Workshop on Reading Persian Coins and Manus Held in Mumbai as Iran’s First Cultural House Marks 70th Anniversary

MUMBAI — On 15 November 2025 the University of Mumbai hosted a one-day specialized workshop titled “Reading Persian Coins Historical Documents and Manus in India.”

The event, held on the threshold of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the first Iranian Cultural House in the world—located in Mumbai—brought together 72 participants from academic and cultural circles.

 

Organized jointly by the Iranian Cultural House in Mumbai and the university’s Departments of Persian and History, the workshop ran in morning and afternoon sessions across the Centre for Studies and the J.P. Naik Hall.

 

At the opening ceremony, Dr. Sakina Khan, Head of the Department of Persian Language and Literature, welcomed the chief guest, Mr. Mohammad Reza Fazel, Cultural Attaché and Head of the Iranian Cultural House.

 

She highlighted the critical support provided by the Cultural House in enabling the program. Floral tributes and commemorative plaques were presented to invited scholars and guests.

 

Mr. Fazel, referencing the seven-decade history of the Iranian Cultural House and the 62-year legacy of the university’s Persian program, described the workshop as an important step toward deepening the understanding and revival of the shared cultural heritage of Iran and India.

 

He emphasized that Persian manuscripts, coins, and historical documents preserved in India constitute an essential part of the civilizational memory of both nations. He also drew attention to the recognition of Persian in India’s National Education Policy 2020 and the proposal to establish a National Institute of Persian Language.

 

The first technical session featured Dr. Mary Nalini Pathak, senior researcher and head of manuscripts and numismatics at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS). She outlined the processes of collection, conservation, and exhibition of Persian-Arabic coins and manuscripts, and discussed the role of Indian miniature art in these collections.

 

In the second session, Mr. Nikhil Dixit, researcher and visiting faculty at the University of Mumbai, shared insights from two decades of work on Indo-Persian and Indo-Arabic numismatics.

 

Participants received educational kits containing high-resolution coin images to practice reading mint inscriptions.

 

The afternoon session opened with Mr. Nikhil Paranjpe, noted scholar of Persian manuscripts and visiting faculty, who explained methodologies for analyzing historical documents, inscriptions, and early Persian texts produced in India.

 

The closing ceremony was attended by Mr. Hassan Mohseni-Fard, Acting Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Mumbai.

Following a welcome by Dr. Khan and presentation of flowers and gifts, he spoke about the deep historical connections between Persian and Indian languages. He described the recognition of Persian as one of India’s classical languages as an encouraging development that supports the preservation of shared cultural heritage. Praising the presence of young students and researchers, he encouraged them to apply their new skills toward strengthening cultural ties between the two countries.

 

The final presentation of the day was delivered by Dr. Pushkar Soni, renowned scholar of Islamic history and art, who presented his paper, “The Influence of Iranian Architecture in India.”

 

The program concluded with the distribution of certificates and appreciation plaques to participants by Mr. Mohseni-Fard and Mr. Fazel.

 

The workshop not only revisited important chapters of Indo-Iranian history but also laid the groundwork for future academic and cultural collaborations between the two nations.