Ghand-e Parsi:
Persian Language, Literature, and Art Academy
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شِکَّرشِکن شَوَند همه طوطیانِ هند
زین قندِ پارسی که به بَنگاله میرود
All the Indian parrots will crunch the sugar of this Persian Ghand [candy]
as they repeat it all the way to Bengal.
Hafez of Shiraz
Why learn Persian?
Over 110 million people around the globe speak Persian today, and countless academic books, journals, articles, TV channels, and social media accounts use the language. Currently spoken and officially used in Iran (Farsi), Afghanistan (Dari Persian), and Tajikistan (Tajiki Persian), Persian was for centuries a language of literary, political, religious, and intellectual production across southeastern Europe to Central, and South Asia; from the Balkans to Bengal until at least the end of the 19th century.
A language of study
After Arabic, Persian is the most commonly used language in which Muslim scholars have written their works. Many masterpieces of world literature and poetry are written in Persian, in addition to the writings of numerous eminent Muslim jurisprudents, theologians, Sufis, philosophers, astronomers, musicians, historians, and physicians. Learning Persian opens the door to direct engagement with a world of primary sources, including manuscripts and archival documents that are critical in the fields of Persianate studies, Ottoman studies, Islamic studies, Shi'ite studies, Middle Eastern studies, Central Asian studies, South Asian studies, and many others.
Connection to a heritage
Persian is deeply intertwined with the rich cultural heritage of Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and parts of Central Asia. It serves as a vessel for the expression of literature, poetry, and art that date back centuries, including the works of renowned poets like Rumi, Hafez, and Ferdowsi. Persian literature is one of the world's most celebrated bodies of work, with masterpieces such as the Shahnameh (Book of Kings) by Ferdowsi, the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and the poetry of Saadi and Attar. These works have had a profound influence on literature worldwide.
Persian has been a language of administration, diplomacy, and scholarly exchange throughout history. It was the language of the mighty Persian Empire, and served as a lingua franca across vast regions of the Middle East and Central Asia. Persian translations and interpretations of religious texts, particularly in Islam, are highly regarded. Many classical Islamic texts were translated into Persian, contributing to its importance in Islamic scholarship. Persian remains relevant in contemporary times as the official language of Iran and an important language in Afghanistan and Tajikistan. It continues to be a medium of communication, education, and cultural expression for millions of people. Persian has also left its mark on other languages, notably in vocabulary, as Persian words have been found their way into numerous languages, including Arabic, Turkish, Urdu, and Kurdish. Overall, the importance of the Persian language lies in its rich cultural heritage, literary contributions, historical significance, and continued relevance in the modern world.
Why Ghand-e Parsi?
Although in recent years, the number of Persian language courses in universities and non-university centers has increased significantly, courses remain rare that can advance language skills and adequately prepare students in various academic fields for independent research.
Ghand-e Parsi has designed courses based on the experience of teaching the Persian language to a multitude of undergraduate and graduate students. Ghand-e Parsi courses focus on independent research and the practical use of Persian at the university level. Through Ghand-e Parsi, students familiarize themselves with the social and cultural context of Persian texts and digital humanities tools. Students develop their language abilities to facilitate independent research and reading as soon as possible.
Ghand-e Parsi can also work with students to design bespoke courses for any non-specialist Persian language enthusiast.
PERSIAN LANGUAGE COURSES
Elementary Persian Course
In this course, we cover fundamental aspects of the Persian language, focusing on building essential skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This includes alphabet and pronunciation, greetings and introductions, vocabulary building, grammar basics, common phrases and expressions, listening comprehension, speaking practice, and reading comprehension, as well providing cultural insights of Persian speaking people around the world.
Intermediate Persian Course
This course builds upon the foundation laid in the basic level course and delves deeper into the language's intricacies. We cover expanded vocabulary, complex grammar structures, reading and listening comprehension, speaking practice and fluency, grammar review and reinforcement, and cultural understanding of Persian-speaking people around the world.
Advanced Persian Course
In this course, we aim to refine language skills to a high level of proficiency, preparing students to engage in complex communication and to understand nuanced aspects of the language. Advanced vocabulary expansion, mastery of complex grammar, reading, and listening comprehension of complex texts, and cultural understanding of Persian-speaking people around the world, are among the main goals of this course.
Persian for Heritage Learners (Beginner to Intermediate)
This course is designed for second or third-generation Persian-speaking people living abroad who want to reconnect with their Persianate heritage. It focuses on conversational Persian used in everyday family settings and cultural contexts.
What You'll Learn:
Basic conversational Persian for home and social settings.
Reading and writing simple texts such as letters and stories.
Persian proverbs, idioms, and cultural traditions.
PERSIAN LANGUAGE COURSES
In this course, which is held once each week, a group of poems of Rumi are recited, discussed, and analyzed. The original Persian poems, in addition to the English translations, are provided in advance.
One Season with Sa’di Course
In this course, which is held once each week, a group of poems and texts of Sa’di are recited, discussed, and analyzed. The original Persian poems and texts, in addition to the English translations, are provided in advance.
One Season with Hafez Course
In this course, which is held once each week, a group of poems and texts of Hafez are recited, discussed, and analyzed. The original Persian poems and texts, in addition to the English translations, are provided in advance.
Persian Conversation Classes
In this course, the teacher assigns a topic for each session, and the learner joins a conversation discussion group and discusses that issue. The teacher is responsible for guiding the discussion, correcting errors, and providing written feedback for all contributors.
Workshop: “Digital Humanities and Persianate Studies”
In this workshop, a large number of websites, databanks, search engines, online material, and research institutions with digital services that can assist learners do their research are discussed. This workshop will not identify these crucial research tools, but will also equip the student with the practical knowledge to effectively navigate Persian databases — both archival and modern — and locate rare, primary sources.
“Persian Need-Based Course”
As humanities and social sciences, students and researchers have different interests and goals in learning Persian, it is possible to define a need-based course with a special focus on the learner's dissertation projects or research.
PERSIANATE STUDIES COACHING
Key Offerings:
1. Research Consultation
- Service: Provide one-on-one or group consultations to help identify and analyze Persian sources relevant to your research. Assist in formulating research questions and methodologies.
- Target Audience: Students, academics, and historians needing guidance on finding Persian texts, approaching specific subjects in Persian studies, or developing their projects.
2. Literature Review and Source Identification
- Service: Conduct a comprehensive review of Persian literature (both classical and modern) on a specific research topic. Identify key sources, including Persian academic articles, books, and other materials that may not be available in other languages.
- Target Audience: Researchers requiring a thorough review of existing scholarship in Persian, including both primary and secondary sources.
3. Manuscript Analysis and Paleography
- Service: Aid in reading and interpreting Persian manuscripts and documents written in various historical scripts (e.g., Nastaliq, Shekasteh). Help decipher difficult or damaged texts.
- Target Audience: Scholars studying classical Persian literature, historical documents, or archives.
4. Customized Research Support
- Service: Provide personalized research support tailored to your specific needs, including data collection from Persian sources, transcription of oral interviews in Persian, or organizing research trips to archives and libraries in Iran (if feasible).
- Target Audience: Advanced scholars working on specialized topics who need in-depth, customized assistance.
5. Archival Assistance
- Service: Provide guidance on accessing and navigating Persian archives.
- Target Audience: Graduate and postgraduate students, academics, and historians specializing in Middle Eastern, Persian, or Islamic studies.
6. Text Translation and Interpretation
- Service: Translate Persian-language texts (classical or modern) into English, ensuring accurate and nuanced interpretation.
- Target Audience: Researchers needing access to primary Persian sources, such as manuscripts, academic articles, or historical documents, but who are not fluent in Persian.
Pricing Models:
- Hourly Consultation: Charge for individual or group consultations on a per-hour basis.
- Project-Based Pricing: Offer custom quotes for larger projects, such as full translation or manuscript analysis.
- Subscription Model: Provide ongoing research support through a monthly subscription for researchers needing continuous assistance.
Testimonial by
Seerwan Hariry
Assistant Professor of Arabic at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Qatar:
"Peyman effortlessly navigates complex grammatical concepts and intricacies of the Persian language while keeping the lesson enjoyable and comprehensible. He can blend engaging content with interactive and practical methods. His teaching style not only facilitates a deeper understanding of Persian but also fosters a genuine enthusiasm for learning with me. I felt fortunate to be under the guidance of his skills, which made language acquisition enlightening and enjoyable. "
Testimonial by
Wendy DeSouza, Adjunct Professor of the Women’s and Gender Studies (WGS) Department, Sonoma State University, USA:
“Peyman is a complete Persian teacher. As an Advanced Persian speaker I have been able to improve my Persian from reading handwritten historical manuscripts to learning how to speak comfortably about current events. Peyman is extremely patient and vigilant about correcting my mistakes and my Iranian friends have noticed how I speak more fluently after we started out lessons”
Testimonial by
Bill Figueroa
Assistant Professor of History and international Relations, University Groningen, Netherlands:
"Peyman makes using Persian far more accessible, especially for non-native researchers without easy access to the cultural, literary, and social contexts that are necessary to understand most historical texts. Not only does he do an excellent job of teaching these underlying contexts through his extensive knowledge of Persian language, literature, and society, but he also brings a deep understanding of the Iranian academic landscape and the digital archival sources that are available. I can especially recommend Peyman to those who wish to work manuscripts and texts with difficult-to-decipher handwriting, calligraphy, or problems in the printing. He does an excellent job deciphering these texts and explaining the particular quirks and stylistic elements of each, so that you will be reading quickly and smoothly in no time."
Testimonial by
Margaret Shortle,
Curator, Museum of Islamic Art, Berlin, Germany
"I highly recommend Peyman Eshaghi as a Persian language instructor especially for readers of classical literature. He employs a method of learning that mirrors reading acquisition for children. His approach reinforces a foundational vocabulary, word combinations and syntactic conventions commonly employed in classical literature. His approach is well suited to my request to recover and reinforce vocabulary for my continued interest in classical Persian poetry. I hope to continue to work with Peyman in the future when shared interests and schedules permit."
Testimonial by
Aun Hasan Ali
Associate Professor of Religious Studies, University of Colorado Boulder, USA
“Peyman is an excellent teacher. When I started working with him, I had very specific goals in mind. Peyman designed a course that perfectly matched my needs. In the short time we spent together, I made significant progress toward my goals. I also benefitted from Peyman’s vast knowledge of Islamic law and Islamic history. I would recommend his classes to anyone, at any level of Persian.”
Testimonial by
Laetitia Nanquette
Senior Lecturer in the School of the Arts and Media at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia:
“I have been taking lessons with Peyman for a term. Together we read texts useful to my current research. Peyman has a deep knowledge of Persian culture and literature. He will not only explain grammar by explaining expressions, and vocabulary by pointing out where the words come from, but also cultural phenomena. It makes for very interesting Persian lessons that keep the student engaged, while progressing at a good pace.”
Testimonial by
Rowena Abdul Razak
Assistant Professor of Middle Eastern Studies, Queen Mary Unviersiry of London, UK:
"Peyman is a fantastic Persian teacher. He is very considerate to the needs of his students and adjusts his teaching accordingly. He is kind, patient and accommodating, as well as a pleasure to learn from. He choose material that is appropriate and interesting, while making you understand the language from a logical point of view."
Testimonial by
Ray Lahiri
Assistant Professors of Classics, University of Washington, USA:
"Peyman is an excellent (and patient!) pedagogue with a rich treasurehouse of memorized verses apt for seemingly every occasion. With Peyman, you don’t just learn the language, you learn to appreciate it: every lesson encompasses the nuanced explication of morphology and word usage alongside social, historical, and sociological insights into the contexts of Persian literature and intellectual history."
Testimonial by
Lillian McCabe,
PhD candidate of Islamic Studies, Yale University, USA:
“With so many Persian language sources available online, it can be hard to know where to start! Peyman is an excellent guide to navigating these digital tools and using them to deepen and improve your research. From accessing Persian-language scholarship and digitized Persian manuscripts to being able to confidently read and use these sources, Peyman’s courses prepare you to take your research to the next level!”
Testimonial by
Mehreen Zahra Jiwan
PhD Candidate of Religious Studies, University of Columbia, USA:
“Learning with Peyman is truly an unmatched experience. He adapts his lessons to the research interests of his students whilst effectively providing the language skills needed to understand Persian texts. Peyman does not simply teach Farsi, but also provides profound insights into the worlds in which the language operates. His knowledge of Persian literary and cultural exchange and his ability to explain the lexical and grammatical features of the language make his lessons very beneficial. He also guides students through important Persian research databases allowing us to gain access to sources that are somewhat untapped by the western academe. Peyman is a kind, flexible, and patient teacher who is invested in the success of each one of his students. I highly recommend working with him.”
Testimonial by
Aliya Iqbal-Naqvi
PhD Candidate of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University, USA:
"Peyman is an outstanding Persian Language and Literature instructor, encompassing the usages of a living language and a millennia-long literary tradition. His pedagogical approach is both distinctive and highly effective, bolstered by a profound knowledge of Persian poetry, history and culture. What sets Peyman apart is his unique ability to cater to the specific needs of professional scholars who require a deep and complex comprehension of literary Persian across centuries— a rare attribute among Persian language instructors. I feel exceptionally fortunate to have had the opportunity to study with Peyman."
Testimonial by
Sebastian J. Rose,
PhD in History, International Relations and Politics at the University of Greenwich, UK:
"Peyman’s Persian classes were unique because of his teaching skill and insightful historical knowledge of language, culture and history. His ability to tailor classes to my level and his rigorous teaching propelled me towards greater fluency and confidence. The combination of patience, dedication, ability to breakdown and explain linguistic and cultural and historical complexities made Peyman an excellent Persian teacher."
Testimonial by
Usman Khan
PhD Candidate of Religious Studies, Princeton University, USA:
"I have the privilege of learning Persian from an exceptional teacher, Peyman Eshagi. Peyman is truly a great instructor who possesses extensive knowledge of the Persian language. His expertise is not limited to the language alone; he also has a deep grasp of the traditional Persian literary tradition and its intersection with the Western academic world. Peyman’s pedagogy is outstanding. He has a unique ability to explain complex linguistic concepts in a simple and understandable way. His patience and dedication to students are evident in every class, creating a positive and encouraging learning environment. What sets Peyman apart is his passion for Persian literature. He brings the rich tapestry of Persian literary tradition to life in his classes, making it accessible and engaging for me. His insights into the connections between traditional Persian literature and the Western academy are invaluable, providing me with a holistic understanding of the subject. He has memorized hundreds of Persian couplets and is able to draw on them at a moment notice. For MA and PhD students in the academy trying to learn Persian, I highly recommend Peyman as a Persian teacher. If you are looking for a teacher who is not only knowledgeable but also passionate about Persian language and culture, Peyman is the perfect choice. Thank you for your dedication to teaching and for sharing your expertise with your students!"
Testimonial by
Ali Hammoud, PhD Candidate at Western Sydney University, Australia:
"Studying Persian with Peyman has been a truly delightful experience. His knowledge of the subtleties of Persian have helped me unravel meanings and connotations not easily accessible from the text, and his breadth of knowledge encompasses every field of study; he is equally at home discussing poetry, Sufism, jurisprudence, and other fields of Islamic intellectual history in multiple languages. Ustad Peyman’s lessons have been particularly beneficial in helping me decipher Persian and Arabic manuscripts. In our first lesson I laboured for an hour to read a single page of a 17th century manuscript. Five lessons later I was able to comfortably read — and simultaneously translate — 10 manuscript pages per lesson. This would not have been possible without Ustad Peyman’s meticulous instructions, valuable feedback, and welcoming demeanour. There are few courses available that teach Persian at an advanced level, and even fewer that teach palaeography. None, however, are at the quality of lessons that Ustad Peyman offers. I would strongly recommend studying with Ustad Peyman to all those looking to take their Persian to the next level."
Testimonial by
Sukaina Husain, PhD of Art history graduated from the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom:
"Over the last few months, my lessons with Peyman sahib have given me a confidence with the Persian language with a speed and ease that I never anticipated when I started the Qand-e Parsi course with him this summer. His unique approach to the study of the Persian language really works and, I would highly recommend him to any graduate student, researcher, or professional academic keen to gain skills in the reading, analysis, and translation of Persian texts and inscriptions. Combined with Peyman sahib's wealth of knowledge about Persian literature and culture -- pre-modern and modern, his expertise in the religious, intellectual, and visual culture of the Persian-speaking world makes Qand-e Parsi one of the best immersive introductions to Persian language and culture available to scholars at present. I'm glad I made the first step to reach out to him all those months ago as it was one of the best decisions that I have made this year."
Testimonial by
Shamim Hossain, PhD student in Islamic studies, University of North Carolina, USA:
"Peyman is an excellent Persian instructor with a vast amount of knowledge that can be tailored to any need you may have. In my experience, I was able to attain much needed instruction from a novice skill level to address my specific needs in terms of reading Persian. I would highly recommend using Peyman for any of your Persian language needs, whether they be recreational, professional, or academic."
Testimonial by
Marya Hannun, post-doc researcher, University of Exeter, United Kingdom:
"Peyman is a wonderful Persian tutor for academics and non-academics alike. He is capable of instructing students through the basics of the language or working with scholars on translating complex texts. His knowledge of the language, incorporation of historical material and engaging demeanor make sessions enjoyable and enriching."
Testimonial by
Rojeen Harsini, PhD Candidate of American Studies, University of Southern California, USA:
"Learning Farsi with Peyman Eshaghi has been an absolute joy. I first began lessons with him during Ibn Haldun’s summer language program, where he taught me and a handful of students beginner Persian. By the end of the first week, he had taught us how to read, write, and recite the alphabet, and by the second week we learned how to formulate basic sentence structures. His teaching style is direct, generous, and historical— he not only is invested in teaching his students the Persian language, but he finds value in teaching us beyond the language, specifically how words and phrases have symbolic, cultural, and historical meaning within Iranian history. I have learned equally as much about Iran as I have the Persian language as one of Eshaghi’s students. I am beyond grateful to be one of his students and under his expertise, and I look forward to continuing intermediate Persian with him!"
Testimonial by
Nicole Oveisi, PhD Candidate of American Studies, University of Southern California, USA:
“Peyman Eshaghi is a phenomenal Persian language professor. I had the great pleasure of learning under him during my summer language program at Ibn Haldun University in Istanbul. He is a vast resource of knowledge, constantly sharing not only his linguistic expertise, but also providing historical, cultural, and sociopolitical contexts regarding the Persian language, Iran, and the broader region. Eshaghi’s teaching style is organized and straightforward, and his few lessons have already tremendously improved my ability to speak Farsi with my family as well as read beginner texts. I am grateful to Eshaghi’s passion for teaching and to continue my Persian lessons with him online.”
Testimonial by
Hamid Kolahdouz-Isfahani
PhD Candidate of History, University of California, Davis, USA:
"As a California-born Iranian and Safavi historian working with Peyman has been a God-send catalyzing the development of my academic career. Before working with Peyman, understanding and translating baroque 17th century Safavi texts was a daunting task that required hours to translate a single page. Despite spending years learning farsi formally since high school, I found that very little of what I learned, including at the undergraduate university level, including two years of Arabic, was applicable to the ornamented writing style and elegant vocabulary popular in the Persianate world from the start of the 16th century onwards. Even my uncle who is well educated in Iran and an avid reader of medieval Farsi poetry could not understand these texts. To make matters worse for my predicament, early modern Persianate historiography has become increasingly self-conscious of the importance that the historian using these texts is as well squinted with Safavi era adab (bank of literary and religious classics and allusions) as the authors and their immediate reading audience at Safavi court and in elite society in order to understand the meaning of the literary devices used throughout the early modern texts. In just two months working alongside Peyman has sped up my reading and translating rate to 3 pages an hour. My vocabulary has vastly expanded as has my ability to understand the convoluted sentence structure and grammar used in the texts. Critically, through Peyman’s insight and knowledge my grasp of Safavi adab has rapidly tightened. Metaphorical phrases that would make little sense to contemporary Iranian speakers such as “pulling the ring of servitude,” which is an allusion to the use of earrings as a means of marking slaves in Safavi society, were readily explained by Peyman as he reviewed my translation. I would highly recommend taking the course to any Persianate historians looking to improve their reading comprehension as well as to any non-specialists interested in understanding classical early modern Farsi poetry and literature from the Balkans to the Bengal. Working with Peyman is likely even useful for those looking to better comprehend classical late medieval and early modern works in other languages of the Persianate world, such as Urdu, Hindi, Dekkani, Pashto, Ottoman Turkish, and Chagatai to name a few, in order to understand better understand the Farsi literary world that the authors of those works simultaneously engaged with."
Testimonial by
Eduardo Acosta.
Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow. Department of History, Stanford University.
“Learning Persian with Mohammad Naraghi has been a truly changing experience. As an instructor, Mohammad has been very flexible with both our shared schedule and, more importantly, my needs for learning Persian. Since I wanted to learn Persian for research purposes, colloquial Persian and production of the language was not in my priorities. Mohammad designed and offered a course heavy on grammar, reading and building vocabulary. Having a background in learning other classical languages, this worked for me perfectly. On top of that, Mohammad also made sure to explain many forms that came from Arabic and others that were native to Persian. Again, this resonated well for both my purposes and my background learning classical languages through a grammatical/philological approach. I highly recommend taking class with Mohammad.”
Testimonial by
Brandon Waldau,
PhD student of history, Columbia University, USA:
“I had a great experience working with Mohammad Naraghi this past summer to learn Persian. Myone-on-one sessions with Mohammad were informative, engaging, and tailored to my academic and professional goals, and were the necessary foundation for learning Persian before starting my PhD at Columbia University. Having little experience with Persian before starting at Ghand-e Parsi, Mohammad was eager to gear our lessons to work off the foundation that I did know. By reflecting our lessons against classical Arabic, the primary language of my research thus far, I was able to make connections between Arabic and Persian that quickly allowed me to interpret grammar, linguistic patterns, and historical context. I highly recommend language instruction via Ghand-e Parsi and Mohammad Naraghi to any academic seeking to hone their Persian skills at any level.”
Team
Peyman Eshaghi
Peyman Eshaghi is a final-year Gerda Henkel Foundation Ph.D. fellow in Islamic Studies at the Free University of Berlin, Germany. Before that, he studied at the University of Chicago, Ankara University, and the University of Tehran. He is a native Persian speaker and has taught many students and researchers the Persian language. In addition to his teaching, he has led workshops on using digital tools in learning Persian and doing research in Persianate studies. Recently, Peyman has worked as the instructor of advanced Persian at Ibn Khaldun University’s language summer school (Istanbul, Turkey). Among Peyman’s publications is the edited volume Muslim Pilgrimage in the Modern World (co-edited with Babak Rahimi, Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2019), “Mapping the trends in Iranian social, cultural, religious, and political thought from the post-1979 era to the present.” The Routledge International Handbook of Contemporary Muslim Socio-Political Thought. Routledge, 2021. 450-463; “To Capture a Cherished Past: Pilgrimage Photography at Imam Riza’s Shrine, Iran," Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication, 8(2-3): 2015, 282–306; and "Quietness beyond Political Power: Politics of Taking Sanctuary (Bast Neshini) in the Shi’ite Shrines of Iran,” Iranian Studies, 49(3): 2016 (439-512).
Team
Mohammad Hossein Naraghi
Mohammad Hossein Naraghi is a professional Persian language instructor. With over five years of experience teaching Persian language and literature to both Iranian and international students, he specializes in helping learners master the intricacies of Persian. His academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Persian Languages and Literatures from the University of Tehran and a Master’s degree in Linguistics from Allameh Tabataba'i University. He is passionate about Persian culture and literature and dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of the language among my students. In addition to his work in Persian education, he also teaches Englis h and prepare students for international exams such as IELTS.
Ghand-e Parsi’s Youtube
Here you can watch a large number of academic Persian videos. In the coming weeks, many other videos including recitations, explanations, and analyses of Persian masterpieces will be uploaded. Please subscribe to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/@academicpersian/playlists
Ghand-e Parsi’s X Account
Here you can come across many Persian materials, sources and videos :
If you intend to join any of the courses mentioned, have any questions about Ghand-e Parsi, or need any course to be designed based on your needs and priorities, do not hesitate to contact me:
For 2025 Winter School look at:
https://sites.google.com/view/2025persianwinterschool/home
For preregistration:
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