About Five Books of Series of Stars of Guilds and Market

Events of Lives of Men Who Weren

Elham Saleh
Translated by Ruhollah Golmoradi

2017-4-4

This is introduction of five volumes of a series titled "Stars of trades and market". These books have been compiled based on gathered memories on martyrs who at the one hand were among Bazaries (merchants) and at the other hand were players and influential in campaigns leading up to Islamic Revolution and also during Sacred Defense years.

Memories of Martyr Mojtaba Hashemi's Life (1940-1985)

Third child of a religious family refused hiring in the army and started a self-employment job. After Revolution, he established Islamic Revolution's Committee of District 9. As Kurdistan's riot was started, he tried to release and clearance of the area and after Saddam's army imposed war against Iran, created the first irregular force in Abadan and Khorramshahr. He is Seyyed Mojtaba Hashemi, founder of Fedayeen Islam group, whom on the eve of Ramadan in 1985 was shot from back of his head by terror teams of Mojahedin Khalq Organization (Monafeqin) and died a martyr. "Paw on President's Paw"[1] is a reading of recollections of the martyr's life.

One of the first struggle activities of martyr Hashemi which a memory about it is quoted by Qassim Sadeghi in the first pages of the book, is about June 5^th 1963: "When news of arresting Imam Khomeini in June 05, 1963 caused religious people to protest in the streets due to the measure of Shah's regime, Mr. Mojtaba also joined to the roaring waves of people. When the army opened fire on people and rushed them, Seyyed Mojtaba and his friends fired a military car and fled."

While he was busy in Islamic Revolution's Committee District 9 in Behesth Street after Revolution, he established Fada'iyan-e Islam Group which was of the first groups who went Abadan led by him and they were dispatched Khorramshahr to defend the city. Martyr Seyyed Mojtaba Hashemi like martyr doctor Mostafa Chamran was commander of irregular warfare, but in the book emphasizes on independence of the two: "Although there was a close relationship between Mr. Seyyed Mojtaba and martyr Chamran, but activities of martyr Hashemi and Fada'iyan-e Islam was independent and wasn't originally under control of headquarters of irregular wars of doctor Chamran."

Features of the commander of irregular wars are introduced in this book as well as his social activities. One of such activities was providing dowry for families, "suffering and misery of people bothered him and he was never indifferent. He always was providing dowry for a family, especially martyr's girls. He also protected poor and the needy. He helped to build mosques. He had created a place for orphan children that I did not know until many years after his martyrdom. If he wanted to collect his money, he became one of the wealthiest individuals, but as soon as the revolution took place, he changed his shop to a cooperative named Vahdate Eslami (Islamic Unity)."

"Paw on President's Paw" begins with a message of founder of Islamic Republic of Iran for Seyed Mojtaba Hashemi and words of Ayatollah Khamenei in a gathering of Fada'iyan-e Islam group and statements of Supreme Leader in aggregation of members of congress headquarter of martyrs of trades and market.

Memories of Life of Martyr Haj Sadegh Abdollahzadeh (1943-1980)

Sometimes one could identify people through others words, among memories which imprinted in minds of different people. Although these kinds of memories don’t represent fully a person but help others recognize him. "Toei Ke Nemishnakhtamet (you whom I didn't know you)"[2] tries to introduce martyr Haj Sadegh Abdollahzadeh through memories of people.

After Author's Note at the beginning of the book, there are parts of words of Ayatollah Khamenei about Abdollahzadeh; along the statements there is also message of martyr doctor Mostafa Chamran about martyrdom of Haj Sadegh.

The author trace is highlighted in the book, "my cell phone rang, he was martyr's boy. He called me to make an appointment for tomorrow in order to interview with several of the area's tradespeople. The appointment was set, tomorrow at Darkhongah neighborhood, 11 a.m." The author considers some information necessary that may not seem necessary, in order to present a comprehensive work" Darkhongah name remembered pre-revolutionary Persian films. A neighborhood with labyrinthine alleys and homes that in which at any moment it was possible someone came out of it wearing a white shirt and a black coat and a Fedora..." The same tricks cause audience to accept author. He walks in the streets and alleys with memory narrators: "it was a half an hour that we had left Tehran. I had taken home address from Mr. Shahosseini through telephone, Fasham road after ..."

Matters of the book are related directly to the author note at the beginning, and in fact they are proving of note content. For example, there were many people who loved martyr Haj Sadegh Abdollahzadeh and not just religious people, they were of different groups. A cigar seller in Darkhongah who kept a fabric of Haj Sadegh is one of the same people, "the cigar seller had a bad moral in his youth. He drank liquor. All blamed him due to his behavior and beat him. But Haj Sadegh had treated him in other way. Haj Sadegh wanted him to pray while he does every bad work and he had given him the fabric; this method of Haj Sadegh was more effective than other people ways."

One could get a brief understanding of Haj Sadegh among the book memories; a person who at first joined doctor Chamran group as a regular force, but after a while was appointed as officer of provision. A man who held football matches every week in order to relatives to gather together and if someone had a problem, the problem to be resolved. He was a man who provided food for homeless people too.

Memories of martyr Haji Esmail Rezai (1925-1963)

Martyr Esmail Haji Rezaei was one of the market traders who had an important role during the events of the uprising of June 05, 1963. "Zabih'e Ruhollah (Sacrifice of Ruhollah)"[3] addresses the martyr of the revolution. Memory narrator is Aliakbar Rezaei, son of martyr Haj Esmail Rezaei and others who remember the martyr. Social and religious services are some of activities of martyr Rezaei; one of his friends said: "one of Haji's service who was very important and indicated his mettle and religious zeal was that for the first time during Mohammadreza Shah period, helped by Tehran people, illuminated front of Pepsi-Cola factory, which was owned by Baha'is, on the occasion of birthday of Imam Mahdi and paid all expenses of illuminating and celebration himself. The illumination covered from 24 Esfand Square (current Enqelab Square) to the end of Pepsi-Cola."

"Zabih'e Ruhollah", in addition to noting Haj Esmail Rezaie's moral qualities, also talks on his effective participation in popular movement of 1963 (1342 SH): " Haj Esmail, in addition to organizing people movements, was one of main characters of distributing Imam's statements in Tehran and was effective in organizing religious groups in days of 1963 Tasu'a and Ashura." the book has also some notes on martyr Tayyeb Hajrezaei whom were shot and died a martyr during events of uprising June 5^th alongside Esmail Rezaei by Pahlavi regime, and also some points about reaction of the masses and closure of seminaries due to shooting the two persons. People and Clergymen gathered at the Shah-Abdol-Azim shrine (PBUH) and some statements were issued as protest against the Pahlavi measure.

The author doesn't confine memories but he also added other related contents on shooting Haj Esmail Rezaei to the book text such as part of reports of Kayhan and Etela'at newspapers in November 2nd 1963. Testament of martyr Haj Esmail Rezaei, along with photos of him is available in the book.

Memories of Martyr Haj Mohammad Sadegh Amani's Life (1309-1344 SH)

"Qatrei Az Darya (a drop of sea)"[4] addresses one of fighters of Imam Khomeini's movement, Haj Mohammad Sadegh Amani who undertook planning of assassinating Hassan Ali Mansour, Prime Minister of Pahlavi regime.

The first pages of the book are about childhood memories and father's home of the martyr. The book also deals with years in which teenage Sadegh finished sixth grade and worked in the market, however, after establishment of society of Talimat'e Eslami (Islamic Education), he attended in courses like Quran Tajwid and training Arabic. In the same years he founded Shiite group with his friends, and pursued his political and religious activities in an ongoing basis. Through the same meetings, they began enjoining good and forbidding wrong: "Shiites Group notices had published statements – who were usually written by Sadegh- on unlawful acts. Such as on dangers of drinking liquors and unlawfulness of musical instrument and singing and music, harms of gambling, prohibition of shaving, unveiling & etc… . There had been written on corner of statements a verse of Koran related to the same matter, was on the same subject. There was also at the other side a Hadith of Prophet or pure imams."

They identified place of gathering evil people and they wanted police officers tried to prevent activities of the people. They even overstepped and wrote a letter for Mohammad Reza Pahlavi: "Your Majesty! You wears gold ring. Gold ring for men is contrary to Islam."

 In middle of the book there is a commentary on struggles of martyr Haj Mohammadsadegh Amani. He and his friends set programs and distributed leaflets. Finally the result of struggle was not positive; he, leader of military wing of the Islamic Coalition Party, planned assassination of Hassan Ali Mansour, Prime Minister of Pahlavi rule that led to his arresting and martyrdom, Mohammad Bokharaei, Morteza Niknejad and Reza Saffar Harandi.

Postscripts help contents in order to more explaining what there is in the text for audience. In documents and photos part there are also images of documents such as Fatwa in Enjoining Good by Ayatollah Boroujerdi, second testament of the martyr and the first announcements of Imam Khomeini on the bill of state and provincial forums.

Memories of martyr Mohammadreza Jafari's Life (1958- 1983)

"Short Narratives of a Normal Life"[5] includes 42 pieces of story of martyr Mohammadreza Jafari. At the end of each piece there is also referred to that piece narrator.

The intended character of the book that had been active during years before the Revolution in a fight against Pahlavi regime, maintained that spirit after victory too, but this time for defending the revolution and Islamic Republic of Iran. In his story narrations it could be also seen that he was sometimes in south front and sometimes in west fronts. Finally, while he was messenger of one of headquarters, he died a martyr.

There is also a significant point about writing form of this boo; that is contrary to common practice in such books to be released in these years and they goes forward respectively in the beginning book, from birth to martyrdom of the intended figures, the route was traveled reverse, and among arrangement of narratives, the reader goes forward from martyrdom to beginning of life.

Biography of martyr Mohammadreza Jafari ends on page 149, but on the occasion of that the work is one book of series of stars of trades and market, the author added several short parts to the end of the book: role of trades in Iran's contemporary history, trades struggles in the Qajar and constitutional era, guilds struggles during Reza Shah reign, struggles of trades in the uprising of June 5^th 1963, role of trades during Sacred Defense, role of trades during the sacred defense in Semnan. The author in these parts also presents historical role of guilds and Bazaari people (merchants) for reader based on written and published sources about contemporary history of Iran and Islamic Revolution.

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