‘Nostalgia of the Occupied’
The TISHK Center for Kurdistan Studies is organising the second seminar of the TISHK Seminar Series.
The second seminar with Masoud Babaei, writer, translator and researcher in the field of philosophy, will take place on Sunday, 22 September 2024 at 7:00 pm ET. Masoud Babaei holds a Bachelor's degree in Kurdish Linguistics from Salahaddin University. Babaei has published several books on Kurdish language and literature, sociology and philosophy.
‘Nostalgia of the Occupied’ is the title of Babaei's study, which was published in the TISHK Research Series. The seminar will be led by Aram Keykhosrawi, M.A. graduate of the Faculty of Political Science at Kharezmi University in Tehran. The seminar will be held in Kurdish and will begin at 7:00 pm ET on the Zoom platform.

Nostalgia of the Occupied

The Paper, titled "Nostalgia of the Occupied", authored by Masoud Babaie, analyses the deep-seated sense of nostalgia and yearning for homeland that pervades literature, especially Kurdish literature. This longing, evident since ancient works like Homer's Odyssey, is a significant theme in Kurdish narratives. Ehmedê Xanî's "Mem û Zîn" exemplifies the desire to preserve cultural identity through the Kurdish language and storytelling. These narratives go beyond mere geographical or temporal references, embodying a profound cultural and linguistic essence. For Kurds, nostalgic stories are a means to escape occupation and construct an alternative narrative identity, independent of the occupier's influence. While nostalgia in Western societies is often viewed as backward or out of touch, for the occupied, it is a way to maintain their connection to homeland and culture, resisting foreign domination. Babaie's paper underscores how Kurdish literature, with its themes of love, loyalty, and sacrifice, provides a rich cultural heritage resilient against oppressive forces.