About Newest Books of Office of Resistance Literature and Art

Memories of "Hameye Sizdah Salegiam (all of my 13- Year- Old)" and "Golestane Yazdahom (eleventh rose-garden)"

Mohammadali Fatemi
Translated by Ruhollah Golmoradi

2017-1-11

The office of resistance literature and art recently has published two memoirs called "Hameye Sizdah Salegiam" and "Golestane Yazdahom". The books, moreover being included among books about disposed war of Saddam's army against Iran, are also in groups of works of captivity and freedmen and women memoirs. To learn more about these two books, read this article.

Both War and captivity

Golestan Jafarian has compiled memories of Mehdi Tahanian in the book "Hameye Sizdah Salegiam". This book as one of the works produced at the office of resistance literature and art, were published by Sooreh Mehr Publication in 352 pages and 2500 copies.

It is started with the introduction of memorialists. There are several numbers in the introduction that are important. The book narrator had been in thirteen that was captured by Saddam's army, 9 years had been in captivity; interview with the narrator who had about 45 years, lasted about two years and the interview was done in 120 hours. Memorialist noted that, "narrative style of analyst Mehdi Tahanian of events caused at least four times - After rewriting memories- the work to be reviewed and corrected."

"Hameye Sizdah Salegiam" is memories of captivity and it is natural to begin with memories of captivity moments; yes it is. Tahanian narrates these moments in chapter I of the 18-chapters book, and the reader realizes that he was in second phase of Operation Beit ol-Moqaddas (Liberation of Khorramshahr) and then was captured. Scenes of war in chapter I which are an introduction to captivity of the narrator caused a different start for a captivity memoir.

In chapter II, the narrator is still in the fronts of Iraq imposed war against Iran, but on the side of Iraqis. His small bulk got their attention and they want to know his true age. In the process, Tahanian in his privacy goes back to the last days and reviews the moments. The reader comes with him too; at home, in dispatch, during operation and etc…

Audience enters Khorramshahr in chapter III with captured narrator, Khorramshahr which was not still liberated, but is on the verge of liberation. One of the interesting parts of the chapter is meeting of Adnan Khairallah (According to the book: Saddam's brother-in-law and his cousin and his Defense Minister) with the narrator and a captive who attracted enemy so much (meeting with its Minister). The words that Tahanian said Saddam's minister must be read.

The memorialist has took advantage of a parallel narrative style of now and past of the narrator. Of course, this past is not too far and is related to the early stages of liberation of Khorramshahr. From chapter IV onwards, the book memories are within captive camp. Given that these memories, especially with regard to describing situation of prisoners in such an atmosphere, have been discussed in many freedmen memoires, sometimes seem repetitive. But the memorialist of "Hameye Sizdah Salegiam" tries to not happen the repetition, and of its symptoms is relying on specific observations of the narrator and addressing them in more detail.

If you have read the most recently published footnote on Oral History website, "Chashm Dar Chashme Anan (eyes on their eyes)" (Memories of Fatemeh Nahidi) you would find in this book, Status of freedwomen in view of Tahanian too; overlapping memories and narration of events from several views. If memory series of those freed ladies, which one of them is "Chashm Dar Chashme Anan", and also Tahanian' memoir and the freed who had been seen situation of the women from their own perspectives would be put together and to be researched, certainly will result in unique and valuable writing.

Other feature of Tahanian memoir is expressing Saddam's army repeatedly effort to encounter him with reporters. The narrator says they wanted "make propaganda maneuver upon me, who was smaller than all, in front of reporters. Coming of those reporters to the camp, in little time distances, was for resulting in the same outcome." But gradually the process changes because Tahanian expresses words in interviews of reporters with him that sometimes Saddam's army officers try to keep him away reporters. The most famous interview is the same famous interview of Nasereh Shalma, Hindi reporter, with young Iranian captives and caused the woman makes the statement that "[Imam] Khomeini, what brave soldiers he has."

The book lunch of "Hameye Sizdah Salegiam" was held at Tasnim agency place in January 02, 2017. Morteza Sarhangi, founder of producer institution of the book (Office of Resistance Literature and Art), said in the meeting: "This work is significant from two aspect; first the narrator, his character and mass events that the thirteen years old teenager at the young age encounters. Both the narrative fight and the period of his captivity and Iraqis behavior with him are interesting. Second aspect is author of the book. Miss Jafarian tried hardly for this book. All sentences of the book are aligned in order were together account books. I think "Hameye Sizdah Salegiam" could also be useful for training and those who want to do work in this field can refer to the work for editing and formulating. This book could link the current teenagers with the narrator."

Coinciding with the book launch of written version of the work, the electronic version book lunch was held also in website of Sooreh Mehr Publication (e-books section).

From the first day of courtship until moment of farewell

Behnaz Zarabizadeh also formulated memories of Zahra Panahirava, wife of martyr Sardar Ali Chitsazian, in the form of "Golestane Yazdahom". This book, as one of the works produced at the office of resistance literature and art, was released by Sooreh Mehr Publication in 316 pages and 2500 copies.

The first chapter of the 17-chapters book is the longest. Narrative of the chapter addresses first days after martyrdom of Ali Chitsazian and moments that the martyr's child come into this world. Wife of the martyr, in the midst of these days, is caring her newborn child and at the other side moments of her memories are reminding "I had many memories with Mr. Ali; from the first day of courtship until moment of farewell. In fact, I had written all of them in calendar of years 1987 and 1988. I had specific interesting to write some of my life memories and events. If I did not have a chance to write, I wrote important happens, even with just one word or a brief explanation, in the same calendar ...."

Chapters II to XIII are devoted to detailed memories of the lady of common life with the martyr. Since the period appeared short (March 27, 1986 and November 25, 1987) the narrative goes as if he has expressed all memories of this period. The memories implies depth of their lovely relation and because of this, the seemingly short period, if it would be accounted based on month and year, is not short really and as it be seen and read, has a life as long as, at least, all years after the martyr martyrdom.

Parts of the memories are about days that Zahra Panahirava was close to the war and her husband mission place. It was also a way of life that wives of martyre Sardars had experienced and they note it in their memories. But the narrative of the lady, through help of the memorialist, draws and images a space that is different in its own part and show characteristics of the times and days.

XIV and XVII chapters also address, like chapter I, days after the martyrdom of Sardar Chitsazian and include important and critical moments of the story of the narrator until 1999.

Among memoirs of Behnaz Zarabizadeh, have been alreadyreleased the famous and favorite book "Daughter of Shina: Memories of Qadamkheir Mohammadikana'an, wife of Sardar martyr Haj Sattar Ebrahimihozhir" for several times. "Golestane Yazdahom" in several aspects is like that book. One similarity is life place of narrators that for both the place is Hamedan province. Another similarity is gender of the narrators and both of them are wives of martyrs of the Sacred Defense. Third similarity is lovely relation of the narrators with martyr wives and that they are both an example of this life in 1980s.