Dr. Roozbeh Kordouni has conducted a deep analysis of the concept of the presence of meeting in Iranian culture and examined its impact on the social life of the people. The presence of meeting is considered one of the hidden foundations of Iran's durability; a quality that is neither easily seen in statistics nor in bold headlines, but is present in the daily lives of the people.
Meeting, Beyond Being Together
The presence of meeting is not merely being together. People may live in the same city, stand in the same line, or even be in the same house without truly seeing each other. Meeting begins where another person's story becomes important to us; when someone shares their work, suffering, hope, or concern, and the other takes the time to listen. This quality does not solve big issues, but it prevents people from separating before the issues are resolved.
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The Living Heritage of Iranians
This meaning can be observed everywhere in Iran: in Bushehr, in the connection of work, the sea, and socializing; in Khuzestan, in the networks of family and friendship amidst climatic and economic difficulties; in Khoy and Alamut, where the names Shams and Qaleh are not just historical markers but resonate with memory, dialect, table, and people's belonging; and in Isfahan and Shiraz, in conversations that show the city is not just a collection of buildings and events, but a possibility for pause, meeting, and sharing in a common future.
History, when it remains only on walls and in files, becomes a framed past. But when it flows in the language, rituals, work, and memories of the people, it returns to the present. Living heritage is not something we merely protect; it is something that people live with.
Iran should not only be sought in the grand moments of history and bold headlines. Sometimes it is found in a small gathering that still makes room for listening to stories, in a hand that quietly initiates an action, and in a table that has space for guests. Iran still sits together; and as long as the presence of meeting exists, life flows within it.
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