Narrated by Maryam Mirfakhraei, Written by Effat Neyestani

Memories from "Salha-ye Bi Seda Geryeh Kardanam"

Zahra Ghasemi
Translated by Ruhollah Golmoradi

2018-9-11

"Salha-ye Bi Seda Geryeh Kardanam (Years of Crying Quietly)" is title of book of Maryam Mirfakhraei. She is one of veteran ladies of Bojnord.

Maryam Mirfakhraei was born in 1959. At the last years leading winning of Islamic Revolution, she encountered political activities in her high school and entered revolutionary struggles, and after achievement of the Islamic Revolution she joined Basij. After passing military courses in Basij and relief courses in Jahad-e Sazandegi, she started to work with the revolutionary institution at early 1359 (1981). As the imposed war of Saddam's Army against Iran was started, she alongside others worked to give assistance the fronts and also engaged for pharmacy of Jahad. She wedded Mohammad Safari, one of IRGC members, on 1982. Continuing her activity in cultural unit of Jahad and participation in training courses, she went to help injured people of Kerman due to earthquake and after that for a month went to Raz and Jargalan district in order to improve healthy situation of the district inhabitants. During working in Jahad-e Sazandegi, beside assisting in affairs of the fronts such as separating drugs for sending to the fronts, she pursued cultural activities like establishing library and advertising programs. On 1983, she went for a month in a mission to Jondi Shapour Hospital in Ahvaz which is now called Imam Khomeini Hospital. Her husband also remained in war area from 1982 to the end of the war. After stopping her activities for caring her children, she began to work in IRGC from 1986.

Memories of Maryam Mirfakhraei were recorded by Effat Neyestani during 2015-2016 in more than 10 sessions and about 25 hours of interview. The provided writing from the interviews has been divided in 5 chapters: 1) Talking with my daughter Zahra; be head over heels in love: memories of years of 1979 to the end of 1982; 2) Visiting the guest; good handwriting: memories of years of 1981 to 1986; 3) Talking with the old friend; I'm wife of Safari: memories of years of 1982 to 1987; 4) Conversing with Zahra's friend about cabals; SAVAK's rings: memories of years of 1982 to 1987; 5) A friendly chit-chat with my grandchild; black plump: memories of years of 1958 to 1979.

Chapter I includes memories of early days of winning the Islamic Revolution, activity in Basij and Jahad-e Sazandegi and marriage of the narrator. Chapter II consists of memories of working in Jahad, and teaching relief. Chapter 3 includes memories of Ahvaz Hospital, her husband's injury, life responsibility, travel to Ahvaz, participation of the narrator's relatives in the front and living in Tehran. Chapter IV is memories of being acquaintance with active cabals, high school condition, revolutionary activities and living situation. In chapter V, the narrator talks about her family and life. In footnotes of the book pages, contents were rationalized by editor according to resources where it was necessary.    

Memories are general and the author has written in introduction that in order to attract audience to the book, she proceeds each part with a question of one of the narrator's relatives; but it is not clear that how much is changing in interviews for the purpose and whether the questions who are in the text, were added in editing or during interview they were asked. In book text, some parts are in answer to probably questions of reader.

At the beginning of the book, there is an introduction from the Office for Resistance Culture and Studies of North Khorasan's Hozeh Honari. The book is one of production of the province's Hozeh Honari which was published in medium octavo format with 287 pages by Sooreh Mehr Publication on 2017.

The last 17 pages of the book are photos. This part includes pictures of wedding invitation, letter of appreciation for participation in war areas Ahvaz, a letter to her husband and people letter for the warriors and 22 photos related to the narrator's memories which were rationalized.