Book Review: Thunderbolt

Shawl Weavers; Kerman Rebels

Elham Saleh
Translated by Ruhollah Golmoradi

2016-5-9

It is said that perhaps knitting in Kerman is as old as the city's history and even some also consider it as origin of knitting. The oldest discovered document is the story of a girl of haftvād[1] and the other girls in the city who were spinning yarn. This document belongs to the late Parthian and early Sassanid period. But the first time that it was called the Kerman shawl weavers (shalbafan) is belonged to about a thousand years ago (333 AH).

But what is discussed in the book is not shawl weaving in Kerman, but it is about Kerman shawl weavers insurgencies in different periods. The Thunderbolt[2] discusses such issues. Of course The "Thunderbolt" is one of the Kerman Night letters. Due to the fact that pamphlets were containing material against the states and by looking at the approach of the book that is about the shawl weavers uprising, the name is well chosen for it.

Thunderbolt has five chapters. In the first chapter, geographical situation, political and social environment of Kerman in Qajar period is examined. The second chapter is about the introduction of definition, history and all kinds of shawls. Amiri shawl, KhalilLKhani shawl, Rezai shawl, Atabaki shawls, Kooseh (shark) shawl, Aala (supreme) shawl, paisley (bote morvarid) shawl and pants shawl are some of shawls that were produced in Kerman in Qajar period and they are mentioned in this season.

In this chapter also the kings who used shawl are be introduced. Importantly, images of these kings are also presented in this chapter. Fath-Ali Shah Qajar is one of that kings who was very interested in using shawl and he was supporter in this context: “For the first time in this period, Fath Ali Shah Qajar showed a serious attention to the development of Kerman shawl. In the year 1224 AH / 1809 CE, he dedicated Using cashmere - that was very valuable - to the royal family and high-ranking officials. Although this caused discontent and resentment for many people, especially the wealthy and stagnated their profitable trade, but the official reason stated by the court was the king's desire to prosper and progress shawl weaving industry in Kerman.”

Shawl weaving had certain prosperity in Kerman, but the live of the people of this land was stagnant. This factor along with other factors caused riots shawl weavers. The third quarter addresses background of first riots of Kerman Shawl weavers.

Social, economic, and political problems and religious conflicts were of contributing factors in the riots. In the third chapter on social factors of such event it is written: “Of the most important social factors that lead to riots in this period was their position and social status. However, shawl weavers were poor people and day laborers engaged in this profession, had low prestige and status, so that in this period - and even contemporary while it has been abolished – using shawl weaver word for someone is insulting.”

Political factors also played an important role in shawl weavers discontent and their riots “Of other factors in the revolt of the first riot of shawl weaver workers (1294 AH / 1877 AD.) Played an important role, it should be referred to taking wrong policies by the rulers as well as the creation, development, and finally contest of two outer families of Ebrahimi and Esfandiari (Vakili) in Kerman society of the period. Failure to properly positioning of the rulers of Kerman in this period caused a lack of proper balance in religious relations of Kerman society being completely tangible at different times.”

In the fourth chapter, political and social conditions of Kerman between the first and second shawl weavers rebellion is examined. Restarting sectarian clashes between Shaykhism[3] (Sheikhiyeh) and Moteshare'e, low status of shawl weavers, exploitation to more production, and conflict between Ebrahimi and Vakili are some items that are discussed in this chapter.

The fifth chapter is also about one of the night letters published in Kerman. In this chapter, In addition defining night letter, notice, Judgments, paper, open Letter, question and answer, news, newsletters, and secret newspapers are referred as some categories of night letters in the Qajar era. Thunderbolt, as well as was the title of one of the night letter that was published during Qajar era in Kerman. About some of the features of the night letter that was in the categories of “Declaration”, “Open Letter”, “Newsletter” and “The Secret newspaper” was written: “The type of script in lightning letter of thunderbolt is (in two versions)” “'Nosakh”. “A script that the most of handwritten and gelatinous night letters were written in that style in this period. The reason for using this type of script is also due to that author not to be easily identified by the state, officials or letter audiences.”

In the fifth chapter, the images of the night letter of “Hasharat Alarz (insects on earth)”[4] and “Azrael Journal” is presented. In fact the images have been published in the book and among different sectors alongside the content to give a better understanding for the audience. Positive feature is that we see images that have not been seen before. “Spinning wool by Kermani women in the Qajar period”, “governmental citadel of Kerman city in Qajar era”, “Haj Mohammad Khan Kermani, the first Expedition of students”, “Jalaloldoleh, commander-in-chief Nusrat, Adlolsoltan and a number of officials in the Russian and Britain consulates in Kerman in visiting Tavshanjyan carpet exhibition”, and “gathering Kerman people and Haj Mirza Mohammad Reza in central Mosque during the second rebellion of shawl weaver workers” are some of these images.

Shawl weaver riots, constitute one of the important points in the history of Kerman that analyzing and addressing it reflects a period of Iranian history. That is why the publication of such a book is valuable. In the final chapter of this book there is also some content about one of Kerman night letter in Qajar era is. Shawl weavers were considered normal people of Kerman and those who were publishing night letter of thunderbolt were intellectuals. The two groups were fighting oppression in each way. Coming together in this book includes the efforts of the intellectuals and ordinary people of Kerman society.