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From Shahnameh to chai: How ‘Persian Ladki’ is tracing Iran’s forgotten links with India
['Dipanita Nath', 'Dipanita Nath Is A Senior Assistant Editor At The Indian Express', 'Based In Pune. She Is A Versatile Journalist With A Deep Interest In The Intersection Of Culture', 'Sustainability', 'Urban Life.', 'Professional Background', 'Experience', 'Before Joining The Indian Express', 'She Worked With Other Major News Organizations Including Hindustan Times', 'The Times Of India']
The Indian Express
Mariam Abuhaideri is attempting to address this gap through a series of storytelling and discussion sessions that trace Iran’s history, culture and its deep-rooted connections with India.
(Source: Express Photo/ Enhanced with Gemini)Mariam Abuhaideri calls herself a Persian Ladki — shorthand for “I am an Indian but my blood is Persian”.
When the Pune-based storyteller, writer and animal lover visits relatives in Tehran or Yazd, she feels a strong emotional pull, even as she remains an outsider.
She is often introduced as the Hindi girl — Hindi being the Persian word for Indian.
Back in India, the third-generation Hindi-speaking Persian fits in sometimes — and sometimes she does not.