Two Centuries of Literary Competition between Iran and the Subcontinent

Safavid period is one of the most important historical periods of old Iran with regard to foreign relations. Among these, cultural and political relations with India are outstanding due to historical and mostly peaceful backgrounds, especially in the field of Persian language and literature. The influence of Persian literature on India was so much that this country became not only a rich and fruitful place for Iranian poets and literary figures, it also became the origin of another type of Persian literature. Although Iranian poets and literary figures, due to access to innate resources of this language and culture, were considered as the model, the attempts of cultural figures of the Subcontinent had local color and were different from Iranian linguistic and cultural criteria and norms. Because of this, there were a lot of critical controversies over the correctness and eloquence of literary works of Persian speakers of India. Iranians accussed them of doing unfounded innovations and linguistic experiences and these people, instead, claimed that they had the right to do so on the basis of certain reasons.