Daughter of Sheena 59

It was Esfand (March). Samad, who had gone to the front and it was supposed came back two or three days later, hadn’t still returned after twenty days. On the other hand, my father-in-law also hadn’t backed. It was a dismal afternoon. The children were watching television. It had been a little warmer.

Daughter of Sheena 58

The next morning my father-in-law appeared. I was preparing breakfast. He said: “Last night I dreamed Sattar. I was confused in my dream. I said: ‘Sattar! Are you fine?’ he turned his head and said: ‘I’m Samad.’ I went forward to kiss him, but he disappeared.”

Daughter of Sheena 57

We returned to Hamedan that afternoon. This time we brought Sattar’s daughter, Somayeh, with ourselves again. The next day, Samad woke up early, prayed and said: “Qadamkheyr! I’m going, please take care of our kids. Take after Sattar’s Somayeh too. Don’t let her be unhappy; also let her stay here till whenever she wants.”

Daughter of Sheena 56

“Sattar had martyred. Our operation had leaked. We were being defeated. We had to come back. Many of my fellow comrades, who had martyred or were injured, were inside Iraqi territory. Enemy fire was so great that we couldn’t do anything. To those who had been safe, I said go back. You don’t know how hard it was the last moments; say farewell to fellow comrade, say farewell to Sattar.”

Daughter of Sheena 55

The house was crowded by lots of guests. I ran into the courtyard. Samad had come; in what a situation! Thin and weak with tousled hair and black and emaciated face. I couldn’t bring myself to greet him in front of Sediqeh, or go ahead and say something. I hid behind a few people. I threw my Chador over my face and cried.

Daughter of Sheena 54

The year of 1365 was a difficult year. I was the mother of five little kids at Twenty-four. I couldn’t deal with all my works single-handed. The war had reached to critical points. Samad had been involved in war and successive operations. Khadija was in the second year of primary school. Masumah was in the first year. I could go to Qayesh fewer because of my kid’s schooling. My father also couldn’t drop in on us because of Sheena’s illness.

Daughter of Sheena (53)

Samad’s going to and coming back from Mecca took forty days. Ten days more also elapsed until he throw his parties. As the days passed, he became more impatient and said: “I'll go crazy. It is fifty days I haven’t heard about my guys. I don’t know in what situation they are. I should go soon.”

Daughter of Sheena (52)

It happened as what Samad had said; pilgrimage changed my mood completely. In the mornings I would go to the shrine, pray the ones which were not said at the proper time, and I was engaged in prayer and pilgrimage. Sometimes, we would regret halfway, when leaving the shrine and getting back to the hotel. We could not bring ourselves to leave there, so we would return to the shrine again.

Daughter of Sheena (51)

At night I packed my hold-all. Early morning, we would go to the office of Revolutionary Guard Corps. It was planned for the bus to move from there. We had sat in a great waiting hall.

Daughter of Sheena (50)

Samad came back home a month later. This time he wanted to stay in Hamadan for two weeks. Unlike before, he himself realized that I was pregnant. Seeing my discomfort, he said: “These things shouldn’t make you upset. You should be very happy.
...
41
...
 
Book Review

Kak-e Khak

The book “Kak-e Khak” is the narration of Mohammad Reza Ahmadi (Haj Habib), a commander in Kurdistan fronts. It has been published by Sarv-e Sorkh Publications in 500 copies in spring of 1400 (2022) and in 574 pages. Fatemeh Ghanbari has edited the book and the interview was conducted with the cooperation of Hossein Zahmatkesh.

Is oral history the words of people who have not been seen?

Some are of the view that oral history is useful because it is the words of people who have not been seen. It is meant by people who have not been seen, those who have not had any title or position. If we look at oral history from this point of view, it will be objected why the oral memories of famous people such as revolutionary leaders or war commanders are compiled.

Daily Notes of a Mother

Memories of Ashraf-al Sadat Sistani
They bring Javad's body in front of the house. His mother comes forward and says to lay him down and recite Ziarat Warith. His uncle recites Ziarat and then tells take him to the mosque which is in the middle of the street and pray the funeral prayer (Ṣalāt al-Janāzah) so that those who do not know what the funeral prayer is to learn it.

A Critique on Oral history of War Commanders

“Answering Historical Questions and Ambiguities Instead of Individual-Organizational Identification”
“Oral history of Commanders” is reviewed with the assumption that in the field of war historiography, applying this method is narrated in an advancing “new” way, with the aim of war historiography, emphasizing role of commanders in creation of its situations and details.