Mastur: The Veiled The Legacy of a Forgotten 18th century Female Iranian Poet A Rare Manuscript from SMNA Library

Abstract

Mastur, a little-known young female poet from 18th century Iran, composed a romantic epic of over 4000 couplets that had long been forgotten until recent discoveries. The manuscript narrates a fantastic love story between a Chinese prince, Jamshid, and an Indian princess, Khorshid. Amazingly, it is art that sparks their love: an artist shows Jamshid his painting of Khorshid, igniting his passion; later, on his return journey to Kashmir, he paints Jamshid’s portrait and displays it in the Indian court, capturing Khorshid’s in return. Jamshid’s journey to reach Khorshid across distant lands is marked by a series of unexpected and dangerous adventures, adding elements of suspense and making the..