Commemoration ceremony for Dr Mohammad Ali Eslami Nodooshan, a powerful master in Persian language and literature, was held in collaboration with the Association of cultural characters and their works; Andisheh and Ehsan tohid foundation, Yazd Tabar Center, and Andisheh Roshan Nodooshan Cultural and Social Institute on Sunday, May 29, 2022.
In this ceremony, AsgharDadbeh, a prominent figure of Persian literature, Seyed Mahmoud doaie, director of Etella-at Institute, Hassan Balkhari, president of the Association of celebrated writers and cultural works; fereydoon Majlesi, writer and researcher, and Mahmoud Asadi, director of the museum and house of everlasting figures, gave speeches, and a video clip of the speech of Reza Davari Ardakani, Iranian philosopher and thinker and retired professor of the Department of Philosophy, Tehran University was shown. The message of Dr Hadi Khaniki, Professor of Communication Sciences was read by Dr. Amir Hossein Jalali Nodooshan, and the message of Mehran Eslami Nodooshan, Dr Nodooshan’s son, was also dispersed.
The connection between Iran, Iranian culture, and Persian language and literature, in the writings of this professor
At the beginning of the ceremony, soheil Mahmoudi, Persian poet and master of the ceremony, said: “In the past century, among the generations that we have been observing, Dr Mohammad Ali Eslami Nodooshan is one of the pillars of our culture, and who was undoubtedly a master; and whose works related to a few pivoted subjects, i.e., Iran, Iran’s culture and the Persian language and literature.
He said that Mohammad Ali Eslami Nodooshan had a long and fruitful life and added: “I wish his body was returned to Iran and I hope this happens, and according to his wish, it could be buried next to Khayam’s tomb, or as the people of Nodooshan wish, to be buried in Nodooshan.
Eslami Nodooshan was the embodiment of love for Iran
Dadbeh, the lasting figure of Persian literatrure, was the next speaker. He began his speech with a poem and said: “In the days after his death I gave a few lectures. I was asked what had he done and why was he so famous? I wrote the answer to this question, and it was also published in Etemad. He has talked about Iran, about love and about love for his homeland which he knew through experience that it rose from Iran itself.
He added: “Eslami Nodooshan knew that this is the source, and without our motherland everything else is meaningless.” National values and religious values find meaning in the homeland.
Dadbeh said: “Without going into excesses, I want to point out at a seemingly simple but in fact very important subject, which he has mentioned many times in his writings: sustainable development; easy to say and difficult to act on.
This prominent professor of Persian literature added:”Jean-Paul Sartre has a famous saying he says that before one dies we cannot say who he/she was. If we look at this from any angle, in average, we here are not like this, and usually give our own judgement by looking at just one case.
He stated: “In the past few days, we have read things that were a clear example of issuing a general verdict in a minor case without investigation. He said with regret, “As we read his works and as they recommended, he should live in Iran, he should stay in Iran, he should die in Iran, and now we see that he lived in Canada.”
He referred to the film shown at the beginning of the ceremony and said: “What we saw in these films showed his presence in Iran until 2016.” Every year or two, the professor went to Canada to give lectures and meet with his children. Our dear teacher, at the age of 94, when he went there, the doctor did not allow him to fly and return, and the teacher stayed there until he died. This is just an example. We have to look broadly, think and then make an average judgement.
Dadbeh added: “Eslami Nodooshan was an embnodiment of love for Iran; the same Iran that he had spoken about without going into extremes; and explained that whenever he spoke about Iran he didn’t mean just a piece of land. He believed that considering all the heritages of this land and its culture, if there does not exist attachment to this land, then this land does not have meaning by itself. We are not playing with words here. There is a deep attachment and he repeatedly pointed out what we were on the other side of history and what we are now on this side of history. He may have forgotten his own self but he nevere forgot Iran.
He stated: “When he said to avoid extremism, looking at the homeland should also be in moderation. He believed that Iran is like the lovers of Persian lyric poetry, which is deceptive and annoying. What does annoying mean? There are shortcomings that these shortcomings are again from our shortcomings.”
Dadbeh continued: “We moved forward brilliantly until the 4th century; both in military and cultural battles. In the 4th century, because of such a dynamism we had Ebn Sina and Abu Rayhan. Philosophical thought and theological thought moved together, and intellectual and scientific progress was accurate and correct, but unfortunately, from the fifth century, theology dominated philosophy. Repeat and repeat and emphasize and emphasize. Unfortunately, we are still coping with that historically trapped wisdom, and to the Moghul invasion followed by mind recession. It is the upbringing together with education that can help our youth think independently.
Dadbeh added: “I will end my speech with two sentences from Iqbal Lahuri. Iqbal says that if you ask him what was the greatest success of the Arabs he would say that the Arabs were as successful in conquering Iran as the romans were in conquering Greece. Islamic civilization was like a child who inherited violence from his Semitic father and culture from his Iranian mother. If this did not happen, Islamic culture would be incomplete.
The anthology that Eslami talks about that built this culture and civilization Iqbal described this way. Eslami’s reason for talking about extremism is that owners of culture and those with the same culture must move forward, with the hope of achieving the balance that he talks about.
Eslami Nodooshan was one of the most Iranian scientists in Iran.
A clip of Reza Davari Ardakani, an Iranian philosopher and scholar and retired professor of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Tehran, was presented. In this clip Davari Ardakani said: “Eslami Nodooshan was a writer who always reminded us never to forget Iran. Naturally, Iran did not forget him either.” He was one of the most Iranian scientists in Iran who respected everyone, including non-Iranians. He did his best to introduce Iran and translated the works of important poets. He was not a man of politics but had a good understanding of politics.
Davari Ardakani, stating that Dr. Eslami was a writer, poet, and writer who had influenced the people’s souls, said: “He, who was acquainted with literature as a child, received a doctorate in law.” He wrote the story of the sufferings of Iran. Writing and thinking about Iran was not his job but actually his whole life. He left behind great works about the literature and culture of Iran and the world.
This Iranian philosopher and scholar and retired professor of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Tehran continued: It would be like having a scientist and “He was lucky to have a noble and learned wife, Dr Shirin Bayani. This down-to-the-earth professor wrote an introduction about his wife: “My wife is humanitarian and a lover of Iran; she was a talented writer who had great compassion for the people. I greet his family from far and once again offer my condolences on the death of Dr. Eslami and wish them a blessed life.
Nodooshan’s opinion about the dialogue at the crossroads of cultures
In the continuation of this memorial ceremony, Dr. Amir Hossein Jalali Nodooshan read the message of Dr. Hadi Khaniki, Professor of Communication Sciences; The statement read: “In the name of god of wisdom and life”. I am in the hospital for the fourth course of chemotherapy, but friends asked me to write something in honor of our late professor, a lover of Iran and an expert about Iran. I will unhesitatingly dedicate, in short, valuable experience during my friendship with this great man.”
Khaniki continued reading the message: “The structure of thought of the late Dr Nodooshan was a clear example of a structured dialogue, because he considered it a gift to have dialogue with two cultures: one with the native Iranian culture and the other with the western culture, and that he was living at the crossroads: old, new east and west.
He added: “He was not a denier of any culture and civilization. He always honestly made choices by seeing what suited his morale. Although he loved Iranian literature, but let’s look at his favorite characters. We come across celebrities such as Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Jawaharlal Nehru, Hafez, Ferdowsi, and others, which shows the depth of his view of world literature He would say that he had only one purpose in writing and that was to pay his dues. He believed that he had lived upto his expectations, like the tree that grew on a hill top, but the wind took it elsewhere. He said that it was worthwhile because he was able to see both sides of that hill.
In his speech Seyed Mahmoud doaie said: “I have great respect for the great men and women who played significant roles in this country. I love Eslami Nodooshan for being such a learned man. He was far beyond his time. He was the only cultured and honorable man who could not be blackmailed.
We see the unity of reason and love in Eslami’s works
Hassan Balkhari, President of the Association of celebrated writers and cultural works, said in his speech: “Referring to Dr Dadbeh’s speech, I must say that civilizations that worked around reason and wisdom, automatically developed balance. Our master’s most famous works started with wisdom, Ibn Sina has a treatise called the treatise of Ascension, which is written in Arabic under the title of Ascension Letter, which is also translated into Persian.
He added: “If it were not for Iran, Islam would be buried in the sands of Arabia because we were inheritors of rationale and wisdom. Shahnameh, the identity of Iran, starts with the word “wisdom”. It is quite interesting to see how Mowlana and Ferdowsi lived together in Nodooshan’s thoughts and soul of Rumi and Ferdowsi come together in the soul of Nodooshan. Professor Nodooshan believes that culture has four main pillars; Ferdowsi, Rumi, Hafez, and Saadi.
Balkhari continued: “I will describe the word wisdom based on a text from Avesta. In Shahnameh, two terms are widely and synonymously used. One is art and the other is wisdom. In many parts of Shahnameh this synonym comes so much as twins that it is impossible to understand one without the other. We have a famous saying “Art belongs to Iranians and only Iranians”. This art does not mean music; in most places, the aesthetic emergence of wisdom is art. Shahnameh has taken the meaning of wisdom from Yasna. Spiritual powers distinguish good from evil and the second point is the avalanche attribute. Bahman is a symbol of wisdom in Iran, and sheikh Ishraq attributes the “first light” to Bahman or Hoomanah, meaning good thoughts and adds that whoever makes Shahnameh as his guide will lead a life full of wisdom.
President of the Association of celebrated writers and cultural works said: “If one does not possess a big soul he/she cannot hold wisdom and love together; and this shows the greatness of our souls fin which wisdom and love are united. Maybe that such souls that Iranians had was also held by Mohammad Eslami Nodooshan, who had both of them together. In no one else’s works will we find the unity of wisdom and love.
For Eslami Nodooshan everything was good in its right place
In continuation of this ceremony, Fereydoon Majlisi, writer and researcher, started his speech by stating that different dimensions and aspects of Nodooshan’s personality have been described by the esteemed speakers, and said: When Islami Nodoshan came to Tehran to study, he was a few years older than his peers, but since he had started writing poem, he would go to Naderi Cafe, and would also cooperation Sokhan Magazine. Some young people would gather there demanding justice, not for political motives. He paved a long way in those days and found some friends, but was never attracted by the Tudeh party.
He added: “We cannot say that he had no social aspirations. He did have political inclinations. But in his life everything was good at its right place. In the articles that he wrote his interests and ideas are shown clearly. His works, written at different times, should be read carefully and then judged, after taking an average.
Eslami Nodoshan’s interest in Saadi is evident in his works.
Next to speak was Dr Mahmoud Asadi, director of the museum and house of lasting figures, expressed his condolences to the surviving wife of Dr Eslami Nodooshan and his family, and said: “I was lucky to have grown with great intellectuals during the past four decades. During this period 5 or 6 of them lived for about a century and made good use of their lives. Among them I can name Mohammad Ali Jamalzadeh, Manouchehr Sotoudeh, and the living memory of Dr. Mohammad Ali Eslami Nodooshan.
He added: “About three decades ago, I insisted on having a completely professional program with him, and had an interview with him about different matters, but he emphasized that till he was alive this documentary should not be broadcast, and so it has not been broadcast upto this day. Of the characters I interviewed, only two asked not to have their interviews revealed during their lifetime: Eslami Nodooshan and Abdul Hussein Zarrinkoob. I do not know why they made such a request?
The director of Mandegar Museum and House continued: “Today, I took a look at the Eslami Nodooshan film. He spoke about the intellectual movement and intellectuals in Iran. He explicitly states how the intellectual movement was formed after the constitution and who the intellectuals were.”
Asadi added: “Basically, why don’t personalities like Nodooshan and Zarrinkoob feel safe to talk about their thoughts during their lifetime? There was a project named Kisinger based on which seminars were held in Karvard University in the presence of the opposition and the voice of this opposition was heard. This project continues upto date this day. Eslami Nodooshan has a book in which his views on the United States are fascinating.
He went on to say: “He talks about USA as a powerful country in term of technology and at the same time wants to impose its power on other countries.” I believe that three periods of his life had specific characteristics, and it is wrong to give a general opinion about a character. His interest in Saadi is also very evident in his works. In his view, Saadi seems to be the only lasting character.
The director of the Museum and House of Lasting Figures suggested that an award is introduced in his name and said: “I suggest an award for Iranology in the name of Dr Eslami Nodooshan not only in the academic scope but also from the public point of view, because in his travels he came in touch with people all over the world. Let us initiate this award in his name, either annually or biennially, so that our youth are encouraged to read his books. He is a personality that can be trusted because what he has written is with awareness and full knowledge.
He said: Freedom is a fruit of knowledge and awareness, and we should raise our people’s knowledge with the help of his books. We should seriously consider replacing the information that is spread in social media with solid and trustworthy information.
Studying and reading ensured Nodooshan’s mental health
At the end of the ceremony, the message of Dr Nodooshan’s son was delivered: “In the name of Good of life and wisdom. I take this opportunity to thank the audience in my capacity. My father never belonged to any group or faction. Those who are Iranian and know the Persian language, should know that Iran is a great country, and its history should be studied. My father was born in a small village but responded to his eagerness to learn and found a way. At first he went to Tehran for education and then traveled abroad. He kept his physical health by proper eating habits and exercise and walking. His food for soul was reading and studying without wasting any time. He had a very healthy life until the end.
Eslami Nodooshan was an outstanding literary writer, translator and a great master of Persian language and literature. He spent his long life doing research in the scientific and literary works of Iran and also translating the works of foreign authors. His works have been published in more than 50 books, in different literary, cultural and social subjects, which include “Four Speakers of Iranian Conscience,” “Reflection on Hafez,” “The Life and Death of Heroes in the Shahnameh,” and “Shadow of the Shadow” “Iran and the world from the point of view of Shahnameh,” “Famous letter,” “Let’s not forget Iran,” “Following the shadow of Homa,” “Hafez’s endless story,” “Mention of human rights in the third world.”
After a period of illness in Canada, Dr. Mohammad Ali Eslami Nodooshan, a lasting figure in Persian language and literature, died on Tuesday, April 25, 2022.
