Memoirs of Abdolreza Zamanı Gandomani

Protecting Jamaran and meeting Imam Khomeini

Sara Rashadizadeh
Translated by: Fazel Shirzad

2016-6-12

The month of Khordad 14th (on June 14^th) is reminiscent for the days of the divine ascension of the founder of the Islamic Revolution in 1368 (1989), a man who disturbed monarchical system and could change the fate of Iran up to now,  and made salient footprint in history of Iran. There are many individuals who have a lot of memories to narrate about the month of khordad in 1368. Abdolreza Zamanı Gandomani was one of persons who attended to jamaran in those days, and in addition close relationship with Imam Khomeini, he remembers a lot of memoirs about hot days of the mounth of khordad. You read a interview of Oral history and he.

 When did you join to close relatives of Imam, Mr. Zamani?

When I came back from Moharam Operation to Tehran in 1361, I joined to servants of Imam and took responsibility for Ready Petrol Force that it was very strict and intensive responsibility. I had some staffs and members in this post that we should inspect all small and big things, even trucks entered into Jamaran. I was a visiting inspector and checked everything. For example, several important cases took place there that we catch all them consciously. In 1362, a G3 gun was placed inside a car that I seized it. In those days I taught to forces that they shouldn’t sometimes encounter to a suspicious person and tried lead him toward my position to handle his affairs. In this case, when I arrived, the drivers of car said me that I wanted to go in front of Hussainia, and insisted to move toward there. By his reactions and starting the inspection of car, we found that back door of car at driver's side is heavier than other part. After opening the door we found that one a G3 gun and 20 additional shots were placed inside of car.   

In another case and in those years, a weapon was imported and I was announced that a suspicious case is observed at the crossroads Hashemi in the beginning of Jamaran. When I attended there, I announced forces that “let him go” and they knew this statement is coded. When driver went, I chased him, and after he arrived to target I understood he hid a big gun in blanket and was going to transfer it but we captured him. The gun was one of the complexes, great and camera weapons that still we do not know what kind of weapon was.

Tell about your first meeting in the house of Imam Khomeini

After returning from the frontage of war, I went to the Jamaran and al-Hadid station. In those days, I was recently returned, and in addition to the Imam’s relatives, people, such as Mr. Ansari who was with me during the pre-revolutionary period and campaigns and also Mr.mokhtar who was commander of the army, knew me completely, and we served together in the al-Hadid military station. In the early days, one day we were informed that the house of Imam is humidified and it should be dehumidified.  After attending in his room, I saw back of room is watered and so it is humidified. While we went and collected the carpets of room to repair the pipes, Imam come in the room.  When he entered in the room, he looked at me and said: “did you take permission from landlord?” I have just been living there for two days and I supposed that Imam is landlord, so I replied: “No”, and he said that: lay the carpets and return the room’s decoration to previous situation, then make a permission from landlord for repair, right now!.    

Abdolreza Zamani in the Jamaran Hosseinieh

I came back to the commander and asked the owner of the house, and he told me that the landlord is Mr. Jamarani. I went to his house and after retelling the event, Mr. Jamarani became a little angry that why we take permission for such an unimportant issue, and then he said that tomorrow morning when Imam would go to attend to meeting ceremony he would act to repair the room by himself. The next day, Mr. Jamarani came to the house of Imam Khomeini at 7 pm and repaired the pipes. That day I entered into the kitchen of Imam’s home to take a little water, and constantly I looked around the house and I saw how simple the house of a leader can be. I was very upset and then I thought myself at home. I thought to myself when our leader is living simply, so I should not engage in formalities, and always followed simple life.

You know lot of memoirs about those days; tell one of major ones for us!

Once Hajj Issa who was servant of the Imam came to me with a small bucket and said I wanted a few berries for Imam. I climbed tree for Imam and picked 15 barriers and put them on bucket. When Hajj issa gave berries to Imam, he said: “I am not the only one who likes barrier, pick fewer berries to remain for others!” Next time, Hajj Issa picked only five berries for Imam and gave them him.

What memoirs did you remember from 1368 (1989) and mood of those days?

As I said, I was in charge of protection of area. One day before the death of Imam Khomeini, it was around noon that I went to deliver Radio to one of familiar people named Mr. Amanullahi who was shift in the road of Imam’s house. He told me that Imam is not so good, it is better to go inside of Imam’s house. In those days, Imam was in the medical center that when I went his house and I visited Ayatollah Khamenei, Ayatollah Hashemi and other men who were in his house. In those days, one camera was installed in the room of Imam that we were able to watch him in the hospital. Then, Maghrib prayer was brought in the imamate of Ayatollah Tavasoli, and night (Isha) prayer was brought in the imamate of Ayatollah Meshkini, and it was announced around 10 pm that Imam was slightly better.

When was news on death of Imam announced and what happened?

That night, the news of the death was spread, and next day, Mosala (place for public prayer) of Tehran and necessary chamber was ready, it took a little time. That day, I was standing on the platform of journalists and I saw people were standing and crying around the area. 

On that day, didn’t people come in the large mass toward Jamaran to ensure the death of the Imam?

There is a big door in the Jamaran, named “three ways”, many people had gathered behind it. People don’t want to be calm, and constantly were coming to jamaran. In those days, one day I saw a bus full of mourners came to jamaran, and there was a woman that came to Jamaran sadly, without shoes and barefoot.  Those days, I had bought shoes for my children barely, I give shoes the woman and said her that here is for Imam and put on shoes to be not late for your caravan. The impact of Imam’s simple life causes people to be interested to him.  

In addition to Mosala, Was any funeral ceremony held in jamaran?

Yes, people were constantly coming in Jamaran. After the death of Imam, there were fewer security measures, because people were in mourn, and were not good for morale to inspect. I also remember that after the announcement of death of Imam, a prominent and famous clergy was sadly hitting his head while he sat in river. I went to him and tried to take him out. People also were very sad heartily such as Mr. Khalkhali and many other people.

Did you attended to the funeral ceremony of Haj Ahmad Khomeini? Tell about him and his death!  

In those days, I had traveled to my city. The story was that I was with him in above office around 4 o'clock in the afternoon and we were talking together while hajj issa came and said; “it is called from city that my cousin, named “Massiah Asadi”, is martyred and his funeral is to be held. I gesticulated to Issa that did not say something, but Hajj Ahmad understood and said: “go to funeral!” I went to my city, funeral was postponed for large number of martyrs. I slept in the my mother’s house, but I was sad. It was a few minutes before the morning that I could not stand to wait and I called to the office, and Hajj Issa answered and started to cry. When I heard cry of him, I did not ask what had happened, I said my prayer and I came back to Jamaran that I saw Haj Ahmed is brought to the hospital and needed anesthesia doctor. I had some relatives in Taleghani Hospital where Mr. taleghani was as a finance manager of hospital, and he came to help us and went to find the doctor by an ambulance, finally he brought the doctor, but we were not able to do something and he died.    

How long were you in Jamaran?

I stayed there until the death of Haj Ahmad Khomeini, and then I went to the shrine of Imam Khomeini, and up until last year (2015) when I was retired, I was with the members of the shrine.