In the previous article about Khodarahm Davari Khorramshahi student house, I mentioned the students who were friends of soul and spirit. By soul and spirit, I meant the youth who wanted joy and a life full of peace, dynamism and changes for the better. Here, I want to mention some of the activities and programs of the students who were lovers of body, mind and thought. Although in most of the government student hostels that existed at that time, strict regulations were considered, in the house of Zoroastrian students of Tehran, the same administrative dos and don’ts here did apply but they were more lenient, and never, as far as I remember, were there any complications, except for one that I will mention in its relevant section (challenges and conflicts).
Special regulations for Zoroastrian student’s house
One of the most important regulations of which house was the time to return to the house was the time to return home, which was established at ten o’clock at night. They did not select a time to leave the house in the morning, but the time to return at night was emphasized, which most students did not follow. In this regard, as far as I remember, no problem rose, until Tir 1357 (July 1978).
Other regulations included keeping the house and rooms clean, and a weekly cleaning program was proposed for which the students would always cooperate. Of course, 2 or 3 students did not cooperate or were not in the house that day, or did not care about cleanliness, in general. There were also cases where, unfortunately, a few people were negligent about the cleanliness of the sanitary and washing areas! These issues were resolved by giving mild notices and warnings, and they went well.
The rest of the dos and don’ts included timely payment of the monthly rent, which was mainly used to pay water, electricity and gas bills, (in the last year when I was there, it was 350 Rials per person) and observing the optimal consumption of water, electricity, and gas and paying attention to the principles of safety and health, for self and others. Among these routines was a system used for transfer of garbage bags to the street corner, for collecting at the end of the week. Sometimes garbage collected in the kitchen garbage container and its over-flow caused a mess, which was an unpleasant issue. According to the regulation put on the notice board, each room was responsible for taking their garbage bag to the corner of the street, once a week. The interesting part is that at that time (before 1357) we and all the neighbors and shops used to empty their garbage at the corner of the street, on the sidewalk. After a week a pile of garbage had collected and the garbage truck collected them once a week, but the effects of the pile and the bad smell remained. At that time, there were no big metal containers for separating garbage, and all the trash was dumped in cardboard boxes or plastic bags or without them on the sidewalk.
I must mention here that the rooms in this student’s house did not have cooling facilities then, and the students set up their own table or standing fans, in the summer. Aladdin or Aalinasab oil heaters were also used in winter. The local oil shop used a big cart to bring several barrels of oil to the door every two weeks, and the oil was bought at two Rials per liter, which we poured into special plastic oil containers (twenty liters each) and stored and consumed in the corner of the basement or room. Some students also used electric heaters. Of course, when it was time to sleep, the oil heaters would be turned off to avoid possible gassing risks and the electric heaters would also be turned off to save in usage of electricity.
Identification of students
Two main specifications required for living in this house were 1- to be a student, and 2- to be a Zoroastrian. To be a student, we presented our university registration certificate to the association. For the Zoroastrian certificate, we received a Zoroastrian certificate card from the Zoroastrian Association of Tehran, with the presence of two witnesses and the presentation of birth certificates that showed our parents’ names. I still have this card that was issued in 1350. With these two documents were admitted to the Zoroastrian student house.
Although there isn’t a specific criteria or scale in any religion to make an accurate and correct assessment of the degree of religiousness of the people, on first encounter, generally, such assessments are made on the first impression, though we do not know anything about the inside of the people, except by gaining experience over time. With this in mind, until the year the late Dinyar Shahzadi became student in this house (1354) we did not perform any group prayers. Everybody would worship God and say prayers in his own way. Dinyar Shehzadi was born in Yazd in the Dasturan neighborhood (as Muslims called it “the place behind Ali’s house). His father was Mobed Goshtasb Shahzadi, brother of the late Mobed Mobedan Rostam Shahzadi, and his respected mother was Mrs Sorush.
When dinyar arrived at the students’ house, we would see that on some days, early in the morning, he would recite Avesta in the study room, on the first floor. I came to like this gesture, which was new to me, and I would join him sometimes. When it was decided that we would have a group cleaning program on Fridays, two or three students, including myself, suggested group prayers. And so, from 1354 onwards, group prayers were performed freely (that is, not obligatory). Dinyar sometimes explained some religious issues in these prayer meetings, which were valuable for us students. Dinyar and I used to meet each other in Yazd, and from the second half of 1960 onwards, we sometimes met each other during events, and would revive memories of those student days. Let me add that after gaining his Masters in archeology, Dinyar became dastur and was in charge of some religious ceremonies in Yazd. May his soul live in joy.
Another of our soul enhancing pastimes was gathering in the former reception and study room (turned into a TV room from 1354), which more or less lost its use as a study room after this modern device invaded the room. This room would be crowded, noisy and lively during wrestling and football matches, where the Iranian national teams were present. Predictions made by those present in the room and the interpretations and analysis made during the match would sometimes overshadow the essence of the match itself, and sometimes even hot arguments would take place! Of course, when the Iranian national team, especially the football team, lost the game, it was also interesting to see their hanging lips and grimaced faces. Most of the time, if the national team lost, the discussions were drawn to political and economic fields, especially when, for example, the marginal (political) issues of the player Parviz Qalich Khani of the national football team were brought up. In such losses at that time, some thought that dissatisfaction of some key players, from the situation was the reason for the national team’s defeat. It is common among our people to attribute many of the day’s issues and problems to external factors such as England, Russia, America or super-natural forces, instead of finding the problem within themselves and the existing socio-cultural structure and system.
But another non-curricular or non-educational activity but stimulating and joyful for the students was the dynamics of sports and entertainment, such as playing chess or backgammon and playing card games during the holidays or free time (except during the exam period). These kinds of intellectual games and sports made the students gather for a few hours, away from the current issues of everyday life, and spend time happily and sometimes arguing. It is as if our student life, whether then or now, was tasteless without arguments.
I must also say that the only semi-professional athlete in the Zoroastrian student house, until the time I was there (between Mehr 1350 and Tir 1357) was myself, and that’s all! I started playing football at Razi high school in Abadan, after coming to Tehran and joining the National University of Iran, I continued playing football at college level and practiced with this team two days a week. Apart from this, we also practiced 2-3 days a week, with the football team of Fravahar Organization, Tehran. This football team also has a story because the same team was divided into two after the revolution in 1957, and each went its way.
Now, with the arrival of TV and watching sports programs, as I remember, the students of Sharifabad, who were more interested and skilled in volleyball, tried to have a casual volleyball court in the place, and a ditch-like piece of land was located next to the street where the Davari student house was situated. We smoothened the lot, and by erecting two wooden poles and a volleyball net, it became our ports field. Sometimes, on this field, during weekends, small goal football but mostly volleyball games were held by the students. There was always an argument over teammate selection, and I was the last person to be selected because of my short sight and lack of skills! I remember that in volleyball the boys of Sharifabad were more skilled and played better than others.
In addition to these sports activities, participating in national and ritual ceremonies, including the Shab Chele ceremony, was also fun and joyful. Shab-e Celleh (Yalda) was sometimes celebrated in the students’ homes by those who stayed at home, and we were treated with fruit of the season, as well as all kinds of card games and other games like 20-question, etc. In addition to that we had fun drinks, which turned out to be the best part of the party (if not the worst part!). Other students could also go to the Shab-e chelleh programs of the Student Center of Zoroastrian Association and spent some happy hours there. I remember that when we were nearing Shab-e chelleh, many students would get into a bus together and go to Fouzieh Square (called Imam Hossein Square these days) just before sunset. In the evening and close to the closing time of the fruit market near this square, fruits were sold cheaper. For example, we used to buy a small wooden box (or plastic bags) of various fruits.
For example, oranges from Gilan province cost 10 Rials per kilo, yellow grapes cost ten Rials per kilo, apples cost fifteen Rials per kilo, and watermelons cost five Rials per kilo!! Together, we would carry our load to Fouzieh Square, and from there we would take double-decker buses, fare being 3 Rials, and return to the student’s house. Of course, in addition to these, we would buy Japanese watermelon seeds for 40 Rials per kilo and sunflower seeds for 25 Rials per kilo, nuts, and pumpkin seeds (I don’t remember the price) from the dry fruit/nuts store at Pahlavi intersection (now called Vali Asr) which was very popular among us. The name of this dry fruit/nuts store was “Fard Shahreza Nuts and Dried Fruits” at that time. Of course, when I was passing by here a few years ago, the shop was still there, but its name had changed.
Among other programs of the Student House was having educated and learned personalities spend the night with us at the invitation of a friend or family member. We would have conversations, questions and answers, with the aim of gaining more knowledge. One of these personalities was Dr Bahman Dabestani, a guest of the Sharifabadi students, for one night. At that time, he was in contact with a university in Austria (or was studying there). The students brought up an interesting topic: In some countries there are courses about war and how to fight, but none for teaching peace! The late Bahman Dabestani said that: in some countries, there are courses about war and how to fight, but unfortunately, we do not have a faculty or system for teaching peace! Those late insisted they were trying to establish an international peace and friendship school in Iran, but this dream was never realized.
In conclusion, I will tell a bitter memory from my first year there, related to Lohrasb Garshasb Kheirabadi. When I joined the Student’s House, for a year my cousin and me shared a room (this is how I remember it), and there was a single room across from our double room. At that time, a student named Lehrasab Gershasp was a resident of this room from Kheyrabad, Yazd. He was studying electrical engineering at Aryamehr University (now Sanati Sharif). One day he said: ‘Daryush, I want to show you something, but you shouldn’t get scared”. I thought maybe he was joking, and I was more surprised when I entered his room, and he took off his pants. But the scene I saw was so disturbing that it is still in my mind. I saw that his leg and thigh had numerous bruises and dead blood that reached the top of his thigh. It was very shocking for me to see such a scene. He explained to me that there had been a demonstration in the university, and the students had clashed with the university guards, and some of them, including himself, had been entertained with batons. At that time, it was not customary to hit protestors in the head and brain with a rod; they only hit their arms, legs, thighs, and buttocks. All the students participating in the demonstration had hope that despite the suffering and pain they were going through, a better future was coming.
Challenges and scuffles
Another point I should mention is that due to the youth and excitement of the students, discussions, debates, and sometimes fights and sometimes arguments and scuffles over some issues were common. Of course, some of these issues were easily solved and didn’t get complicated. For example, one roommate used to keep his reading light on at night even while sleeping, and this poor boy had a room next to mine. Between the two rooms at that time, there were only three panes of glass doors covered by a curtain that needed to be thicker. At night, the light of the study lamp bothered my other roommate (who was my dear friend Ardeshir Sasani that year) and me, and of course, I was more sensitive. Sometimes we reminded that student to turn off the light, but sometimes he didn’t pay attention and wanted the light to be on. When I asked why you kept this light on all night, he said: I want to wake up early! Of course, maybe he didn’t like the dark.
One issue that caused quarrels was the carelessness of some students in keeping the toilets and home environment clean, which sometimes caused problems and confrontations. But the most awkward thing was the radio noise of a few students, which could be solved with a few reminders. But in one of the years, I had a roommate who was exemplary in every way, only when sleeping and in the middle of the night, he had to keep his pocket radio on next to his ear, and then he would go to sleep. Sometimes I asked him to turn off the radio, but most of the time, I had to go after he went to sleep and turn off the radio slowly, and I always prayed that my roommate wouldn’t wake up when the radio turned off!
And finally, one of the first fights that led to a reaction happened when a student who had finished his studies several months earlier and had joined the army remained at the student’s house and was not ready to go out!! Several students had a meeting, and after two or three sessions, they warned him to leave the student’s house. Since I was an acquaintance of this student, I didn’t join in this decision. Yet, some of the students gathered on the day they had mentioned as the last day of the warning, and with a lot of scuffles, they kicked the former/student/present soldier out into the street. It was a very uncomfortable and unfortunate scene. The person who was by your side in the student house until yesterday and with you used to talk and laugh with each other was now kicked out for breaking the law of the student house (not being a student). For a long time, I felt ashamed, although I was not one of the executors of the sentence!
About the bulletin board
In the hallway there was a notice board with a glass door and a key, which was kept on top of the board. In this board, most of the necessary information about programs and social news from events or gatherings of the Zoroastrian community or information about the plans of the student house was posted. Also, on this board, recommendations and reminders of the Zoroastrian Association were installed on how to better preserve and maintain the environment of this house, especially in terms of preventing possible dangers caused by electricity and gas. Depending on who represented the students and based on the ideas and innovations of that person, some of the recommendations or reminders on the board would change more or less. Since I didn’t stay in the Student’s House after graduating in 1357 (1978), I didn’t come to know about the fate of this interesting and memorable environment and the future of the students after the revolution, and how the students spent the days during and after that time.
Conclusion
In the 1940s, with the expansion of universities, especially in Tehran, many students from small towns and villages went to the capital. Apart from the National University of Iran, whose registration fee was 40,000 Rials per semester, and private high schools (in its true sense), education in all public universities was free. For this reason, many Zoroastrian students admitted to Tehran’s public universities and higher institutions needed a place to live. Some who had a relatively better financial situation or found unique financial resources (for example, through the association and benefactors) lived in private dormitories. Others lived in university dormitories, which had their own rules. But for some Zoroastrian city students, the presence of Khodarahm Davari students’ homes in Tehran was a great blessing. Entering and staying in this student house allowed us to use the experience of the past house residents and introduced us to the conditions of group life in a relatively more religiously homogeneous social environment. Living in this house and with other students was a practice of living in a social environment for us with all its sweetness and bitterness.
In that period, most of the students’ efforts and dynamism was focused on learning and gaining scientific and life experience, despite all the deficiencies that existed, especially in the first years of its functioning. But gradually suitable facilities were provided for this house with the help of their benefactors. On the one hand, the good thoughts of people like late Khodarahm Davari and his wife and people like them contributed to the comfort and peace of the students. On the other hand, because of this comfort and suitable environment in this house, each of these students, after several years, achieved an educational degree in their field with effort and hard work. These people later served in different parts of the country and some in remote and bad weather areas of the country and formed their own families, and each followed their unwritten destiny. This writing will always be a reminder of good thoughts and deeds for those who have lived in this house for many years and enjoyed the blessings of such a place.
Note: the pictures given are of two of the respected former students in Khodarahm Davari Student’s House and their present profession, which was available to me. In future, I hope to obtain more photos and information about the jobs and careers of our dear students who lived in the Student’s House, in order to give a better picture of this unique and valuable place. It is necessary to know the history of such sites, which have been formed by the benevolence of good men and good women and have had an impact on advancing the science and culture of the community.
