He Is Known By "A Seal of Markook"

The Story of a Young Kermanshahi Commander

Elham Saleh
Translated by Ruhollah Golmoradi

2016-12-11

The book name comes from one of book parts: "A Seal of Markook"[1]. It is noted in a memory that once subject of the book to learn praying used Markook, a kind of local bread, as a seal. He is martyr Ebrahim Rostami (March 21, 1963-April 22, 1986), Support and Engineering commander of the war in Jihad of Construction of Kermanshah province; the book is his story.

The book is in four chapters: chapter I: Ebrahim (author's memories); Chapter II: Ebrahim in memories (memories of relatives, neighbors, friends and comrades); Chapter III: Ebrahim in the mirror (individual characteristics of martyr Ebrahim Rostami in view of author); the final chapter: Ebrahim in documents and photos.

 

Author's Memories

The first chapter, "Ebraham," includes the author's memories about martyr Ebrahim Rostami. In this chapter, a variety of memories are referred. For example, to see objects and facilities inside Iraqi strongholds such as trenchs form and model, Russian Yaghlavis[2], newspaper, magazines and Iraqi matches which are painted with an image of Arabic horse, is a memory about difference of trenches and particularly difference between Iranian and Iraqi facilities in the imposed war of Saddam's army against Iran, "one can recognizes by form, size, and remained equipment in each earthwork military-grade of troops which were stationed in it. A trench which was so ordinary and its remained facilities was very insignificant and purportedly useless was for ordinary soldiers, and a trench which was almost well-appointed and with good facilities was surely belonged to Noncommissioned, officers or commanding; something that was not at all in our databases."(p. 30)

One of the memories of the narrator is about hoodlums (in Persian Dashmashti) that others refused to entrust the work to them, but martyr Ebrahim Rostami used this group and his behavior would change their behavior, "Ebrahim respected them primarily. For example, he called them with prefix sir. Shortly, he treated them so respectful and kindly that caused them to be modesty. For example, they didn't do anything before Ebrahim; such as smoking and talking nonsense and probably other actions who was usual for drivers those days."(p. 57)

Some of the memories of the first chapter are also about the moral qualities of the subject. "In front of each trench there was a box which we put dirty socks and clothes in it. If we were prepared a little later, we saw the clothes washed on the rope in front of the trench and this moment we were so shameful. One had done task of all. Haj Hashem or Ebrahim did it."(p. 90)

 

Subject in View of Others

The second chapter entitled "Ebrahim in memories" includes two parts of "relatives and neighbors" and "friends and comrades". Susan Kazemi Kermani is stepmother of Ebrahim Rostami whom there are memories quoted by him in the book: "his remembrance will be evergreen. He hadn't told anyone that I was his stepmother. Even in the funeral day of his pure body some of his friend's mothers thought that I was his real mother."(p. 197)

Memory of Yadullah Poorshafi about aggressive behavior with the nurse because of inattention to injuries of Ebrahim and his reaction against it is another recollection of chapter II: "No, no, don't wrong. Neither he nor anyone else owes me. Did I go for him or anyone else to front so that I now become a creditor? Besides, we owe them, not people to us. We aren't allowed to behave them arrogantly."(p. 217)

Ali Aowsat Moayedi has spoken about how the forces managed by martyr Ebrahim Rostami: "Ebrahim during his responsibility contacted with a wide range of people, including urban and rural forces, literate and illiterate, dash-mashti and students. More importantly, he managed these forces in a way that all the forces loved him inly and worked for him. That how Ebrahim could manage this range of people in a relatively low age is itself a very important question that sometimes friends ask."(pp. 229 & 230)

Mohammad Noor Mohammadi also has selected moderate of martyr Ebrahim Rostami and his attention to ethics and human values ​​ for reminiscence: "We heart that the guys are going to execution by shooting a number of prisoners. Ebrahim was worried and agitated. Suddenly he got up and said, "Get up, let's go!" I said, "Where? Is something is happening? "He said," Let's go and see what's going on? Maybe we could find Iraqi prisoners and stop killing them."(pp. 247 & 248)

 

Characteristics of the Subject in View of the Narrator

In chapter III, titled "Ebrahim in the mirror", the characteristics of martyr Ebrahim Rostami are addressed as the author see, in which being interested in reading is one of them: "he was not professional reader, but always had a book to read. In a day of January 1981, we went to the downtown library and asked about membership in the library. Next day we enrolled. One of the books that we took from library and being paid attention very much by Ebrahim was Niente, e cosí sia (in English: Nothing, and so be it) by Oriana Fallaci."(p. 384(

Marty Ebrahim Rostami took many responsibilities in the front that It is also part of the narrator memories in chapter III: "he didn't avoid doing any work, whether it was military affairs or technical and professional matters; from road and bridge construction to driving the car and laboring then reconnaissance and combat. Sometimes he was information-operating force and reconnoitered enemy positions in depth of enemy territory, sometimes a simple destroyer and cleared path of minefield, sometimes driver of loaders and bulldozers, and created bulwark...."(p. 388)

 

Documents, Pictures, Biography, Maps

"Ebrahim in documents and photos" is title of chapter IV in which there are documents, pictures, a chronology of life of martyr Ebrahim Rostami and maps. This chapter is in fact an appendix added to the book in order completing information that exists in the previous chapters.

Documents and pictures are parts that are existed in most memory books, but what distinguishes this book is part of photos. In pictures of "A Seal of Markook" it is not introduced enough people in the photos, but there is written a detailed account about them that shows accuracy and good memory of the author.

For example, there is written at bottom of page 442 as follows: "February 1986, the South, the operational area of Fav / Ebrahim went back to the front directly after being discharged from the hospital and subservience for Imam Reza (AS). During operations, there were many exploding cannons and mortars in the battle lines and the paths, and also there were many scenes like this. Ebrahim was one of the few people who were indifferent to the explosions and fear was meaningless for him. Disregarding the explosions he was doing his task."

After the description, people in the photos are also introduced.

It is true that "A Seal of Markook" is about martyr Ebrahim Rostami and expresses his characteristics, but a separate part to address his biography is necessary; it is in the book titled "Chronology of Life martyr Ebrahim Rostami". The Index has also not ignored.

 

Titles and avoiding one-sided view

Each part in the book chapters has a title that some of these charming titles are as the virtues of the book; such as "Sharp Razor of Sun", "The Wind Again Blows in Socks", "A Good Pace to Quivers", "Password of Water", "Screaming of Shoes", "First Kiss of DShK", "A Finger for Seeping" and "A Whisper Through Cut Lips."

In "A Seal of Markook", the narrator as also pointed out in his introduction, avoids exaggerating, storytelling and false exciting and addresses just real events. Also in writing biography and mentioning memories, without manipulation, expresses good, bad, pleasant and unpleasant happens, and abstains seeing unilaterally and regarding events as only white events.

 

Operations

In the book "A Seal of Markook" many operations are named that placing them in the content can guide the audience to learn more about them. The operations are: Harassment Operation of Ghalavizan(457), Operation BaziDraz (456), Operation Beit ol-Moqaddas (25, 269, 456), Operation Khyber (92, 131, 303, 456), Operation Zine El Abidine (AS) (164, 175 , 421, 422, 456), Operation Tariq al-Qods (207), Operation Fath ol-Mobin (25, 456), Operation Fakkeh (296), Operation Karbala-5 (Shalamcheh) (91, 263), Operation Mersad (175), Operation Muslim ibn Aqil (19 , 175, 228, 246, 415, 422, 452, 456), Operation Matla' El Fajr (456), Operations Dawn-4 (84, 91, 103, 105, 114, 131, 425, 456) and Operation Dawn-8 (160, 304, 340, 364, 457).

 
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