TEHRAN -- Persian lexicographer Mohammad Moin (1914-1971) was honored on Thursday during a ceremony held beside his tomb in Astaneh Ashrafieh, Gilan Province.

A number of cultural officials, Moin’s family members, fans and the literati attended the ceremony, Persian media reported on Friday.

The ceremony began with the recitation of a message written by the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Ali Jannati, followed by a number of speeches delivered by the literati and officials.

Speaking at the ceremony, the high advisor of Iranian Society for the Promotion of Persian Language and Literature, Ali-Asgahr Mirbaqeri Fard, called Moin a significant model for training the younger generation in Persian language and literature.

“With these ceremonies we learn not to forget that great personalities like Moin were living in the field of Persian art and culture,” he added.

“Definitely, the invaluable efforts made by these great figures have led to the creation of national and cultural assets,” he noted.

“Today, his Persian dictionary is one of the most famous books in existence in the Persian language field.  Professor Moin also conducted a series of research works in different topics such as history, philosophy, psychology and linguistics, and today we the need to reinforce these studies with Persian language and literature,” he explained.

Moin was a prominent lexicographer and compiled one of the most outstanding lexicons in the Persian language.

He was a university professor and his lexicon was second to that of Ali Akbar Dehkhoda (1879–1959). Dehkhoda was a prominent Iranian linguist, and author of the most comprehensive Persian language dictionary ever published.

Born in Rasht in 1914, Mohammad Moin was the first student to graduate from the University of Tehran with a doctoral degree in Persian literature. Mohammad Moin completed Dehkhoda’s unfinished volumes in compliance with Dehkhoda’s request.

Professor Moin was also head of the Literature commission at the International Congress of Iranology. He died in 1971 and was buried in Astaneh Ashrafieh, Gilan. 

Photo: Iranian literati and Persian literature aficionados gather beside the tomb of Mohammad Moin in Astaneh Ashrafieh on September 8, 2016 to commemorate the Persian eminent lexicographer.

RM/YAW