Rainy Travel Log (VII)

Mohammad Hussein Ghadami
Translated by: Fazel Shirzad

2019-8-6

We are ready to move towards Hamidiyeh

We come back to Ahvaz's Art Center, moments later, Mr. Sayyid Shahab al-Din Tabatabai came into room for a long dialog.

- Dear Mr. Tabatabai! Tell us a little about the policies and the amount of specialized facilities and how Art Center is developing through in this crisis!? Why aren't cultural, literary, artistic works useful in this crisis?

- I would say that, as you know, we had opportunity in sacred defense for theater, song, painting, murals, etc., but now because of the difficulties they are, no body have any motivation in cooperation, because they endure the critical conditions, and they are in hard situation. Sometimes they take an oppositional position; they don't like to be taken a photo or film. The best thing now is to play a movie and perform the hymns, paintings and workshops and other entertainments that are interesting for them.  This climate and opportunity has no more capacity.

-  When I was a staff of Cultural Center, we went to gather people's charity in earthquake took place in Rudbar[1].

In short, it took a while to talk about everything; about a film directed by Kiarostami named "Where's Friend's House" and even "Basho ..." by Bahram Beyzaie and "Harmonica" and "Runner" and ... Human Management, the Difference between Filmmakers and etc.

Zarrabi was warm in speaking that Sayyid stops him by a different question;

- Now, as you visit Mamolan and this area, what do you think about it?

- Now it is the best opportunity for you to provide preparation; writers, storytellers and etc.  Should produce such subjects.

- Mr. Hayati is the director of our film unit and he is making documentary.

-Fine

- I also told them to work in the field of hundred seconds-film

- Now we have a plan to give donations and gifts of Tehran's and Isfahan's artists.  Isfahan artists. You're going to bring four pickups of dolls, toys and more; Cultural items plus dolls, balls and cars etc. we have a perspectives in Intellectual Training Center; a cultural climate will be provided automatically.

-There are lots of events and memoirs have been taken place in Mamolan; all of houses that are flooded and damaged and the epics created by people...

- Keyvan has also lots of experiences in making documentary. I became acquainted with him in making documentary named "Awakening Wave". He was one of the colleagues of martyr Avini.

It causes Keyvan who was laconic and unselfish to show himself!

-I started my works originally by cooperating with Avini in making documentary named "Ravayat-e Fath^[2]" I learned the lesson from him. It is the climate of documentary; now we record, and then we will make a story about him.

- Yes, that's right. Current mental conditions, infectious diseases, economic situation, loss of agriculture, etc. make a difficult situation for all. Now, only movie broadcasts will be accepted.

There is also a reference to the Collage of Nursing.

- Yesterday at Pol-e Dokhtar’s Collage of Nursing, Imam Reza's forces really created an epic! There were also Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces. Sayyid Hasham was also working there.

- They are the comrades of sacred defense in operation “Badr”; they were fighting for many years in the war.

- Really, pure moments were unrepeatable, these moments must be recorded. Alas, there are just a little capacity and capability.

The "Night of Reminiscence" is also mentioned here.

ـ One of the capacities is Night of Reminiscence.

ـ Yes. It is suitable for camps and gatherings.

ـ On one side, all the bitterness of accident, and finding each other is on another side. Especially the young generation that came to work. Today's hairdressers are giving service to people freely.

-Yeah. They are not revolutionary in appearance, but I see that they are ahead of us in a danger situation!

-Yeah, right! We find it in these days.

It should be noted that a discussion about political and revolutionary management is raised here; Sayyid Shabaldin’s phone rings.

- Hello ... Hello Hajjagha! Yeah, I am at the office, I have a guest ... he is one of pioneers in Jihad and Media…ok, I will come to see you.

The design is equal to original one

Cinematic face is a good model for portraiture and painting, he look like Imam Musa al-Sadr[3]! As we look at this painting, we change the discussion.

- Oh... you are a writer too! Aren't you?

-Mostly. I sometimes try to write something.

- I sometimes draw too. We once held a cultural week. A famous Kuwaiti painter was our guest, at the opening, I saw that he have drawn my face! Why? I said. "I like your face." He said.  You look like Imam Musa al-Sadr!

We gradually find that Mr. Tabatabai is an artist.

- I would like to say that "A Testimony for My Son Ali" was the last film that I was its actor and producer. I'm working on a movie now.

ـ With the same clothes, cloak and turban?

No.  Many people do not know that I am a clergyman

What was the first movie?

ـ It was 90. Radash also won awards at the Fajr Festival. Also, "Skier" also won in the World Festival and...

ـ Were you an actor in "Radesh"?

ـ I have both played and been a consultant for scenario.

It is after midnight, and it is time to say goodbye. The poems of honorable President are as the end of gathering: When those two eyes are crying / As if the angels of God are crying / a comet of love / in the sky of your eyes, they are crying / Warm tears in the hot ground / Home and shrine beside Hara[4] are crying.

- Well, it's time to say goodbye. Take rest! Tomorrow, we are going to Hamidiyeh ... good night.

■

The Art Center is by river Karun, we are walking there until comrades arrive. We walk and do exercise. What a pleasant air! This weather is the result of last night's rain. It was so heavy that everyone fled and took refuge under the roof of a store. Salesperson was happy and praying that the rain would continue more and more! It is because that everyone came into the store and buy a soda and drink it and make him happy.

An hour later, boss came with his son Sayyid Ali. We move toward Hamidiyeh. I was looking and reading a few slogans on wall: "the  October 1^st of 1980 is National Defense of the People of Hamidiyeh", "We Stay With You", "The Weather of These Days is the Weather of the Bulwark" and etc.

Sayyid Ali was unique in driving. While he is driving, he uses phone too. He looks around and reviews past events. It's dangerous; we should help to concentrate on divining.

-Sayyid, Tell a memoir to us!

-About what? About where? Uh…, well, I want to tell an interesting memoir taken place tonight. I was looking for Ahvaz's mayor. I wanted to do an important work; I wanted to play music for the floods, we had to get a permission. I called him for several times, he was in travel and mission. He said: I was busy. In short, I couldn’t see him. But, last night, I was passing through a place where people were gathering charities in a black tent. I was hesitant to walk or not!? I said me that it was better to greet with them. They said me: what is matter? I introduce myself and I went to sit next to a suit-dressed man. He said hello to me and said: Are you Sayyid Ali?! I was surprised. I said: Yeah, who are you? He said: "Who were you looking for yesterday?" You called me and asked for a permission?! I suddenly remembered and knew him. I said: Are you Colonel Za'im Abadi? He replied: "Yeah, I just came here to say goodbye." I said: oh, it's weird! I just come here occasionally too! God held people to find each other.

A little forward, Sayyid Ali points to a tomb on the right side of street.

ـ Here is the tomb of Sheikh Hasham Simeri who was martyred Wahhabi[5] assassination.

-who was he?

- One of the active figures and imams of the congregation in Fatima Zahra Mosque. The first person to start working against Wahhabism in Arab areas.

- How and when was he assassinated?

It was early in July 2007, when he was leaving the mosque, he was martyred on the road with three bullets.

He then told us about his first trip to Karbala and one of the most beautiful days of his life

When we arrive Hamidiyeh, the sound of Azan[6] can be heard. There is a small seminary where is a place for taking rest and supposed that the Seyed is founder of it; we prepare for prayer.

My Lord! Show me way as you summoned me here!

Rainy Travel Log (VI)