Me & Manuchehr in the wheat fields in Jiroft. Happy moments long gone of that dear soal we lost. The willow tree behind the next picture was located at the end of our house in Jiroft. From right, Manuchehr at about 12 years of age, me, aunt Iran and Simin and little Fati. It was one of the Nowrooz days during which my aunt's family came to Jiroft for two weeks and we had a heavenly time together. Precious, memorable and long gone! Date mid-1950s.

I won a trophy for playing tennis

I started playing tennis when I was about 16. We had recently moved to the new building with a tennis court and a few of us started prcticing. To play with teachers who were good at the sport and available I had to go to school very early in the morning and play about an hour before classes would strat. At the end of two years prcatice we had competitions and I won a trophy which was Princess Shanaz's (the Shah's older daughter) photo, nicely framed. Other girls in the photos played tennis as well. I never knew what I did with that trophy. Nothing is left of that special event except these photos. As if the wind took away what was in the past and left particles of memories behind.

Migration to Bam

I was sent to Bam in 1954 to continue my education. In Jiroft, there were no high schools for girls. So, it was either I stayed and was married off to a local landowner's boy soon, or leave my family to continue my studies. It was a bold and hard decision for my parents, especially my mother. I was the eldest child and very close to her but she knew that by keeping me in Jiroft she will ruin my chances of getting a proper education. On the other hand, it was generous of my aunt and her husband to have me there as it was a big responsibility. But I was happy to leave Jiroft and be with my grandma and study in a place which had more opportunities than Jiroft. I started school in an automn day. Initially I felt lonely but soon I found a friend who accompanied me to school ever day of the nine months of year for 6 years. Akhtar Bahri's who was some years my senior and their house was close to my aunt's house. Every morning, she knocked at the door and we walked in slow paces, passing by a boys' high school and evaluating the boys from the corner of our eyes and deciding which one we preferred! Akhtar was keen on the boys socks while I preferred their hair style! We had our admirers as well but we wouldn't dare to go beyond the occasional peeping. It was a scandal in those days to talk to the boys on the street. The only person who dared to do that and no one blamed her was a Tehrani girls, Soheila Shokuri who had come to Bam temporarily with his brother, who had got a posting in one of the government offices. Soheila joined us in our fourth year. Being familiar with the business of getting boyfriends, she soon involved all of us in her advanturous plots where we were mere onlookers. Me memory of the 6 years in Bam are full of happiness, teenage friendships, competitions and rivareries. I rarely missed home since my grandma was all I wanted and she was there for me. My whole universe was there. I moved to Tehran in the early 1960s to attend the university.

New year in Bam

A photo to remember. New Year 1959. From left: my brother, Mehdi who was very mischievous, aunt Iran, Zarin & Simin(back), mum, Fati, me and Soraya Irani. That new year remained in our memory as one of the happiest ever. We played and enjoyed our reunion and my memory of those gone two weeks is full of total happiness as I had my whole family with me.

New Year in Bam

New Year 1959, Bam, my aunts house. From left: my mother in a velvet dress, aunt Iran and Soraya Irani.

A photo to remember, 1957

This photo was taken in Showkat khanum's house. She was my aunt's sister-in-law. From left standing: Showkat, aunt, me in school uniform and grandma. Sitting: my three cousins. Showkat khanum lived in the extended household with her parents where my aunt joined after she got married and moved to Bam. She and my aunt did not have good relations at first. But after she was married off to a man much older that her they stayed in good terms. Although they didn't have any children, they lived a happy life. Showkat khanum who was a very modern, well-dressed woman turned religious after the revolution and gave away all her wealth to religious charities. She still lives in Tehran but suffers from dimentia.

On the way from Jiroft

This photo was taken in spring after we were returning from Jiroft. We used to spend the new years together, my mother and aunt Iran and grandma and obviously the whole lot of us. I was living with my aunt and studying in Bam so after we enjoyed the new year with my family we are on our way back. The photo was taken in 1957. It was in the outsirkts of Jiroft, Fati on my left and Zarin on my right. Then we were a very close knit family and I loved my cousins like my own siblings.

A family picnic in the outskirts of Bam.

Part of my family in the outskirts of Bam. From left: Mr Sadjadi, aunt Iran, my mother, grandma and Badri khanum, my mother's youngset uncle's wife. The baby is my cousin Mehdi who is 60 now. The photo was taken about 59 years ago!

While in Bam, we used to go picnicing a lot. Mr Sadjadi had bought a jeep and often took the whole family and guests out of town. Being very skinny, I was squeezed at the driver's side to save space for many who themselves would squeeze for space. Mr Sadjadi would sometimes go deer hunting with his male relatives at night and bring a number of hunt back which my aunt and grandma would supervise their distribution among relatives and neighbours.

Aunt Iran in her prime

Aunt Iran, few years after marriage. She was beautiful and very modern.

Iran, Kerman, 1944, wedding photo

Aunt Iran wedding photo, 1944.

عکس عروسی خاله ایران، 1323

The picturs is taken in an official mode. The location seems to be the wide corridor of the house. Old Kermani houses used to have long corridors (dalan) from the main door leading to the courtyard. These were shady passages which were freezing cold in winters and delightfully cool in hot summers. Children loved to play hide and seek in these dalans. In this photo, a carpet had been spread to protect the bride's long veil. Everything is perfet and modern as if the photo had been taken yesterday and not 64 years ago. The groom's dress and tie, the bride's dress, the viel and bouquet in her hand!

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عکس عروسی خاله ایران که احتمالا بلا فاصله بعد از مراسم گرفته شده است. بنظر میرسد که عکس در دالان خانه گرفته شده است. زیر پای عروس و داماد قالی پهن کرده اند تا تور سر عروس زیبائی خود را نشان دهد . همه چیز در این عکس حکایت از مدرن بودن عروس و داماد دارد: لباس و گل دست خاله ایران، کت و شلوار دامادی داماد و ان کراوات زیبا! انتخاب دالای را نمیشود حدس زد اما حتما حکمتی در کار بوده است!

Iran,Bam, family photo

Aunt Iran holding a vase.
خاله ایران














My aunt Iran with permed hair has posed for this photo. I'm not sure of the date or location it had been taken; Kerman, Bam? I don't remember the room but the tablecloth is a handicraft called Pateh in Kermani. Women who master at making Pateh, spend months needling on wool materials, usually in burgendy or white colours to crteate an ocean of designs. In the old days a few pieces of Pateh; tablecloth or duvet cover was an integral part of every bride to take to her husband's home.

My mother (right) and khaleh Iran both with permed hair!
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خاله ایران خود را برای این عکس اراسته است: موها با فر ششماهه و گلدان در دست. رو میزی پته و سایر تزئینات اطاق به اینکه این عکس در کجا گرفته شده است کمکی نمیکند. ای در کرمان است یا بم؟

بهر رو زیباست و خاطره برانگیز!