Tajikistan Begins Free Distribution of "Shahnameh," Ferdowsi's Epic Masterpiece, to Promote Cultural Heritage

Ferdowsi's work is celebrated not only for its historical and mythical narratives but also for its profound poetic and linguistic genius. Composed in pure and eloquent Persian, the Shahnameh played a critical role in preserving the Persian language after the Arab conquest. By resisting the encroachment of Arabic words and maintaining the purity of the Persian lexicon, Ferdowsi ensured the survival and flourishing of the language for centuries to come. His work is often credited with having a similar effect on the Persian language as Shakespeare had on the English language—standardizing and enriching it. This makes the distribution of his work in Tajikistan an act of linguistic preservation as well as cultural promotion.