Sacred Defense memory writing session

House of Literati held a specialized session on Saturday evening on Sacred Defense memory writing in which Iranian history professor Emad-uddin Fayazi said:" The real value of memories is based on recounting the truth and untold."

IBNA: The specialized session of Sacred Defense memory writing was held Saturday evening, October 22, which was attended by Assistance Professor Masoud Kowsari, history professor Emad-uddin Fayazi as well as Sacred Defense literature translator Masoud Amir-khani.

At the beginning, Amir-khani talked about the first congress of Sacred Defense Memory Writing which will be held by the Foundation for preserving the relics and values of the Holy Defense and said: "The congress will be a result of provincial Sacred Defense memory writing festivals."

Then Masoud Kowsari presented explanations "memory" saying that in Iran usually memory is considered by its literary meaning and in the west the concept of memory is used more frequently.

Psychological basic of memories is based on 4 points including "Organizing the data", "Arranging the data", "Creating an image in the mind" and "Repetition, reviewing and practice".

Talking about the concept of collective memory he went on to say that the issue was mentioned a century ago by Maurice Halbwachs. His most important contribution to the field of sociology came in his book La Mémoire collective, 1950 (On Collective Memory), in which he advanced the thesis that a society can have a collective memory and that this memory is dependent upon the 'cadre' or framework within which a group is situated in a society. Thus, there is not only an individual memory, but also a group memory that exists outside of and lives beyond the individual. Consequently, the individual's understanding of the past is strongly linked to this group consciousness.

Kowsari added:" Collective memory is a collection of our beliefs about the past. The memories are accompanied with emotional judgments and their cognitive aspect is related with the ruling ideology and political system."

These memories are chosen according to the government's interests which indeed build the national identity, he said.

Moreover Emad-uddin Fayazi said that in Iran memories were considered more seriously following the Islamic Revolution. The contemporary history holds lots of memories and travelogues.

He added:" Memory reflects the facts which deserve immortality and create joy or grief."

Furthermore he said that the real value of memories is based on recounting the truth and untold and if a memory alters the fact its anti-memory."