At the Court of Beloved (Dar Astan-e Janaan) and Some Parts of Administrative Reforms

GholamReza Azari Khakestar
Translated by: Atiyeh As'ad

2015-8-22

The memories of one's administrative service years could be related to some aspects of administrative organization of an institute or a department. Often in these kinds of memoirs books, the authors try to provide experience, jobs and events that occurred during their administrative service periods. The book entitled At the Court of Beloved (Dar Astan-e Janaan) devoted to the memories of the administrative organization of Astan Quds Razavi from the late thirties to the early seventies. The author of the diary is Mohammad Hossein Taghavi Gilani. He was born in the holy city of Mashhad in 1937. He spent his primary education in Anvari School and Islamic School then he studied theology at Kheiratkhan(1) and Parizad School(2)  for some time. Taghavi Gilani could obtain his diploma by studying at Ghazali (Night) School and then was sent to military service. He was employed by Astan Quds Razavi in September 1960 and worked at various departments such as Land, the Judiciary Affairs Administration, Ghoochan Estates and Central Library. Finally, after 32 years of service he was retired in February 1992. Taghavi Gilani was also involved with writing in addition to administrative services and has published some of his thoughts and critiques and writings through writing articles in Khorasan Newspaper. Mr. Taghavi Gilani has published books such as Ten Stories: Including Short Stories (Mashhad Navid Publication, 1983), The Culture of Shah-nameh Names (Mashhad, O'rouje Andished Publications, 2004), Sahbaye Eshgh including ten poems of mystical and social poems and series of poems entitled Kabootar-nameh (Mashhad, Pazh, 2006) and The Memoirs of Hekmat or Old Mashhad (Mashhad, the author 2008).

At the Court of Beloved (Dar Astan-e Janaan) is the latest book of Mohammad Hossein Taghavi Gilani. This book is actually his memoirs of the thirty-two years of hi work in Astan Quds Razavi. This book is published in 264 pages in 2014 and available for those who are interested. This book starts with a preface and introduction and then the author's memoirs have been composed and edited in two chapters. In the first chapter which covers Gilani’s pre-revolutionary memories is classified in seven sections with the titles of: Navab the trustee of Astan Quds Razavi From the End of Dr. Shadman Period to the End of Dr. Valian Period, the Judiciary Affairs Administration and Debtors, The Land Administration and Land Cession and the departments that he has worked in and their duration and his held positions, administrative missions, festivals, feasts and special ceremonies have also been mentioned.

In the second chapter which is covers post-revolutionary memories to the end of his service and retirement is classified in five sections: the memoirs of Judiciary Affairs Administration, Land Administration, Ghoochan Estates, Administrative Court and the Central Library.

At the Court of Beloved (Dar Astan-e Janaan) has briefly described the administrative organization of Astan Quds before and after the revolution. According to the documents and records, the history and background of administrative organization of Astan Quds goes back to Safavid Period. Since then the organization has been expanding and developing. The most major and serious oral history project on the administrative organization during 2006-2009 was performed at oral history section of Archives of Astan Quds Razavi. In the project approximately 210 interviews were conducted with the retirees of related administrations of Astan Quds on the administrative organization and their memories of working at various parts which in total includes 600 hours of interviews, recorded in audio and video formats. However, the memoirs of Mr. Taghavi Gilani examine the different aspects of work, but the memoirs alongside the oral history project could deal with the ways of development of Astan Quds Administration after the revolution.

The author of At the Court of Beloved (Dar Astan-e Janaan) while emphasizing writing memoirs he believes that: “My writings are only memories about the administrative and office events.”(3) Although, the author considers his writings as memoirs and in some cases had some particular considerations in writing names, he writes as following: “Of course what I write, except in rare cases and as far as no spiritual losses might cause for anybody, I won't name anybody because you may know the whole sack by a looking at a handful, whether it is good or bad.”

In fact documentation is a significant step in clarifying memoirs but sometimes the author only suffices to mention the first name and in some cases the second name of people and this point is one of the shortcomings of the book: “One of the things worth to be mentioned about General Azizi and points out that he is a unique person is what his driver, Ali, narrates about him. …”. (4)

Some of the memoirs are the author's emotions and even his thoughts. But Mr.Taghavi Gilani described as the following: “I will try to respect the trust principle and don't apply my personal feelings and viewpoints. And quote everything that I have seen and heard without the slightest change. I won't compliment or disapprove anybody far from the truth and will suffice to use sentences such as: He was a good guy and had good character and so on.” (5)

The author of At the Court of Beloved (Dar Astan-e Janaan) doesn't consider his writings as history and believes that: “I don't have anything to do with the history and historiography. History relates to historian and the scholars. People aware of history and politics have been and will be active in this area and as far as they have information and competency, they are able to write and will write on these topic. Probably some writings would be true and some will be far from the truth. Once more I do repeat that what I write about is only memoirs and perhaps a report on the years of service.” (6)

Honesty and veracity in writing the memoirs is the most important point regarding At the Court of Beloved (Dar Astan-e Janaan). In the first pages of the book reviewing his memories, the author pleasantly describes how the typist is employed in the technical office.(7)

One of the problems that reading the memoirs evoke for the reader is the lack of documentation of names of dignitaries, personalities and managers that have been mentioned in the book. In fact, the author has written the book for the public, and therefore, documentation of the names used in the book could offer comprehensive information, and the reader could easily be aware of the past memories and issues. Even in some case the author has deleted some of the names. (8)

Some parts of Mr. Taghavi's memoirs has been devoted to the rumors that have been spread in the past. Although the rumors are always effective in creating a negative atmosphere and in fact some part of the rumors can set a new track in relation to an event or character, but raising these kinds of issues could assist the researchers to get information on a matter from different perspectives and have impartiality in analyzing issues. (9)

The author does his best to express major part of his memories. Even in some cases he has narrated his dreams. Although expressing dreams is not considered to be memory-writing, however, because of the way of expression or narration of prophetic dreams, he has mentioned them as part of his memoirs. (10)

Certainly expressing memories accompanies one's way of judgment and thinking. Those who are to write their way of thinking and judgment create the memories. Mr. Taghavi Gilani’s various judgments affected his memoirs too. At some parts of the book we read as the following: “Mehran,(11) as they described and to some extent we figured out, was a cunning guy and before formal transference to Mashhad, he had investigated about all the people that had important positions at Mashhad and had known that there were some rogue guys there, that if he wanted to oppose, they will cut the ground from under his feet and treat him the same as Dr. Shadman (12).” (13) And regarding Amir Azizi (14) he has mentioned: “What I heard about Amir Azizi from far and near was that although he was a simple guy, but he was so delicate and wasn't in a hurry to suspend or expel people. He would investigate completely and make sure of a violation and then would issue the necessary order.” (15)

Sometimes the office memories about the way of thinking and grouping of employees against someone make the context attractive and in this way conspiracies begin to appear.(16) The criticism and made comments on a personality is one of the points that could be recognized in Mr. Taghavi Gilani's memoirs.

“Erroneous information has been recently published in a book on the history of Astan Quds and the author criticized on the works done before the revolution and also has talked about expanding the area around holy shrine but he hasn't written any remarkable material about the guy who has completed that hard work…”(17)

In some cases the author tries to make the reader understand that the memoirs are not political and have only social aspects. “In writing the memoirs I had nothing to do with the current political issues of that time and people's way of thinking especially the administers (Novvab) of the Astan-e Quds. I do not interfere and relate the political and relative beliefs and tendencies of them in my memoirs.”(18)

Although some parts of these memoirs are related to the political issues, the author emphasizes that he's not dealing with the political issues: “In May 1978, coinciding with the rise of the revolution, it was decided taking advantage of previous demands, the employees of Astan Quds Razavi should commence the first strike in the city. It was even a sit-down strike which those days based on the opinion of rulers of that time it was the worst strike and the date of the strike was determined as June 18.”(19)

The employees’ attitude change after promotions and getting higher position has not escaped from the author's sight and he has described it as the following: “I haven't understood the point during all my work years and my whole life. What this damn table does with the people that as soon as everyone sits on a desk at the first day and hour, he or she forgets everybody and starts to change by taking jests and humiliating and so on, in a way that the boss does not want to think for a moment that the current position is not going to last forever. It's going to continue for some time. For some people for a long time and for some for a short time and anyways it won't last more than a few months or years.”(20)

The book is on the characteristics of the people that their characteristics during their service period had remained in the author's mind and in fact the author could express some parts of administrative developments through writing memoirs.

Notes:

1. It's one of the old schools of Mashhad at the complex of holy sites of shrine. The school was built in 1057 S.H at the time Shah Abbas reign by one of those day's nobles and dignitaries, Kheirat Khan. The presence of outstanding teachers with great endowment made to the school resulted in the improvement of the school. But with the decline of Safavid Government the prosperity and flourish was short-lived. Pasandideh, Mahmood, Khorasan Seminary (Hozeh Elmiye Mashad), Mashahd, Islamic Research Center 2006 page 139.
2. Parizad School is one of the 15th century buildings at Timurid Empire. The historical building is located at south west of shrine and north-west of Goharshad Mosque. The founder of the school is lady Parizad.
3. Taghavi Gilani, Mohammad Hossein, Dar Astan Janan ... thirty two years of service at Astan Quds Razavi 1960-1991, Mashahd, author. 2014, page 10
4. Taghavi Gilani, page 54
5. Taghavi Gilani, page 10
6. Taghavi Gilani, page 11
7. Taghavi Gilani, page 13
8. On page 27 as the author expresses the memoirs of holding meetings at nobles' houses, he refuses to mention the name of the organizer of the meetings.
9. Taghavi Gilani, page 27
10. Taghavi Gilani, page 70
11. Mohammad Mehran was the vice-trustee of Astan Quds Razavi during 1959- 1961
12. Seyed Fakhroddin Shadman (1286-1346 SH) was born in Tehran. He received his doctorate in law from London University. He was appointed as vice-trustee in 1955 and worked there during 1955- 1959.
13. Taghavi Gilani, page 24
14. General Seyyed Sadegh Amir Azizi was born in Tehran in 1283SH. He spent his high school education at Tarbiat School and entered Military school in 1302SH. He achieved colonel degree in 1319SH and spent the Command and staff courses at War University. Azizi Colonel was appointed commander of Zabol and Kerman Army after August 1941 and was elected as deputy of cadet school. He received his generalship degree at March 1947 and was appointed as commander of Tabriz army and Fars army. In August of 1957 he was appointed as the chief commander of gendarmerie. General Amir Azizi was introduced as Interior Minister at cabinet reshuffle of Jafar Sharif Emami in 1960 but the cabinet did not last for a long time. Then he was appointed as Khorasan Governor and vice-trustee of Astan Quds Razavi and he worked at the position for nearly four years.

Amir Azizi was retired in 1967 and he was working for some time at private sector. In October 1978 he was appointed as Khorasan governor and vice-trustee of Astan Quds Razavi and went to Mashhad but because of revolutionary struggles he was not satisfied with work condition and returned to Tehran and went to Europe (Paris) in December where he lived until he died in 1992 and according to his will his body was taken to Tehran and was buried at Behesht Zahra Cemetery. Based on Donya-ye Eqtesaad Newspaper No 2530 dated 2011/12/15. In order to get more information on General Azizi's bibliography refer to the books such as: Biography of Political and Military Dignitaries of Iranian Contemporary, the author Bagher Agheli Volume 1, Event of Eastern Iran during Qajar Period: including Governors' Biography, Rebellion Events, Uprisings, Historical Events of Khorasan written by Seyed Ali Mirnia Volume one.

15- Taghavi Gilani, page 51

16- Taghavi Gilani, page 25

17- Taghavi Gilani, page 49

18- Taghavi Gilani, page 50

19- Taghavi Gilani, page 95

20- Taghavi Gilani, page 108