Persian Ladki Bridges Iran-India Through Storytelling

When Mariam Abuhaideri visits family in Tehran, relatives crowd around her to talk about Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai. Back in Pune, where she lives, most people know almost nothing about modern Iran or its ancient connections to India.

The third-generation Persian-Indian storyteller calls herself "Persian Ladki" because her blood is Persian but her heart is Indian. She fits in everywhere and nowhere, blending into Pune's markets but mistaken for a tourist in Rajasthan.

Now she's on a mission to bridge that cultural gap. Starting February 1, Abuhaideri is hosting a series of storytelling sessions that trace Iran's history and its deep roots in Indian culture.

The series opens with a reading of the Shahnameh, Iran's 60,000-verse epic poem. Just as India has the Ramayana, Iran has the Book of Kings, composed by the poet Ferdowsi centuries ago.

"Both are vast, verse-based tales exploring good versus evil, loyalty, and duty," Abuhaideri explains. She's spent years studying the Shahnameh and wants to share its wisdom with audiences who've never encountered it.

Three more sessions follow throughout February. Topics include pre-Islamic Iran, the 1979 revolution, and the waves of migration that brought Persians to India's shores.

Her own great-grandfather, Mahmoud Zaki, was one of those migrants. He traveled by ship to trade, then stayed and opened an Irani chai house serving traditional black tea.

Why This Inspires

Abuhaideri's work matters because cultural understanding builds bridges in polarized times. When people discover shared epic traditions, poetic heritage, and centuries of migration between Iran and India, stereotypes crumble.

She's concerned that Indians barely react to tensions affecting Iran today. Through stories served alongside Iranian choee (black tea, not mixed with milk), she hopes to change that.

At each session, guests will sip tea while discovering how Persian migrants enriched India's poetry, music, and food traditions. The conversations explore Zoroastrianism, the distinctions between Parsi and Iranian identity, and why historical context matters.

"I can share the history and story behind what Iran was even before the Arab conquest," she says. Understanding those layers helps people grasp how faith became state power and why the Islamic Revolution transformed a nation.

Her approach is personal, warm, and accessible. She jokes about using Bollywood fandom to become the center of attention in Tehran, but her deeper purpose is serious.

In a world quick to divide along religious and national lines, Abuhaideri is betting that ancient epics and shared cups of tea can remind people of their common humanity. One story at a time, she's proving that forgotten connections can be rediscovered.