Migration to Tehran in search of a better life!

In 1959, I finished high school in Bam where I had lived with my aunt Iran, and her family and of course my beloved grandma for 6 years. I wanted to go to Tehran to continue studies. This was hard for my mother as she expected to have me back with her after so long but now I was 19 and determined to make something of myself. During the last year of school I developed a fever which nailed me to bed for weeks and the only doctor in town did not know the nature of it and there was doubt whether I will ever recover let alone graduate from school. There was a time when before the new year of 1959, my mother who had recently given birth to baby Massoud was contacted as my aunt and grandma feared I might die. Mum came in hast, with Massoud just 25 days old, wrapped up in a bundle. Whether it was her presence or other factors, my fever died down and I was able to move around and eat although I remember I looked like a skeleton.
However, after new year holidays there was consultations with school authorities and my teachers. As all small towns, the teachers and school authorities knew our family and were aware of my situation and during my illness some even came to visit. It was decided that I attend the remaining days of school and sit for the final exams and just take my chances. Fortunately, I was good at some major subjects such as literature, English language, sciences (although very bad at maths and physics). I managed to pass my final exams with a total grade of 17/50 out of 20!
I talked with my mum and persuaded her to let me go to Tehran and grandma Bibi Atieh who was slightly ill at the time agreed to accompany me. We were so attached that the thought of separating from her was hard to bear.

In June 1959, with little money and few belongings we set out for Tehran, the unknown Capital by bus . The journey took 3 days of travelling through the deserts or Kavirs of southern Persia where the bus would stop at some points and let the passengers stretch their legs and rest at the local on-the-road cafes and then move on. Sometimes the driver would continue overnight and we would spend the night between sleep and awakeness until early morning when another small town or village would appear on the horizon and we would be allowed to get out. On such roads and in those days, bus drivers were the ultimate power as they were the major carriers of passengers across the land and brought fortune to the villages and towns or the oasis where they stopped and let the passengers out. For that, the cafe or restaurant owners paid special attention to the driver and welcomed him like a king!

However, the only two major cities I remember I first saw were the ancient city of Yazd which located at the heart of the desert and Esfahan. In both cities we were allowed to stay overnight in the small nearby guesthouses. As we travelled further away, I knew that I had left the first part of my life, the towns of Jiroft, Bam and the province of Kerman behind forever. Although I returned to Bam only once when grandma was dying and to Jiroft on many occasions but I was always considered and outsider whithin. I was never accepted nor willing to be accepted as part of one or the other although later inlife and farway in England I yearn to have had a solid root somehwere. My roots are scattered across many lands like branches of a cherry tree which when planted grow under the ground and its duplicate solute the sun in another section of the graden.
However, at the beginning of summer 1959 we arrived at a bus station in southern Tehran and went straight to my mother's cousin's home where we were supposed to stay for the time being. Nahid khanum was Alieh Khanum's youngest daughter who was married out to an army officer at a very young age. At the age of 30, she had 5 children. The army officers were often stationed at various parts of the country but colonel Naderi's last assignment had ended and he was given a permanant job in Tehran. Their rented house on Shokufeh street in southern Tehran was surrounded by high walls and concealed from the road like other houses in the big cities. We were allocated half of a room on the first floor which was a store room. We hang a curtain in between to create our own space. It was big enough for me and grandma to have our bed and suitcases and few other necessities arranged around.

My first task in the city, so unknown to me and grandma was to make enquireries about Tehran University's entrance exams (or Conquoore as it was called). Every year, thousands came to Tehran to attend the university exams as apart from few other cities lacked higher education establishments. Upon consultation with other relatives and cousins and those who knew the system, I was registered at a private evening class to improve my sciences and learn about the university exam system. I was new to Theran and listened to all advice and tried to make out which was best to take. Even learning how to get on the bus and go to the evening class and return home safe took some time to learn! I had come from a small town with regid codes of ethic where every one knew every one and family connections proveded safety and security. Here, I was in this big metropolis where I had to not only ward for myself but learn quickly to adjust and assimilate.
I did not know which faculty to register for the exam and even what subject interested me. I had to learn fast as I only had few months before the exams. At the end, I did not get into the University but was accepted at Tehran Teachers Training College. The subject I was entered was a random: a newly approved subject of Scientific Geography within the science department!
The College was located far from our cousin's house and I had to take several buses which took hours. My poor grandma did nothing during the day but wait patiently for me to come home late in the evening where she would feed me and sit to chat about my developements. Going back 5 decades, I wonder how much love and affection she had for me to bear living in that condition for a whole year just to see me settled although. I later knew she was not feeling well as a creeping cancer was invading her body and eventually killed her 2 years later.

The college year began at the end of September and there I met friends from high school in Bam and other young men and women from the province of Kerman. Akhtar Bahri who was my best friend from Bam and whom we went to school together for the whole 6 years was accepted at the Persian literature department and we spent most of our time together. We also found new friends from other cities. In those days it was customary for families to send their children to Tehran for higher education; men and women alike. At our College we had more students from outside Tehran than the Tehranis and that sometimes created culture clash. Tehranis were more open and modern while those from other parts of Iran were reserved especially the men. Girls assimilated faster and learnt quicker to dress elegantly and in fashion and do away with their town's rigid customs but boys mostly remained loyal to their customs of their birthplaces.

However, in the middle of term I met some lecturers from the English language department and one of them, a John Green from England, who often spoke with me at various times told me one day that my English is surely better than his best students and suggested I change subject and join the English Literature course. I did not hesitate as I did not like the subject I had chosen and in mid-second term I was transferred to the English department where I managed to become one of the best students.

The photos of college years show better than words the life we lived.

In one of our frequent trips, on the way from Jiroft to Bam after spending NowRooz with my family. From left: Grandma, Zarin, aunt Iran, Mehdi and I holding little Fati. The photo was taken in mid-1950s.

Aunt Iran

My aunt Iran and her husband Mr Sadjadi in the old, happy days of 1950s.
Various photos of aunt Iran, her children and Mr Sadjadi's family.

Spring 1958, Jiroft

This photo was taken in the spring of 1958 in Jiroft. My mother holding my dad's rifle, my aunt Iran and I in the outskirts of town. Now I was old enough to be included in the adults circle. It must have been a moment of total closeness and delight. The way mum has leaned on her sister and I look happy. Where are the rest of the clan? Nowhere to be seen. Wish my gandma was in the photo then our union of three generations would have been complete.

My aunt's house in Bam

This is the most interesting photos of all. Taken in Bam in the courtyard of my aunt's house, from left standing: aunt Iran, her younger sister-in-law Eshrat and the older sister-in-law Showkat.

Sitting: left my grandmother Bibi Atieh and my aunt's mother-in-law Bibi Sadjadi. all seem to have dressed for an occasion. As long as I remember, Bibi Sadjadi used to shave her eyebrows and use eyebrow pencil instead. She had thin, dark lips because of addiction to opium. This picture was taken in the early 1950s. Behind them is an orange tree which I remember vividely and the big pond in the middle of the courtyard. The many rooms where my aunt, grandma and her mother-in-law lived are set around the courtyard. The corridor behind Showkat led to the back of the house which was an orange and palm grove in the middle of which ran a brook whose origins were the subterranian waters in the deserts surrounding Bam. The 2 photos below: Left: my aunt Iran's mother -in-law and Showkat khanum her daughter. Right: Mr Sadjadi and two sisters: Showkat and Eshrat khanums.

T

My parents & aunt Iran and her husband

A photo taken a short while after my aunt's marriage. My father on the left has tried to look like city boys but comparing with my aunt's husband?............
The photo has be taken in mid-1940s.

My mother

My mother in her early thirties.

In Bam with cousins

In the orange and palm groves of Bam. Me & my cousins, Zarin about 10
years and Fati 6 or 7 years old.









Various outings in Bam: New Year 1954.

Now Rooz in Jiroft

Two photos taken in Jiroft. It is during the Nowrooz time(our New Year).On the right, Manuchehr & I in the wheat farms outside town. He must have been about 14 years of age. The photo on the left shows Manuchehr (about 10), me, aunt Iran and Fati who is about 7 at the time. Photo was taken about 50 years ago. As my little family split between Bam & Jiroft, they decided to come together each new year. One year in Jiroft and the next in Bam. We children were looking forward to these re-union of my mother and aunt and above all my dearest grandma who for most of the time lived with my aunt. My mother missed her dearly and cherished every moment they were together. I remember the first thing they did when the bus would sto and they disembark was the gush of tears and the crying of all three in each other's arms. We were left alone to roam the gardens and play as much as we want while my aunt & mum and grandma would sit and chat and tried to catch up the lost times.
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نوروز در جیرفت

عکس اول من و برادر ناکامم منوچهر در گند مزارهای اطراف جیرفت. عکس دوم بترتیب از چپ منوچهر با اداهای بچگانه، من و خاله ایران و فاطی که باید حدود 7 سالش باشد. نفر بعدی را بخاطر نمیاورم. از انجائی که خانواده کوچک مادرم با ازدواج مادر و خاله از هم جدا شدند قرار گذاردند که هر نوروز بنوبت دور هم جمع شوند. یکسال در بم و یکسال در جیرفت. جدائی برای مادرم بسیار سخت بود چونکه نه تنها خواهر را از دست داده بود بلکه مادر بزرگ نیز با خاله زندگی میکرد و مادرم از دوری او بسیار رنج میبرد. هر بهار هنگامی که اتوبوس می ایستاد و انها پیاده میشدند مدتی در اغوش هم زار میگریستند و ما بچه ها نیز این رسم را در سالهای بعد تکرار میکردیم. زمانی که من از خانه دور بودم و برای تعطیل باز میگشتم بیاد دارم که منوچهر را بغل میکردم و زار میزدم. او همیشه میگفت چه شده که گریه میکنی.

Aunt Iran & her husband

Aunt Iran in their house in Bam.

Mr Sadjadi, Zarin & Mehdi

زنده یاد اقای سجادی و زرین و مهدی دختر خاله و پسر خاله. اقای سجادی همیشه شیک پوش بود و از جوانان مدرن دوره خود بحساب میامد

Mr Sadjadi, Zarun and Mehdi, my cousins. The photo must have been taken some 60 years ago. Little Zarin is three and Mehdi a few months old. As our family split after my mother and aunt Iran's marriage, we moved to Jiroft and they moved to Bam.

دبستان سعید/ خاله ایران در سال اول بعنوان معلم

کرمان-1323

دبستان سعید

مقامات اموزش و پرورش کرمان

اموزگاران دبستان سعید و شاگردان.
خاله ایران بعنوان معلم مدرسه.

نفر سوم زنان از راست

kerman, Iran 1944.

Education Authorities, teachers and students of Sa'id elementary school. My aunt Iran was a teacher at the school. Third woman from right.



My grandmother's was keen that at least one of her daughters completes her education and enter a profession. with my mother being married, aunt Iran had the opportunity to continue her studies and qualify for teaching. In the above photo, you can see her and a number of women sitting on the front row along with the head of education (in the middle with his hat on his lap) and male teachers as well as some students in the background. Whether it was her first or consequent appointment, I do not remember but what I remember is that she was in my primary school that I attended at the age of 5 or 6. She used to accompany me to school but leave me, terrified of the students and teachers in the courtyard and go to the office which was teacher's only resting area. She used to dress smartly but no make since she was not married yet.
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مادر بزرگ بی بی عطیه که خود در نوجوانی بیوه شده بود راه برون رفت از ناراحتی های ما لی خود را در این دید که مادر مرا شوهر دهد و بعوض وسایل تحصیل خا له ایران را فراهم کند. و چنین بود که خاله ایران دبیرستان را تمام کرد و به استخدام اموزش و پرورش کرمان در امد . عکس با لا که در دبستان سعید گرفته شده است مقامات اموزش و پرورش، معلمین دبستان و تعدادی از دانش اموزان را نشان میدهد. خاله ایران نفر سوم از راست نشسته و در وسط رئیس اموزش و پرورش با سری افراشته بچشم میخورد! بیاد دارم که خاله ایران معلم مدرسه ای بود که مرا در سال اول در سن 5-6 سالگی ثبت نام کردند. من بعضی روزها باتفاق او که دختر جوان و زیبائی بود به مدرسه میرفتم. او بمحض ورود مرا در حالی که بشدت نگران بودم رها میکرد و به سالن محل تجمع معلمین میرفت. اولین دبستان که نامش را فراموش کرده ام در میانه بازار کرمان قرار داشت. ساختمانی بود قدیمی بسبک ساختمانهای کرمان. ما را صبح زود بصف میکردند تا با سرود شاهنشاهی روانه کلاس شویم. بیاد دارم که کلاس من در زیر زمین قرار داشت. من از ان سال ترس از محیط مدرسه و تنبیه را بیاد دارم که بخاطر چپ دست بودن توسط مادرم صورت میگفت. انقدر که من یاد گرفتم با دست راست بنویسم

Kerman, Iran, family photo, 1938

Kerman, Iran


My parent's official wedding photo taken 3 days after the wedding,


1938.
عکس عروسی پدر و مادر که سه روز بعد از عروسی در سال 1317 گرفته شده است





My mother, Afagh was onlyt 17 years of age when she was married off to my father. My father Hassan was the son of a tribal chief who lived in the valleys and villages north of a town called Jiroft in the farthest parts of south-east Iran. A family of nomads, in winters, they would settle on the bank of river Helil in Jiroft which then consisted of scattered villages. In summers they migrated to the deep valleys where they owned land and orchards and their cattle had access to mountain pastures. My father's ancestors had lived in this fashion for as long as he remembered. My father's forefather was a man called Ghasem Shafi who according to my father had never travelled beyond the mountains. His tribe and his orchards were all he knew. My grandfather, Tajmorad had two wives, a daughter and several sons from the first wife but only two sons from the second wife, my fatyher Hassan and uncle Akbar. Safieh, his second wife was his favourite. According to my father, he was a kind and considerate father. One day he said his prayers and told his wife that he is going to die. And he lied down and died. My father Hassan, though very young was clever enough to take control of the household. Having no profession and deciding that he did not want to be a nomad, he began trade with the Zorostrian merchants in Kerman city. He would buy wheat, barley, cotton, hide and other local products from the locals and take them by mules to Kerman via treacherous mountain routes. As a suitable bachlor he was about to marry a girl from his village but travelling to Kerman opened his eyes and changed his mind. He wanted to marry a Kermani girl. So, he began asking around and his charms soon favoured him. The women of a family who became aware of his intention promised to matchmake for him. Soon the suitable bride was spotted and my father was advised to stand en-route a high school where my mother and her sister attended. She, young, happy and unaware of the plot, passed by that young man who eximined her head to tow and approved of her. Next, the matchmakers were busy gathering information, visiting my mother's relatives and finally my grandmother and put the proposal on the table. As was the custom, they exaggerated about my father's status, his wealth and his background. My grandmother, who was a widow of many years decided that marrying my mother would ease the financial burden from her and would let her younger daughter to continue her studies. The day my father came to formally ask the family to marry my mother, all my mother's uncles were present. It was a male only business to negotiate marriage deals. He entered a room full of men who were far more educated and knowoledgable than him but he managed to charm all of them and earn their approval. It was days later that my young mother was informed of the elder's decision. School was cancelled and she was married off in a simple ceremony to my father, not knowing what the future had in the womb of the future. Future sat waiting on the doorstep of time. The above photo shows my parents hand in hand, 3 days after their marriage. She looks so innocent and so resigend. He looks triumphant.

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عکس بالا تنها عکسی است که گو یا سه روز بعد از عروسی از پدر و مادرم گرفته شده است. مادرم هفده ساله بود که طبق خواست مادر بزرگ و توافق دائی ها که در واقع بزرگتر خانواده بودند به ازدواج با پدر رضایت داد. پدرم حسن از طایفه شفیعی درمنطقه جیرفت بود و در واقع در نواحی شمال شهر جیرفت اقامت داشتند. خانواده او در زمستانها در حاشیه هلیل رود در دهی که متعلق به پدر بزرگ بود چادرنشینی میکردند و در اوایل تابستان به کوهستان های شمال منطقه جیرفت کوچ میکردند. پدر بزرگ سالار تاج مراد نام داشت و دارای دو همسر و چندین فرزند بود. همسر دوم او صفیه مادر حسن و اکبر بود و در واقع سوگلی پدر بزرگ. یک روز پدر بزرگ تاجمراد در سن کهنسالی به همسرش اعلام میکند که بعد از نماز خواهد مرد و هم این میشود. نمازش را تمام میکند، رویش را به قبله میکند و از دنیا میرود. او را در اطاقکی در پای زیارتگاهی بنام شعیب بخاک سپرده اند که هنوز هم پا بر جاست و در واقع با صفیه در ان مقبره خانوادگی که پدر نیز ارزرو داشت بخاک سپرده شود باقی مانده اند.

پدرم حسن پس از مرگ پدر با انکه فرزند کوچکنر بود اما با زرنگی سرپرستی خانواده را بعهده گرفت و از مادر و برادر تنی خود اکبر حمایت میکرد. از انجا که زندگی روستائی را دوست نداشت تن بازدواج با دختران محلی نداد. ارزوهای بلند تری در سر میپرورانید. پس از مدتی شروع به رفت و امد به شهر کرمان کرد و دریافت که میتواند بافروش و معامله محصولات محلی نظیر گندم و پنبه و خشکبار به تجار رزتشتی بازار کسب و کار کند و سالها باین کار اشتغال داشت. در همین اوان در صدد برامد که دختری کرمانی برای خود جستجو کند و قرعه بنام مادرم افاق افتاد که در ان زمان شاگرد دبیرستان بود. زنی که مادر را مناسب یافته بود به پدرم پیشسنهاد میکند که سر راه مدرسه مادر را ببیند و اگر خوشش امد ترتیب خواستگاری داده شود. مادرم در ان زمان دختری بود زیبا که بهمراه دوستان بی حجاب به مدرسه میرفت و پدر اورا در حال خنده و شوخی با دختران دیگر میبیند و می پسندد و از خانم واسطه خواهش میکند که ترتیب خواستگاری داده شود.

مادر بزرگ بی بی عطیه که خود از نظر مالی در تنگنا بود و ازدواج یک دختر را راهی برای ادامه تحصیل دختر کوچکترش ایران میدید با مسئله موافقت کرد. و در یک روز معین همه دائی ها در خانه مادر بزرگ جمع شدند تا مراسم خواستگاری بعمل اید. اولین عکس العمل دائی ها این بود که این جوان با انکه از منطقه روستائی میاید چقدر از خود راضی است اما پدرم حسن باوجود انکه کسی از افراد خانواده اش در انجا حضور نداشتند توانست با غلو در وضعیت مالی خود موافقت انها را بدست اورد. مادرم افاق یکروز اطلاع یافت که قرار است ازدواج کند و باید مدرسه را ترک کند. ازدواجی که با مرسمی ساده برگزار شد و در روز سوم عروسی عکاسی بخانه امد تا عکس بالا را بیادگار برای ما و تاریخ بر جای نهد. در این عکس پدر، مغرور و شادمان و مادر بی هیچگونه احساس دست در دست مردی نشسته است که سالها طول کشید تا او را بشناسد. سالهائی که در عکس های دیگر خانوادگی به شهادت نشستهاند.

Family photo, Kerman, My mother's family 1930s

kerman
کرمان
عکس خانوادگی- خانواده مادری : معین زاده، ساعد وسعید
عکس در سال 1317 در کرمان گرفته شده است

Family photo 1938, Kerman
My mother's immidiate family on her mother's side. Moieen-zadeh, Moini, Sa'id and Sa'ed.

Kerman is an ancient city amid the deserts of south-east Iran. The province of the same name comprises of a number of towns and villages which sprawl for hundreds of miles in and along the desert and also mountanious areas and valleys. The name Karmanieh or Kerman dates back to 7th century BC and is mentioned in the oldest maps. The city of Kerman is circled by dry barren desert and hills which stretch in every direction. Kerman had been a strategic route to the south of Iran and the Persian Gulf. Historically it had been invaded by many conquerors who had set ruins to it. But the Kermanis, being resilient as they were had built the city from ruins. Until recent decades, Kerman had the biggest Zorostrian population after the city of Yazd. Zorostrianism is the oldest religion known to man with their prophey Zoroaster who brought the Book Avesta which preached kindness and good manners. Today, Zorostrians are few in number as many had emigrated to foreign lands. In general, Kermanis had kept their ancient traditions and Islam has a strong presence in the centre as well as some cities. Kermanis speak Farsi but with a dialect which varies in the towns and villages. The dialect of Kerman city has a tenderness and warmth blended with kindness and humbleness. Kermanis had been famous for their hospitality. Kerman had also been famous for its carpet industry as for thousands of years it had imported the finest carpets to the rest of the world.

Kerman had not been a green city due to the surrounding deserts. Nevertheless, a network of subterranean water system which flows from the faraway mountains and its construction dates back to several thousands of years irrigates the city gardens and the plantations outside. In the old days, the architecture of the houses were suitable for the climate; crisp cold in winter, dry hot in summer. Houses were built around a central courtyard with a pond in the middle. The rooms in every house had high ceilings and doors opened to each room and onto the verandahs which led into the circular courtyard. Basements were also a necessary part of each house as they were used to store and preserve food such as bread, jams, pickles, bottles of distilled herbs and vegetables extracts; rose petals, mint, rosemary, oregano which were used to make cool sherbet in summer or for medicinal purposes.
More information: 1-Scent of Saffron (three generations of aqn Iranian family), Rouhi Shafii, Scarlet Press, UK, 1997.

2-Pomegranate Hearts, Rouhi Shafii, Shiraz Press, UK, 2006.

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My mother's family had lived in Kerman for as long as their history could be traced. My grandmother's mother had been married off at the age of fourteen. According to my grandmother, she was so beautiful that no one called her by he real name (whatever it was). She was called Bibi Aroos (the lady bride) until her death in young age. Her husband, who was a desndant of some Shiat Immam(sayyed) came from a famous merchant's family(Moeen-al-tojar-respected merchant) and was dumb.


When Reza Shah came to power in 1926, he began the enormous task of building a nation-state out of various self-governing regions of Iran. In the 1930s along with other governmental establishments, he established the National Notary Office and urged the population to choose family names and to register their births and deaths. My grandmother's brothers chose Moeen-zadeh(born of Moeen/the trusted)as their surname. But the three sisters; Alieh, Elieh and Attieh took their husband's surnames. Of the four Moeen-zadeh brothers. Javad worked at Bank Shahi (the first Iranian bank), Kazem and Karim chose the tax office and the fourth became a police investigator.

My maternal grandfather, Ibrahim Sa'id was appointed as the first head of the Notary Office in Kerman. He travelled widely with an entourage to towns and villages and issued identity cards. Ironically, he met my father in Jiroft, where he decided to choose the family name; Shafii for himself and many members of his clan (he was a tribal chief) as one of his ancestors was called Ghasem Shafi'e.

My maternal grandfather died at a very young age, never knowing that that arrogant, tribal man would one day become his-son-in law. Unfortunately, no photo of my maternal granfather exists but according to my grandmother, he was a very gentle and kind person and loved his two daughters dearly. He used to oversee their upbringing and personally fed my mother, Afagh(the world) the best portion of meat when she was a child. He was keen that her duaghters; Afagh and Iran(taken after the country's name) finish their studies. My grandfather was also a poet(his pseudo name was Paysepar). His name had been registered in the history of Kerman's poets. In all, he wrote 250 lines of which, a few had remained in my mother's diary. His sudden death brought much hardship to my mother's family as my grandmother, Atieh was only 27 years of age when her husband whom she dearly loved, died of an unknown illness. At the time of his death, he was only 33, my mother Afagh 12 and my aunt Iran was 10 years of age.

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The photo was taken in 1938 and it is an opening to my picture book. Most of the immediate members of my mother's family are present. It is after the unveiling period so men are very formal, wearing double-breasted suits; women, in tailor-made dresses, some with permed hair. I am not sure whose hoiuse it had been but it seems that it is a typical Kermani house and the photo was taken outside on the verendah.


From the right, my aunt Iran, as a teenager with short hair and patterned top, beside her is my mother's cousin, Esmat of the same age as my aunt and behind them, her brother Hassan khan. My mother Afagh has just been married to my father Hassan. She is third on the right in the front row wearing a well-tailored suit: long skirt and a jacket. My father is standing right behind her. Next to my mother is her third uncle's wife (I have forgotten both their names). In the middle is my grandmother, Bibi Attieh, in a two-piece dress with white collar; one leg over the other. The elder woman on her right is her sister Bibi Alieh whom I never met. and beside her is Marziah kihanum, my grandmother's elder brother's wife. I will speak about some of these relatives in more detail. The young girl beside Marziah khanum is Badri khanum, my grandmother's younger brother's wife and beside her, Ashraf, Javad khan's daughter from a first wife.

Standing from the right is my father, my grandmother's third brother. Standing from the left is my grandmother's younger brother Karim and beside him Javad khan. The rest of the children and adults are not known to me.

* * *
My mother's family on both her father and mother's side were very modern especially the men. My motherr's cousins on her fathert's side either joined the army or the navy. Mymother's uncles on her mother's side worked as civil servants at Reza Shah's newely-established administration. Javad khan worked at Bank Shahi (the first bank established in Iran). He was married with two children, when he fell in love with the daughter of a high ranking clergy (Seghat-al-Islam), Marzieh, who was a young student at the time. Their love story spread through town and poems were made about the clergy's daughter and the son of the dumb merchant who now worked at the Bank! The poems entered the folklore of the town, where people sneered at the whole saga. He eventually divorced his wife and married Marzieh.

In the late 1940s, he was transferred to Tehran where they bought a house in Bahar Avenue. Apart from the two children from his first wife; a son called Taj and the daughter Ashraf, who were treated as second class, Javad khan and Marzieh khanum had 5 children; two daughters and three sons. Uncle Javad was an educated man for his time and Marzieh khanum was modern and very chic. Their five children all got university degrees and some were sent abroad to study. The duaghters, Parvin and Shireen married high ranking lawyers. As long as I remember, they were the elite of the family!


When I moved to Tehran in early 1960, my grandmother accompanied me in order to settle me down. Whenever she went to visit her brother she took me with her to the house in Bahar avenue which was full of nice furniture and antiques. To me, as a young, inexperienced girl, they all seemed aloof and snubs. I hated these visitations as I had to wear my best dress and feel stressed all through the visit. As we grew older, I stopped all contacts with them.

My grandmother's second brother Kazem was the kindest and sweetest of all the four. Legend says that he was the casavova of his time and the darling of young girls. He played many tricks to meet his amorous in clandestine and avoided scandals in the traditional, ancient city of Kerman. Later, he married a girl who bore no children for him. He got a second wife but neither of them bore children. The two wives; Nosrat and Maryam lived together in the same household and had no jelousy towards eachother. When Nosrat was terminally ill in later years, Maryam nursed her to the last days. We visited this uncle a lot especially when he was posted to Esfahan and I was in Tehran. He used to tell us tales of the old days and amuse us all the time.


The third brother who was a police inspector moved to the city of Mashad with his wife and only son. We heard about them from time to time but never saw them. The fourth brother, Abdol-Karim was married with 5 children; three daughters and two sons. He worked at the tax office and was posted to Jiroft, my father's home town in the 1950s, where he lived for decades. The daughters now live in the US but we have not seen them since childhood.


My grandmother's sisters, Alieh and Elieh married at an early age and moved out of Kerman. Aleih Khanum moved to a Village/town called Gharyet-al-Arab(the village of the Arabs). She had three sons and two daughters. The older son, Fatol-alah khan who was very handsome moved to Tehran at young age. He married a woman from a distinguaished Tehrani family who was a few years older than him. His children moved to the US and he died in an old people's home in total misery. The second son, Hassan also moved to Tehran and was employed at Point 4, which was an American establishment. He spoke good English and adored anything American. He had three daughters from his Tehrani wife, Akhtar khanum. The elder daughter, Djinus moved to the US in the 70s but the two remaining who were twins had remained in Tehran. I particularly liked this cousin a lot since he helped me in the early years when I was a student in Tehran. I saw him for the last time in mid-1990s when I visited Tehran. He died of Azheimer's disease a few years later.


Alieh khanum's third son, Ahmad khan stayed in Kerman and married a woman from Kerman. He died very young of heart attack. I always met them when I was travelling to Kerman en-route to Jiroft and stayed a night or two at their beautiful, traditional Kermani house and was welcomed by his wife; Fatima khanum. Of his 5 children, a younger son died and one son lives in the US. The rest, two daughters and the elder son live in the Kerman province.
Of Alieh khanum's two daughters, Esmat married in their village and stayed there all her life. She didn't bear any children. Nahid, the younger sister was married to an army officer and moved around Iran every two years. When she finally settled in Tehran in late 1950s, Nahid got a brain tumor and died shortly, age 32. She left 5 young children behind who grew up under harsh conditions. The first year that I moved to Tehran in 1960, I stayed with Nahid and her family for a year and have vivid memories of her. We were all devastated when she died so young. All her children now live in Tehran.


My grandmother's second sister, Elieh khanum married a man from Rafsanjan and moved to that town. We rarely saw them and I have no information about the whereabouts of her children. I only have a cloudy memory of her when she had a stroke and was ill in Kerman. My grandmother used to visit her and take me with her.


Well, this is all I can say about most of the people in the above family photo. I will talk of my grandmother and the rest of my close family when I put more pictures of them in my picture book.

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عکس خانوادگی
1317/ کرمان

این عکس در سال 1317 گرفته شده است

از راست به چپ: عصمت خانم دختر خاله مادرم که خدود پانزده سال دارد. خاله ایران در حدود همان سن و سال و در کنار انها مادرم افاق که بتازگی بازدواج پدرم در امده و هفده ساله است. مادرم کت و دامن بتن دارد و موها یش را اراسته است بلا فا صله پشت سرش پدرم ایستاده است با کت و شلوار و کراوات و مو ها یش را به عقب مرتب شانه کرده است
در طرف دست راست مادرم همسر یکی از دائی هایش نشسته است و بعد مادر بزرگ من ، بی بی عطیه با لباس یقه سفید پا ها را رویهم انداخته است. در کنار او خواهرش بی بی عالیه با پالتو کلفت و در کنار او همسر دائی بزرگ مادرم، مرضیه خانم کودک خردسالش را در بغل دارد. بدری خانم همسر دائی کوچک مادرم و اشرف دختر دائی مادرم در کنار او.

ایستاده از چپ، دائی جان معنیی همسر بدری خانم و دائی جان معین زاده همسر مرضیه خانم قرار دارند ازسمت راست، حسن خان ساعد، خواهر عصمت خانم و بعد پدرم حسن و دائی دوم مادرم ایستاده اند.

نمای ظاهری عکس نشان میدهد که اعضاء خانواده تا انجا که ممکن بوده است دور هم جمع شده اند تا این عکس تاریخی برای ما یادگار بماند
زمان بعد از کشف حجاب رضا شاهی است و با انکه بیشتر زنان حاضر در این عکس در ابتدا با کشف حجاب مخالف بودند اما بعد ها بیشترشان با لباسهای مد روز ان زمان خو گرفتند.

کشف حجاب در کشف کرمان با سر سختی بسیار از طرف خانواده ها و علمای انزمان مواجه شد.مادر بزرگ من در حالی که خود زن جوانی بود اما تا دو سال پا از خانه بیرون نگذاشت تا سرو صدای اولیه خوابید و او توانست با چادر بیرون رود. البته روبنده برای همیشه از میان رفت. مادرم اما بخصوص فبل از ازدواج بهمراه دائی ها در مجالس مهمانی که برای کشف حجاب از طرف فرماندار برگذار میشد شرکت میکرد و از اینکه نباید چادر بسر کند لذت میبرد.

خانواده مادری من تا انجا که تاریخ بیاد دارد کرمانی بودند پدر بزرگ مادرم از تجار بازار بود و از خانواده معین التجار. مادر مادر بزرگم در سن بسیار کم به عقد یکی از پسران معین التجار در میاید که اتفا قا لال بوده است و او را سید لال مینامیداند. این دختر جوان گویا انقدر زیبا بوده است که تا اخر عمر بنام بی بی عروس معروف شده بود. بی بی عروس از ازدواج زودرسش دارای فرزندان بسیار میشود: 4 پسر و 3 دختر. خود او اما در سننین جوانی وفات میکند که علت ان بر ما نا معلوم است.

مادر بزرگم نیز در سن جوانی بازدواج پدر بزرگم در امد اما ازا نجا که پدر بزرگ شخصی درس خوانده و شاعر منش بود رفتارش با همسر و دو دخترش، مادر من ، افاق و خا له ایران بسیار برعکس مردان روزگار خود بوده است. مادر بزرگ بی بی عطیه در سن جوانی و درحالی که دخترانش تنها 12 و 10 ساله بودند شوهر مهربان و شاعر خود را از دست میدهد. این فاجعه برای او و دخترانش اثرات نا گواری بر جای گذارد که بعدا بانها میپردازم. پدر بزرگ ابراهیم سعید شاعر بود و از وی حدود 250 قطعه شعر بر جای مانده است و نام او و همچنین تخلص او (پی سپار) در کتاب شعرای کر مان به ثبت رسیده است. پدر بزرگ بعنوان اولین رئیس ثبت احوال رضا شاهی بهمراه مامورانی به همه نقاط کرمان سفر میکرد و اهالی را تشویق میکرد تا برای خود و افراد خانواده شان شناسنامه بگیرند. در یکی از این سفرها به متطقه جیرفت، برای مرد جوانی که رئیس یک قبیله بود شناسنامه ای با نام فامیلی شفیعی صادر کرد بی خبر از انکه چند سال بعد انمرد قبیله ای با دختر جوان و دردانه اش افاق ازدواج خواهد کرد. مادرم افاق انقدر دردانه پدر بود که وی با دست خود برایش مغز قلم میپخت و باو میداد تا قوی و سالم بزرگ شود. عمر پدر بزرگ کوتاه بود و او در سن 33 سا لگی به بیماری نا شناخته ای گرفتار شد و بزودی از دنیا رخت بر بست. در یغ که از وی بجز اشعار پراکنده عکسی بیادگار نمانده است

از دائی های مادرم جواد معین زاده بزرگترین دائی، کارمند بانک شاهی، اولین بانک ایران بود. وی سالها قبل ازدواج کرده و صاحب یک پسر بنام تاج و یک دختر بنام اشرف بود که بنا گهان عاشق دختر جوانی میشود که نامش مرضیه و دختر روحانی مشهور انزمان، ثقته الاسلام بود. داستان این عشق بر سر زبانها افتاد و عوام برای ان اشعار هجو ساختند و بر سر کوچه و بازار میخواندند. دائی جان معین زاده بالاخره همسرش را طلاق داد و با مرضیه ازدواج کرد. مرضیه خانم انطور که ما او را میشناختیم زنی بسیار مدرن و شیک پوش و صاحب سلیقه و متفرعن بود. انها صاحب 5 فرزند شدند: سه پسر و 2 دختر. من از پسرها خاطرهای ندارم اما بیاد میاورم زمانی را که در سال 1340 من باتفاق مادر بزرگ بتهران امدیم تا من در دانشگاه بتحصیل بپردازم و مادز بزرگ گاه برای دیدن این برادر به خانه انها در خیابان بهار میرفت و مراهم نا خواتسته با خود میبرد. این بازدید ها برای من رنج اور بود چونکه میبایست لباس شیک بپوشم که در ان زمان کم داشتم و بسیار مواظب رفتار خود باشم. دختر بزرگ دائی جان ، پروین که گویا یکسال از من بزرکتر بود هیچ تلاشی در جهت نزدیکی با من نمیکرد و من بعد از انکه مادر بزرگ به بم بازگشت دیگر بدیدن انها نرفتم. بهر حال فرزندان این دائی همه روانه امریکا شدند و احتمالا اکنون نیز در انجا زند گی میکنند.

برادر دوم مادر بزرگ که نام او بخاطرم نمانده بعنوان بازجو یا کاراگاه در اداره شهربانی کرمان کار میکرذد و دارای یک فرزند پسر بود. بعدها وی به مشهد انتقال یافت و کسی از او خبردار نشد. برادر سوم که کاظم نام داشت با همه ما بسیار مهربان و نزدیک بود. کاظم خان کارمند اداره ثبت اسناد بود و بعدها رئیس ان. وی ابتدا با زنی بنام نصرت ازدواج کرد و سپس زن دیگری اختیار کرد که قبلا در خانه انها کار میکرد. من این دائی را زمانی که باصفهان منتقل شده بود بسیار میدیدم و از او خاطرات شیرینی در ذهنم بجای مانده است. دو زن او، نصرت و مریم در نهایت صلح و صفا با هم در یک خانه زندگی میکردند و با انکه هیچکدام صاحب فرزندی نشدند اما مصاحبلت با انها و دائی بخصوص زمانی که تریاک مفصل کشیده و نئشه بود و از خاطرات دوران جوانی و ماجراهای خود با دختران جوان کرمانی بازگو میکرد بسیار سرگرم کننده و دلپذیر بود. این دائی زیبائی را دوست داشت و ستایش میکرد و رفتارش انچنان بود که دو همسرش با هم دوستان صمیمی تا اخر عمر باقی ماتندند.

اخرین و جواتنرین برادر مادر بزرگ ، دائی جان معینی در دوران جوانی با مادر بزرگ و دختران او بسیار نزدیک بود و بهمراه مادرم تار مینواخت و با انها بمسافرت میرفت. اما بعد از ازدواج و با انکه در شهر محل اقامت مادرم ، یعنی جیرفت زندگی میکرد دیگر ان علاقه قبلی از میان رفته بود و انها بندرت همدیگر را میدیدند. دائی جان معینی دارای 5 فرزند شد :3 دختر و 2 پسر. از پسر ها یکیشسان از دنیا رفته است و ان دیگر در ایران است اما دختران گویا در امریکا زندگی میکنند. مادرشان بدری خانم هم تا زمان این نوشتار گویا در قید حیات است.

خواهران خانواده، بی بی عالیه در دهی بنام قریه العرب در نزدیکی بردسیر با شوهر و 5 فرزندش زندگی میکرد. فرزندان پسر او ، فتح الله، حسن و احمد همگی به کرمان و فتح الله و حسن به تهران نقل مکان کردند. فتح الله خان مردی بسیار خوش قیافه و بلاصطلاح ژیگو لوی زمان خود بود و با نواده صدر الاشراف ازدواج کرد که چند سال از و بزرگتر بود و از وی صاحب چند فرزند شد. سالها بعد فرزندان به امریکا مهاجرت کردند و او در تنهائی در خانه سالمندان از جهان رفت. حسن خان پسر دوم در تهران انگلسی را خوب اموخت و در اداره اصل چهار امریکائیها مشغول بکار شد حسن خان نیز با دختری تهرانی ازدواج کرد که خانم بسیار شیک پوش و خوش صحبت بود و از وی صاحب سه دختر شد که یکی از انها در جوانی به امریکا مهاجرت کرد و دو دختر دیگر در تهران ماندگار شدند. حسن خان در سالهای اخر عمر بالاخره بامریکا رفت اما زیاد ماندگار نشد و در تهران در اثر بیماری الزیمر د رگذشت. پسر خاله سوم، احمد خان در کرمان ماندگار شد و همانجا ازدواج کرد و صاحب فرزندانی شد که از همه بما نزدیکتر بودند. این پسر خاله مادرم همواره با روی باز از ما که در راه کرمان به تهران چند روزی در منزلش توقف میکردیم پذیرائی گرم میکرد و خانه قدیمی کاملا کرمانیش بروی اقوام باز بود. احمد خان در سن پنجاه سالگی در اثر سکته قلبی در گذشت .

فرزندان دختر عالیه خانم، عصمت و ناهید بودند. عصمت خانم در ده محل اقامت شوهرش اقامت داشت اما ناهید که دختر بسیار زیبا و جوانی بود و بازدواج کسی در امد که در ارتش مقامی داشت و هر چند سال یکبار به منطقه ای انتقال می یافت. سرهنک نادری بالاخره ماندگار تهران شد و خانه ای در خیابان شکوفه در چهار راه ژاله اجاره کردند. اولین بار که من در سال 1339 برای امتحان کنکور و ورود به دانشگاه باتفاق مادر بزرگ بتهران امدم در خانه خیابان شکوفه مستاجر انها شدم. ناهید و سرهنگ نادری دارای 5 فرزند شدند اما از بخت بد ناهید به بیماری تومور مغزی گرفتار شد و در سن 32 سالگکی فرزندان خردسالش را تنها گذارد. این کودکان که بزرگترینشان 16 سال داشت در شریط بسیار سختی بزرگ شدند و اکنون هریک سر و سامانی دارند.
از خواهر دوم مادر بزرگ اطلاعات زیادی در دست نیست. وی پس از زادواج به رفسنجان محل اقامت شوهر رفت و ما او و فرزندانش را کمتر ملاقات میکردیم.

برای اطلاع بیشتر به کتبی که در بالا نام برده شده است مرجعه کنید.