered national works and millions of museum objects, but the living spirit within the body of cultural heritage consists of archaeologists, linguists, and researchers who have lovingly and committedly preserved this house."
Honoring Enduring Figures
In the final section of this ceremony, a number of distinguished cultural heritage figures were honored in the presence of the Minister of Cultural Heritage. Among those honored were the late Dr. Ezzatollah Negahban, the father of modern Iranian archaeology, and the late Dr. Shahryar Adl, a renowned Iranologist and international archaeologist. Dr. Gholamali Haddad Adel, President of the Academy of Persian Language and Literature, and Dr. Saeed Aryan, a senior researcher of pre-Islamic inscriptions of Iran, were also recognized.
Salehi Amiri concluded his remarks by emphasizing: "The message of this national gathering to the younger generation is that the elevation and permanence of the name of this land cannot be achieved through industry and material wealth." He also noted that honoring enduring figures is a dynamic and continuous tradition that will annually introduce figures from the lineage of culture, archaeology, literature, and art to society based on scientific and expert criteria.
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