A 257-year-old manuscript of Mem û Zîn, the celebrated masterpiece by Kurdish poet and philosopher Ahmad Khani, has been reprinted in Van, bringing renewed attention to one of the most important works in Kurdish literary history.
The book was prepared by the Van Chamber of Commerce and introduced at a special ceremony attended by the editors and residents of the city.
The manuscript was copied 257 years ago by a calligrapher named Salim. After extensive research, scholars located the historical copy and prepared the new edition using the original text. According to the researchers, it is the second-oldest Kurdish literary work with a clearly established date of copying.
Written in the seventeenth century, Mem û Zîn is widely regarded as a cornerstone of Kurdish literature and cultural identity. The surviving manuscript contains 31 hand-drawn illustrations, several geographical maps and poems by other classical Kurdish poets, including Feqiyê Teyran and Mela Batêyî.
The manuscript was passed down through generations in the Badlis region, allowing the historic work to survive to the present day.
Prof. Dr. Mahir Taha, the book’s editor, said Kurds were gradually developing a deeper understanding of Ahmad Khani and their literary heritage.
“Not only in Northern Kurdistan but in all four parts of Kurdistan, Kurds are gradually coming to know their own history,” Taha said. He added that the new edition aims to make Khani’s ideas and legacy more accessible to readers.
The reprinting of the manuscript offers an opportunity to preserve an important historical document and introduce new generations to the literary heritage of Kurdistan. It also highlights the continuing importance of Mem û Zîn as a work that connects Kurdish language, history and cultural identity.
