Should You Really Learn Persian?

Why learn Persian in India? What are the importance and benefits of studying Farsi, Dari, or Tajik language? I’ve got 12 convincing reasons for you to consider.

Introduction

Persian is an Iranian language from a subgroup of the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Persian, Arabic, and Turkish are the three most widely spoken languages in West Asia or Middle-East.

All three are different though Arabic and Persian are written in a variety of the same alphabet. Persian script is also called Perso-Arabic.

Persian is somewhat close to various tongues of Northern India and European languages since all belong to the same language family, i.e., Indo-European.

Persian is among the most important languages of the Middle East. Pashto, Balochi, Luri, and various Kurdish tongues such as Kurmanji, Sorani, and Palewani are some other widely-spoken Iranian languages in West Asia.

Persian and Pashto are the most spoken Western and Eastern Iranic languages, respectively. While all belong to the same language family, All these languages are quite different and not mutually intelligible.

Persian is called ‘Farsi’ in Iran, ‘Dari’ in Afghanistan, and ‘Tajik’ in Tajikistan. The language is among the world’s most 25 popularly spoken languages, boasting over 62 million indigenous speakers, and about 50 million more speak it as a second language.

12 Good Reasons to Learn Persian (Farsi) in India

There are plenty of reasons to learn a foreign language. If you’re not sure which language to learn, you can indeed consider Persian!

There are multiple advantages associated with learning Persian as a foreign language in India. West Asian languages like Persian (Farsi, Dari, or Tajik) gives you a competitive edge in an ever-increasing competitive world.

Here are 12 reasons why you should learn Persian as a second language.

1. Second most spoken language in West Asia

It is the official language of Iran (the surviving state of the Persian Empire), Afghanistan, and Tajikistan.

It is also being spoken in various dialects in places like Uzbekistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. The language enjoys the presence of large communities in Turkey, Europe, Australia, Canada, and the USA.

Historically Persian was a more widely understood language in an area ranging from the Middle East to India.

Today, Roughly 150 million people worldwide speak Persian. This number includes people who speak Persian (Farsi or Dari or Tajik) as a mother tongue, a second language, and students who do not live in Persian-speaking countries. It is ranked among the world’s top 25 most widely spoken languages.

2. A language of Historical importance

Persian was once one of the most popular tongues in the Middle East. It is a language that evokes ancient civilization — back to Biblical times and in the era of empires (like the Persian Empire) and kings of renowned historical antecedents.

Although those times are far gone, you can relive them through the mirror of learning the language itself. Knowing the Persian language can make you understand the concept of a particular historical narrative, particularly as its political, economic, and socio-ideological order of the Middle East.

Scholars, educated, rulers, elites, and historians from India, central Asia, and different parts of Iran and Afghanistan, and the Ottoman lands have produced a wide array of rich literature, historical manuscripts, and lithographically printed books in Persian.

Subjects covered include history, travel, customs, literature, arts, poetry, current events, and traditional topics such as the history of Islamic civilization.

3. Open up new Career and Job Opportunities

One of the most significant benefits of learning less taught languages is that it provides you with access to a whole new world. Career Options in a foreign language is an essential factor.

If you are residing in Western Europe and America, you will notice that very few people enroll in Persian language classes.

The situation isn’t much different for Indian foreign language learners, either.

Given the absence of Persian speakers and how difficult it is to find on a resume, Proficiency in Persian will make you stand out from the crowd during job recruitment, including language job recruitment including language in the region or among companies interested in where it is spoken.

4. A career in Government Agencies

Many government agencies in India and places like the US and Europe have a high demand for the Farsi or Dari or Tajik language speakers if we consider Iran and the Middle East’s geopolitical importance in general.

The military, intelligence, and diplomatic agencies of India, the US, and more are keen on encouraging and recruiting people who study Persian.

Indian Government entities like External Affairs Ministry, Tourism Department, Intelligence Agency, Foreign National Embassy, etc., offer varied job opportunities to Persian experts.

5. Business opportunity and Huge economic benefits

It is no secret that Iran and the Persian language area are very rich in crude oil and other natural mineral resources.

Suppose you into the oil business or work as a rig engineer for oil companies in these places. You can then learn Persian as it would be an added advantage on your resume and in interacting with society.

If, as an Indian, you are into a business, and you want to increase your market share by diversifying your marketplace. Then, your ability to market to the ever-increasing Persian world would open lots of opportunities for you.

Besides, the people of Iran are very welcoming and hospitable toward foreigners, especially Indians, so they would be more than glad to help you with learning Persian.

With a population of over a hundred million speakers, there is a tremendous potential market you can tap into. Iran is the second-largest economy in the Middle-East, and the country holds the fourth-largest reserves of oil and the second-largest of natural gas.

Your ability to communicate in Farsi, considering its complex idiosyncrasies and cultural complexity, will give you a substantial economic advantage, both now and in the future.

6. You can benefit more from travel experiences

Iran is a stunningly beautiful country with a diverse, vibrant, unique, and long history. The nation has plenty of historic places, and it has some of the friendliest people in the world. Iran is home to more than 17 UNESCO heritage sites.

These include a bazaar complex, monastic ensembles, a palace, an old hydraulic system, and more. Iran is a geographically diverse place of indescribable beauty. Over 5 million people visit this county every year, which supports the tourism and travel industry.

You, too, can enjoy the best of your leisure and holiday time. Traveling will become more comfortable for you by the time you have started speaking Farsi.

Read → (i) Should I Learn Turkish? (ii) Learn Persian in Delhi (iii) Arabic Classes in Delhi (iv) Benefits of Arabic (iv) Top Arabic Films (v) Best Persian Movies (vi) Movies to Learn Turkish.

7. India-Iran relations

There is a reliable and stable historical root between India and Iran that spans centuries. There is an active trade root with people to people links, from the Persian Gulf to India. Iran is strategically crucial for India in many ways.

For instance, India is currently participating in constructing a 560 miles railroad that will link the Iranian port and, together with Afghanistan, iron ore. It is a venture that is designed out of a significant strategic and geopolitical need.

Once completed, the track will enable India to bypass Pakistan’s reliance and open the door for Indian companies to explore and make gains from Afghanistan. It is $3 trillion worth of minerals, including an improved bilateral trade route with Iran.

With a lot of these opportunities in place, it is always going to be an excellent choice to learn Persian or Farsi as a way of encouraging stronger ties with Iran.

8. Persian Historic influence in India

The impact of the Persian language in India is one that cannot be overemphasized. Before the British took over and colonized India’s subcontinent, Persian was the region’s lingua franca and was widely used as an official language.

During the Gurkani dynasty, a lot of Iranian authors, poets, and intellectuals emigrated to India. And this contributed to the growth of the language in the nation.

There are hundreds of ancient books, geography, geology, medicine, chemistry, philosophy, and mysticism written in Persian kept in museums in India.

The Indian bureaucratic system also witnessed the use of the Persian language in schools and official petition and correspondence. Studying the Persian language will enable Indians to get the best from ancient literature loaded with rich information.

9. A rich culture

Proficiency in Persian opens up your awareness of a rich and uniquely diverse culture.

Centuries-old and modern Persian works of literature from Rumi, Hafez, and Ferdowsi, who are major Sufi and epic poets, have inspired creators and writers across the globe.

Literature in the Persian language continues to attract a foreign audience.

Also, Iran is a significant producer of high-quality and internationally renowned films that have received Oscar, Bodil, Cesar, and many more awards.

Persian culture is also famous for its tile work, intricate mosaic, and miniature paintings. Their finely woven carpets and rugs, with breathtaking colors, are classic examples of Persian rich culture the language can help you to enjoy.

10. A bridge between other tongues

Persian has been around for quite many years in Indian, Turkey, Armenia, and more. Thus, most native languages in these places have picked up and used more than a handful of Persian words within their daily native language use.

Persian’s tongues have greatly influenced Turkish, Armenian, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Arabic, and more. Therefore, If you learn Persian, it will broaden your knowledge of these other languages.

If you’re fluent in English, you already know a slew of Persian words, including a bazaar, candy, caravan, caviar, lemon, kebab, naan, orange, pajama, paneer, pashmina, pistachio, samosa, shawl, sitar, spinach, sugar, tambourine, and typhoon, among others.

11. Interpretation and Translation

Are you interested in a career in Translation and Interpretation? If you dream of working in the translation and interpretation field, learning and understanding like Persian will further enhance the beauty of your qualifications.

It is one of the valuable languages in the world because it is challenging to learn Persian. The number of people who are proficient in the corresponding language is very less.

Since there is a considerable size of Persian speakers, the demand for interpretation and translation jobs always exists, especially in the freelance language market.

You can work from home as a translator or get employed as an interpreter for various governments, corporate, and private agencies/organizations.

12. Persian is Difficult, but you can learn

Persian is undoubtedly a tricky language to learn. But if you put in enough effort, you will find a straightforward tongue to acquire.

For over a millennium, the language has not changed significantly. The basic grammar for the classical and contemporary form has not changed, and it’s simple to learn and understand.

Persian grammar is very simple and without lots of exceptions and rules. However, due to some unique and different pronunciation and writing structure, it takes time to achieve the upper intermediate competency.

Mastering a foreign language takes time, and Persian is no exception. Are you convinced now to learn Persian? It is not hard to master.

Final thought

Persian is one of many overlooked but a richly important language of the 21st century. Since very few people speak fluently in India, those with proficiency in the language are highly sought out by employers with interests in the region.

Learning how to speak the Persian language is taking advantage of the continuous growth of the global economy.