Persian pilgrimages : journeys across Iran / Afshin Molavi.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Molavi, Afshin.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Manners and customs.

Iran--Description and travel.

Iran.

Iran--Social life and customs--20th century.

Iran--Politics and government--1997-.

Politics and government.

Molavi, Afshin--Travel--Iran.

Molavi, Afshin.

Travel.

Physical Description:

xx, 315 pages, 12 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, map ; 25 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Norton, 2002.

Summary:

Molavi, a rising young writer born in Iran and fluent in Farsi, traveled his homeland for over a year. Throughout his journey, Molavi weaves the tale of nearly 3,000 years of Iranian history through pilgrimages to important historical sites and monuments.

Contents:

The Sleeping Guardian of the Islamic Books 3

Notes on a Pilgrimage: Cyrus the Great 11

Currencies and Passports aboard Iran Air Flight 327 to Shiraz 14

What Is the Name of This Street? 18

Persepolis: Celebrations and Revolutions 21

The Zoroastrian Stamp 27

Colonial Markings 30

Ancient History and Green Cards 33

Pilgrimage to the Tomb of Cyrus the Great 36

Cities: Tehran, Shiraz, Persepolis, Pasargad

The Imam and the Poet: An Introduction 43

Mr. Ghassemi's Funeral 44

Islam and the Iranian Accommodation 52

Mohammad's Melon Truck Tour 56

The Sunni/Shi'a Split 62

Mourning and Miracles 66

Pilgrimage: Ferdowsi, the Poet 69

Imam Ali or Rostam? 75

"Global Arrogance" and Green Cards at the Nader Shah Museum 79

Pilgrimage: Imam Reza Tomb 82

Cities: Mashhad, Tous

The Politics of Personal Appearance 87

A "Blasphemous" Play 92

Dance Party 94

Campus Politics 96

Hard-Liners and Green Cards 101

Elites and Masses 104

The Road to Neishapour 106

Notes on a Pilgrimage: Omar Khayyam, the Poet 110

The Spice Men of the Bazaar 112

The Pilgrimage: Omar Khayyam Tomb 115

Mohsen, the Student, and Hassan, the War Veteran 119

Martyrs' Cemetery 122

Cities: Tehran, Neishapour

The Silenced Satirist 124

Red Lines 129

Narges and the Censoring of Milan Kundera 132

Why a Fourteenth-Century Poet Speaks So Eloquently to Contemporary Iranians 134

Pilgrimage: The Tomb of Hafez, the Poet 145

Mrs. Teimouri's Wedding 150

The Case of Akbar Ganji: Journalist, Prodemocracy Advocate, Prisoner 154

Cities: Tehran, Shiraz

Islam and Democracy 159

The Shi'atization of Iran 167

Sensual Isfahan 170

The Bazaar and the Mosque 174

Pilgrimage: Mullah Mohammad Bagher Majlesi and the Rise of the Shi'a Cleric 177

Mr. Mohseni, the Young Cleric 184

Cities: Tehran, Isfahan

Winds of Reform 191

A Murder in Kashan 194

Tabriz Student Protests, 1999 200

The Case of Ahmad Batebi 206

Iran's Fight for a Constitution: 1906-11 209

An American Constitutionalist in Tabriz 215

"The Strangling of Persia": A Constitutional Ending 219

The Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran 222

Cities: Tehran, Kashan, Tabriz

My Tehran 226

"The International Congress on the Elucidation of the Islamic Revolution and the Thoughts of Imam Khomeini" 230

"A Jug of Love" 237

Mr. Hashemi and the Pro-Khomeini "Oppressed" 240

Reza Shah: Forgotten Shrine, Remembered King 244

The Khomeini Rise 248

Pilgrimage: The Shrine of Ayatollah Khomeini 254

Cities: Tehran, Rey

My Friend Hossein 260

Hossein's War 264

Journey to Ahvaz 272

War Miracles 274

Pilgrimage: War Martyrs' Shrine 278

Haji Agha Abu Torabi and the Prisoners of War 280

Cities: Tehran, Ahvaz, Abadan, Khoramshahr, Shalamcheh

Storming the Gates with the Software Engineers 283

Children of the Revolution 285

Visas and Billboards 293

"In Damascus, I Can Breathe" 298

The Canadian Embassy Visa Pilgrimage 302

Farewell, Iran 307

Cities: Tehran, Damascus (Syria).

Notes:

Includes index.

ISBN:

0393051196

OCLC:

49618797