Birjand -the city of culture and literature

 

 

Birjand - the city of culture and literature

                                                                                                                Amin fouladi

From the central desert of Iran, if you move toward east, you will face a high mountainous region which in the past was known as “Ghahestan”. This region was covering a large number of eastern cities of Iran.

This region, which has an arid climate, has up-and-down history that has become part of the large Khorasan.

 

South Khorasan

South Khorasan province, a rather large and a new province, is located in east of Iran which has a 4 years old history. At the beginning of 1383, after a large number of controversies, finally this province was seceded from the capital of the great Khorasan province and since then, had been observing a dramatic change.

 

Birjand, the capital of south Khorasan province:

Birjand, the capital of south Khorasan province, has a population of over 240,000 people. It is a calm and lovely city with an intact and impressive nature in the proximity to desert which hosted a lot of tourists and visitors from all over Iran. From geographical point of view, it is located at longitude 5913 east and latitude 53/32 north. This city is placed at the height of 1480 meters from the sea level.

 

Climate: 

From climatical point of view, Because of its proximity to desert, it has an arid climate. Birjand’s people constructed houses which had thick adobe walls and domical ceiling as shelter for the hot and dry climate of summer as well as cold and freezing winters. Also they used pine trees as a shelter against piercing strong winds of hot desert.

 

Agriculture:

In spite of proximity to hot and sizzling desert and successive droughts, agriculture has a great importance. The products of Birjand are barberry, saffron, jujube, almond walnut and etc. which are part of Birjand’s souvenirs.

 

Universities and educational centers:

Due to having of qualified universities and educational centers and experienced instructors, Birjand is known for one of the important universities of Iran. It has more than 18,000 students who are studying in different levels.

 

Birjand, the city of culture and literature

The wise and hospitable inhabitants of Birjand are known for their goodness and their good mood. They are interested in culture and literature and this has given a cultural aspect to the city. This city has a splendid history. The great men like Ebne Hesame Khousfi, the poet and mystic who lived in eighth and ninth centuries of Lunar Hijria, Hakim Sa'd-o-Din-e- Nazari, poet and lyrist, of seventh century of Lunar Hijri who is contemporary of Sa'di-e- Shrirazi and Abdol Ali Birjandi who is one of luminaries and a famous astronomer and mathematician,etc. All of these were great and remarkable people in Iran’s scientific and literary history.

 

Birjand’s History

If you are interested in history and patient enough, you’ll see beautiful and unique cultural and historical monuments in Birjand which are representing an glorious ancient remarkable history of Birjand. Payeen Shahr castle, Kolah Farangi citadel, Rahimabad garden and edifice, Shokatiye school, which is the second school after Darolfonun, and several important and remarkable monuments are among them which hosts a lot of tourists from all over Iran annually.

 

Industry of Birjand

Birjand has rich mines which are full of structural stones such as granite, marble and grand factories like Kavir tire, Niloufar tile, Bagheran cement etc. which have an important role in industry and employment in this region. After the constitution of south Khorasan with Birjand as its capital, these centers of industry are experiencing a fast developement which has attracted a lot of nonnative labour force from adjacent cities and provinces to Birjand. Little by little with endeavor and hardworking of authorities, this city has become one of the important cultural and industrial parts of Iran and it expects a bright future; therefore, we can be hopeful that this city will find its real place in different fields in a near future, and this is an issue which is the main concern of all hardworking inhabitants and authorities of this town.