Note: This is the speech of Sanjar Sohail, publisher of the Hasht-e Subh Daily, delivered at the international scientific-practical conference titled “Research in Aryan History and Civilization: Yesterday and Today” in Tajikistan. The conference was held in Dushanbe with the participation of several poets and cultural figures from Afghanistan, Iran, and Tajikistan, and focused on Nowruz and the significance of the Nowruz celebration.
In the name of God, the Lord of life and wisdom
Your Excellencies, esteemed scholars and thinkers, ladies and gentlemen, greetings to you all. May the blessed Nowruz and the resurrection of nature be victorious in your souls.
Today, it is a source of great pride and joy for me to be present among you, the distinguished intellectuals, scholars, and guardians of authenticity, in the beautiful city of Dushanbe. This is the second time I have had the fortune of celebrating Nowruz in Tajikistan. My presence today at this magnificent gathering evokes a memory deeply rooted in the depths of my soul, a memory that dates back more than twenty years.
It was the first time I had set foot in Dushanbe, one or two days before the arrival of the New Year. My path passed in front of the “Barbad” Palace. A pleasant commotion filled the air, and I realized that a Nowruz concert was underway, an atmosphere brimming with excitement, joy, and the splendor of spring. My eagerness to attend drew me toward the ticket booth. The person in charge, with a respectful yet firm manner, told me that the program had already begun, that the hall was at full capacity, and that entry was no longer possible. With a mixture of disappointment and longing, I said: “I have come from Afghanistan, and I am very eager to attend this Nowruz celebration.” That sentence seemed to be the key to opening an invisible cultural door. The moment he heard I had come from Afghanistan, his face lit up with astonishment, a warm smile appeared on his lips, and he personally guided me through a different entrance into the hall, seated me in one of the best seats near the stage, and said something that has echoed in the depths of my soul ever since. He said, “You are our guest and the light of our eyes.”
Ladies and gentlemen, that moment was not, for me, merely a personal act of kindness. That simple occurrence was a living, profound, and immediate experience of the culture of hospitality, empathy, and the unbreakable civilizational bond that unites us. It is for this reason that Tajikistan has always carried for me the fragrance and scent of home. Here, I feel not estrangement, but the presence of being in a home, a home in whose every brick the kinship of culture and the unity of history flow abundantly.
Dear attendees, when we speak of Nowruz, what are we speaking of? Nowruz is not merely the beginning of a new year on paper calendars. Nowruz is one of humanity’s oldest, most authentic, and most humane civilizational narratives. It is a celebration as ancient as millennia: the celebration of the earth’s awakening from its winter slumber, the celebration of the return of light over darkness, and the celebration of hope reborn within the weary bodies of human beings.
Abu Rayhan Biruni, that unparalleled genius of our civilization, beautifully notes in his monumental work “Al-Athar al-Baqiya” that Nowruz is the day on which “the earth is adorned anew, and the world is refreshed.” In the boundless realm of our classical literature, Nowruz also holds an elevated and irreplaceable place. The great epic poet Hakim Abolqasem Ferdowsi, in the Shahnameh, attributes the foundation of Nowruz to the reign of Jamshid, a symbol of an era in which the world returns to the orbit of “justice and order,” and people live in peace, prosperity, and freedom from suffering. And Rudaki, the father of Persian poetry and the proud son of this very land, sings of the coming of spring with such intoxicating fervor that it seems as though the world, with each new spring, experiences a second creation.
This sacred bond between humanity, nature, and hope has pulsed and lived on for centuries through the cultural veins of the nations of this vast geography, from Central Asia to Iran, Afghanistan, the Caucasus, and beyond. It is no coincidence that the United Nations, recognizing this greatness, acknowledged Nowruz as an “International Day,” and UNESCO inscribed it upon the crown of “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”
Esteemed thinkers, our responsibility, however, is not only to take pride in the past. Ancient Nowruz carries a vital and strategic message for our world today. Our modern world today is ensnared in the grip of grave crises: on one hand, the devastating crisis of climate change and the ruthless destruction of the environment is tightening its grip around the throat of the earth, and on the other, the spread of mistrust, political conflicts, and wars has wounded the spirit of humanity. In such a turbulent age, Nowruz reminds us of a simple yet fundamental truth: human beings are only a part of nature, not its absolute ruler and undisputed owner. Many of our Nowruz rituals carry within them, at their very core, a prayer for the protection of the earth. Nowruz is, in truth, a celebration of the magnificence of “life.”
It is at this point that the mission and role of the media in reflecting and keeping this discourse alive gains twofold importance. In our era, media outlets are not merely conveyors of daily news; they are the guardians of cultural memory and the architects of the identities of nations. They possess the power and the responsibility to elevate Nowruz from a purely calendrical and nostalgic ritual to a living, civilizational, and human discourse. Through the production of distinguished documentaries, in-depth educational programs, and analytical narratives, the media can redefine the historical significance and environmental philosophy of Nowruz for both current and future generations.
Today, in circumstances where environmental crises have transcended all borders, the media is obliged to highlight the bond between Nowruz and nature. By launching awareness campaigns and specialized dialogues, they can promote a culture of “responsibility toward nature” and “green thinking.” The media can and must link Nowruz to modern concepts such as “sustainable development” and “environmental justice,” transforming this ancient ritual into a global manifesto for the salvation of the earth. On the other hand, in a world where divisive politics raise the walls of mistrust higher with each passing day, the media can use Nowruz as a bridge for convergence. By highlighting shared cultural values and human narratives, trust and empathy can be rebuilt at the regional and global level.
Dear friends, despite these immense capacities, we must confess with deep sorrow and a realistic gaze that the sun of Nowruz does not shine with the same brilliance in all parts of this cultural geography today. In my homeland, Afghanistan, a country that for thousands of years has been the cradle of the nurturing and flourishing of this tradition, ancient Nowruz today faces indifference, opposition, and even prohibition. In Iran as well, although the roots of Nowruz are firmly planted in the depths of the society’s soul, national non-religious occasions are sometimes met with a look of suspicion in the shadow of certain ideological interpretations.
In the heart of these shadows and constraints, the role of the Republic of Tajikistan acquires a historical, strategic, and unparalleled importance. Tajikistan today has become the most steadfast bastion of the preservation, development, and promotion of Nowruz culture in the world. In this blessed land, Nowruz is not merely a celebration; it is the very foundation of national identity, and the official state policy offers its full and unwavering support for this ancestral heritage. What doubles this splendor is the unbreakable bond between the will of the people of Tajikistan and the resolute support of their government. In this regard, the prominent role and wise leadership of His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, the esteemed President of Tajikistan, is most commendable. His special dedication and continuous efforts to celebrate Nowruz with great grandeur and to introduce its global dimensions are the embodiment of a “successful cultural diplomacy,” a policy that views culture not as a tool of pride, but as an instrument of peace and convergence. Tajikistan has demonstrated to the world how it is possible to build toward a bright future grounded in cooperation by drawing on authentic roots.
In closing, we must remember that Nowruz carries three eternal messages for humanity: first, the message of respect and humility before nature; second, the message of everlasting hope in renewal and the passage through winter and hardships; and third, the message of unconditional solidarity among human beings.
Our heavy responsibility, particularly that of media professionals, thinkers, and storytellers of society, is to ensure that the dust of oblivion does not settle upon these messages. We must pass this torch, brighter and more radiant, into the hands of tomorrow’s generations. For Nowruz is not merely the beginning of a new calendar; Nowruz is a reminder of this luminous truth: that every spring is another opportunity to rebuild trust, to intertwine the hearts of human beings, and to protect “the earth,” this, our only shared home in the expanse of the cosmos.
Long live Nowruz, and may the bridges of empathy among peoples and nations stand firm.
Thank you for your attention.
You can read the Persian version of this analysis here:
