Ahmad Ahmad Memoirs (29)

Edited by Mohsen Kazemi

Mozembel

After being familiar with the people of Kheir Abad, I intended to do my divine task. So I went to see the governor and report about the hardships of the people. I asked him to do something to eliminate the roots of injustice and tyranny for this kind and sincere people. The governor was quite disappointed and told me that his attempt had been fruitless in this regard. He said: “As long the Khans rule, the conditions would not change.” He continued: “Now, you go on! Do something. I will help you indirectly; I do not want to be involved in tribal conflicts.”
He clarified for me that this condition had been formed based on some policies. The policies made by feudal people like Vafa Shari’ati. In these policies they want to force people leave their lands and village because the hard conditions. Then they can own these cheap lands by low prices and use mechanized agriculture on these lands and earn good money. He said that he could not do something directly because his authority is limited. But he promised to help me. His attempts in the city council was also useless because the influence of Vafa Shari’ati.
After getting green light from the governor I returned to Kheir Abad and called the people to the mosques and talked to them. I told them: “…till then do you want to live in adversity? Till then do you want to tolerate this injustice condition? Till then do you want to carry water from long distances on your shoulders to you homes? Why do not you do something to end these hardships? You are the majority of this village but deprived from most of facilities. Here, the Khans rule; and as long as you do not move, water and prosperity would not reach to your village… I went to see the governor today and he promised to help us. From now on it is on you to do the rest…”
The villagers told that they did not know what to do. I said that I would write a request and you all should sing it. When it was singed, I began my attempts in the governorship administration and the city council. My main goal had changed to bringing water pipe to the village of Kheir Abad. I had several long conversations with the governor and the city council’s president. Finally they said that they would not invest on water pipe at all, but would cooperate for building a Mozembel (1) and would ask Vafa Shari’atis to let the water fill the Mozembel for the consumption of villagers once a week. I did not accept that. Because of this difference, the matter lasted for few days. Finally, one day that I was not in the village, some people had come from Semnan Municipality and talked to people about building Mozembel. When I reached the village, I saw three cars leaving there. I saw that people were so happy. I asked them: “What’s up?” they told me: “Your attempts have resulted. They want to build a Mozembel for us. They drew a white square on the land as the place for building Mozembel.” I said: “Mozembel!  Mozembel, for what?” They said: “They would fill once a week and had paid 60000 Tomans to someone to build it in contract. 20% of this money should be paid by villagers.”
I was confronted with something done. I decided to talk quite clear. I said: “…did you believe them?! Do you really think that they will give you water?!... No! Be sure that this water reservoir would remain empty. Vafa Shari’atis would not give you water. It would have water when it rains. This Mozembel would be useless for you. And then you cannot also ask for water pipe and you would not have the money either. Because they would tell you that they had made a Mozembel for you…”
Then I thought of conducting rally toward the governorship administration. The number of men was not enough, so I asked the women and children: “Now you have only one way and that is to go to the governorship administration all together and tell them that you do not want Mozembel. We want water pipe!” at first they were not sure to do that. But finally they realized that it was the best choice; so they moved toward Semnan and I was in front of them. After three 3 kilometers, we reached the city. Then the women and children began shouting slogans. It was interesting. They would use the slogans that would not be considered as anti-regime ones and not bring any difficulty for them. They would all shout: “Long life Shah! We want water, not Mozembel... Long life Shah! We want water, not Mozembel...”
Since the city was so small, the news about the villagers coming to the city went all around the city so fast. Some curious people joined them too. Gradually the crowd became more and more. On the way a police agent stopped me and asked: “Why are you disturbing the city?” I said: “A group of villagers shout ‘Long life Shah!’ do you have any problem with that?” then he stood back and let us go.
Later, I found out, since I was a military man, some of the old women of the village who were more experienced had advised others to keep me away from any conflict and manage any problem or accident in the city by themselves.
When we reached to governorship administration building, I told some of the elder women to enter the building if it was open and go to the governor and tell him their demands. And if it was closed, open it by force and enter; I thought the possibility of any conflict with women was much lower. I assured them if there was any conflict I would be engaged. In the governorship building, before the guards could do anything, people entered the building. There was pool in the yard. Since the weather was so hot people began cooling themselves by the water inside it. I went to the governor’s office. He was worried and disturbed. He asked: “Ahmad, what have you done?” I said: “Did not you say that you would help for bring water to Kheir Abad? Ok, this is the first step.” He said: “But, what it is this condition here? What should I do now?” I said: “I don’t know. I think it is better if go out and talk to them at least.”
He accepted my suggestion and went to the yard. Just right at that time a kid fell into the pool and began crying. He hugged the kid and kissed him and told him: “I will give you water, don’t worry my nice kid…” Some tears flowed from his eyes and this matter could arouse the sympathy of the people around. He said: “Why this kid should be thirsty? Why you should not have water? What the hell this city municipality is doing? What the hell this mayor is doing?...” Then he called someone and told him: “Go and call … and … here!” He showed a good sympathy and said: “This Mr. Ahmad is a good and active young man. May God save him. He would pursue the matter of pipe water for you. I pursue the matter either to get the desired result. There should not be made a Mozembel. I will give you water from tomorrow…” Mr. Dabiran talked about 45 minutes with people and achieved their satisfaction and in better words he could finish the matter safe and sound. From the day after that day of rally, as what the governor had promised, a tanker would bring water to the village. But it did not continue more than one week and condition went back to what it was before. But I pursued the matter. I involved the Construction and Development Administration. However, their advice and attempts were also fruitless.

(1) Mozembel is a local name for water reservoir. Before getting drinking water through deep wells and water pipes, they would use reservoirs inside the earth that would keep rain water inside which was not a hygienic system at all.