What Shape is an Elephant?

DETAILS : 

• Author : Rumi and Feeroozeh Golmohammadi
  
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Katha 
  
• Publication date : 1 January 2006
  
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
  
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 818902048X
  
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-8189020484
  
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 500 g

ABOUT THE BOOK

What Shape is an Elephant? is a beautiful picture book adaptation of one of the most famous parables by the 13th-century Persian poet and mystic, Rumi. In this version, authored and illustrated by Feeroozeh Golmohammadi, the timeless story of "The Blind Men and the Elephant" is reimagined with a focus on the limitations of individual perception and the importance of looking at the "whole" truth.

The story follows a group of people in a dark room who encounter an elephant for the first time. Because they cannot see, each person touches a different part of the animal—the trunk, the ear, the leg, the tusk—and describes the elephant based solely on that narrow experience. One insists the elephant is like a water pipe, another a fan, and another a pillar. The narrative serves as a profound metaphor for religious and philosophical differences, gently teaching readers that while everyone may hold a piece of the truth, no one holds the entire truth in isolation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rumi (Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi) was a Persian scholar and Sufi master whose poems on love, spirituality, and humanity have transcended centuries and borders. His work, particularly the Masnavi, is filled with teaching stories designed to awaken the soul and challenge the ego.

Feeroozeh Golmohammadi is an internationally acclaimed Iranian artist and the first female painter from Iran to win prestigious international awards for her illustrations. Her art style is characterized by a dreamlike, ethereal quality that perfectly complements Rumi’s mystical storytelling. She uses vibrant colors and intricate patterns inspired by Persian miniatures to bring a sense of wonder to the page. Through her work, she aims to bridge the gap between ancient Eastern wisdom and the modern, global reader, making complex spiritual concepts accessible to children and adults alike.