DUSHANBE, April 20 Asia-Plus -- A scientific conference dedicated to the 800th anniversary of Jalal-ad-Din Muhammad Rumi will open at Turkey’s Vefa-Center in Dushanbe today afternoon.    

According to the Turkish Embassy in Dushanbe, Turkish Ambassador to Tajikistan Akif Aykhan and Chairperson of Tajikistan’s Society for Friendship and Cultural Ties with Foreign Countries Maysara Kalonova are expected to address the conference that is bringing together bring together known Tajik orientalists and historians.     

Mawlana Jalal-ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, also known as Mawlana Jalal-ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi, but known to the English-speaking world simply as Rumi, (September 30, 1207 – December 17, 1273), was a 13th century Persian (Tajik) Muslim poet, jurist, and theologian.  

Rumi was born in Balkh (now part of Afghanistan) and died in Konya (in present-day Turkey). 

His birthplace and native language/local dialogue indicates a Persian heritage.  He also wrote his poetry in Persian and his works are widely read in Tajikistan, Iran and Afghanistan and in translation in Turkey, Azerbaijan, the United States, and South Asia.  He lived most of his life in, and produced his works under, the Seljuk Empire.  

Rumi''s importance is considered to transcend national and ethnic borders.  Throughout the centuries he has had a significant influence on Persian as well s Urdu ad Turkish literatures.  His poems are widely read in the Persian speaking countries of Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan and have been widely translated into many of the world''s languages in various formats.