Post by Armyn Naderi

From Fighter Pilot Dreams to Persian Poetic Horizons. How does a young woman from Lahore, training to navigate the skies in a fighter jet, end up completely reshaping her destiny through the power of 12th-century poetry? In the premiere episode of our Roots and Routes Series, Noghteh INC explores the extraordinary journey of Dr. Aqsa Ijaz Ph.D. (Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto Mississauga). The turning point? A profound, unexpected encounter with Nizami Ganjavi’s Khamsa (The Five Treasures). The dramatic world of Nizami didn't just fascinate her—it altered her life's trajectory. She left aviation behind, mastered the Persian language from scratch, and committed herself to a monumental mission: translating Nizami’s masterpieces into her native Punjabi. Today, that passion has led her to become a leading voice in Persian and Punjabi literature at University of Toronto. Watch the premiere episode to see how a singular artistic revelation can redefine a lifetime: This film was proudly produced by Noghteh Inc, proud collaboration with the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations at the University of Toronto and the Elahe Omidyar Mir-Djalali Institute of Iranian Studies. We are looking for Chapter Two! The Roots and Routes journey continues. We are actively seeking new, compelling cross-cultural stories within Canadian academia and professional fields. If you or someone you know has an inspiring trajectory to share, let’s connect and bring your story to the screen. Armyn Naderi Somayyeh Chaychi #Filmmaking #Documentary #HigherEducation #PersianLiterature #PunjabiLiterature #NizamiGanjavi #Storytelling #NoghtehInc https://lnkd.in/gWMcG9pp