Hamidreza Mohammadi, founder of Ganjoor, has received the National Parsi-jan Award for supporting Persian language and literature.
The award ceremony took place at Sooreh Hall within Tehran’s Art Bureau. The second edition focused on efforts that strengthen Persian language and cultural identity.
The Office for the Preservation of the Persian Language organized the ceremony. The event brought together figures from literature, music, journalism, technology, and public services.
Ganjoor has become an important digital resource for Persian literary heritage. The platform provides free access to thousands of classical and contemporary Persian poems.
Users can search the archive by poet, book, poem, and individual verse. The collection includes major figures such as Ferdowsi, Saadi, Hafez, Rumi, and Omar Khayyam.
Over time, Ganjoor has expanded access to Persian poetry through digital technology. As a result, readers can explore major literary works through a searchable online archive.
Mohammadi, however, described the award as recognition for collective work rather than personal achievement. He emphasized the contributions of thousands of people involved with Ganjoor.
According to Mohammadi, many contributors helped develop and expand the platform over the years. Therefore, he said the award should recognize their combined efforts.
The jury selected six individuals and organizations for the event’s main distinctions. The nominees represented several areas connected with Persian language and cultural activity.
Those nominees included Bale software and Mohammad Mehdi Baqeri, director of the Editors Institute. The list also included traditional vocalist Mohammad Motamedi and Tehran Metro’s cultural deputy.
Journalist Hossein Ezhdehai from Hormozgan also appeared among the nominated candidates. Ganjoor founder Mohammadi ultimately received the National Insignia and Golden Cypress.
Meanwhile, award secretary Nasser Feiz highlighted the wider purpose behind the Parsi-jan initiative. He said the program recognizes voluntary efforts supporting Persian identity and language.
Feiz also discussed the Art Bureau’s long-standing involvement with literature. He noted that poetry and fiction have remained important areas of cultural activity.
In addition, he pointed to the institution’s work supporting literature connected with Iran’s modern history. These activities have produced and published numerous literary and poetry works.
Feiz said organizers later recognized the need for greater attention to Persian language itself. He connected that focus with repeated calls for stronger protection of Persian.
He also identified foreign vocabulary as one factor that can influence language development. According to Feiz, a strong language must remain active and adaptable in modern society.
He pointed to classical Persian literature as evidence of the language’s lasting strength. Centuries after their lives, major poets still attract readers across generations.
The award organizers therefore looked beyond traditional language institutions when selecting recipients. They also considered people who voluntarily invested time, resources, and expertise.
Feiz said such individuals may sometimes work without financial compensation. In some cases, they may also spend their own resources supporting Persian language projects.
The Parsi-jan program also includes a monthly Silver Cypress award. Organizers then select an annual recipient from monthly honorees and additional candidates.
Scientific secretary Seyyed Ali Mirfattah also stressed the importance of preserving Persian literature. He argued that society carries responsibility for passing its literary heritage forward.
Mirfattah described language as more than a communication system. He argued that language also shapes how people organize and express ideas.
Therefore, he called for greater attention to Persian across different sectors. He specifically highlighted administration, law, education, and other public institutions.
He also raised concerns about Persian language use within administrative and educational structures. According to Mirfattah, these areas require stronger attention and long-term planning.
The second Parsi-jan Award consequently highlighted a broad range of cultural contributions. Digital archives, literature, music, journalism, and public services all featured prominently.
The event also showed how technology can support the preservation of literary heritage. Digital platforms can connect younger audiences with works from earlier generations.
Ganjoor provides one example of this broader cultural shift. Its searchable archive makes classical Persian poetry easier to access and explore.
Persian has developed one of the world’s longest and richest literary traditions. Writers and poets have shaped its cultural influence across several centuries.
Today, Persian remains important across Iran and other parts of West and Central Asia. Its literary heritage continues to influence education, culture, scholarship, and artistic expression.
However, modern language use faces new challenges from technology, media, education, and foreign terminology. Consequently, cultural institutions increasingly focus on keeping Persian relevant in contemporary life.
The Parsi-jan Award seeks to bring greater attention to these efforts. Its organizers aim to recognize individuals who support Persian beyond formal institutional responsibilities.
Ganjoor’s recognition therefore reflects both literary preservation and digital cultural development. The award also highlights the growing role of technology in protecting historical knowledge.
Future editions may continue recognizing projects across different cultural and professional fields. Meanwhile, Ganjoor’s growing digital role could further expand access to Persian literary works.