Why did I choose this particular photo for my blog post? The answer is quite simple because it represented everything we stood for that somehow offended the new regime that had taken over Iran in 1979 and continues to rule there. The photo above is from the cover page of my first-grade language book that taught me and numerous others the Farsi language. Farsi is truly a beautiful and poetic language. When written in script, its letters look like calligraphy work instantaneously.
The book contained a picture of the late Shah Pahlavi and his family on its first page. It served as a reminder that the Shah was a steadfast proponent of education. The Shah encouraged all youths to attend school in their early years and so forth. As a result, literacy paved the way for many to achieve higher income and better lifestyles.
My beloved father had taken a significant risk to his life to have my elementary school books in Farsi shipped out of Iran in 1980, nearly one year after the Islamic regime had taken over. Then, anything the Shah stood for was abhorrent to the Islamic regime. The Shah’s curriculum deliberately instituted in Iran to advance the Iranians was now revoked and eliminated, including all textbooks.
My father believed that by shipping us these books, we would continue to learn Farsi no matter where in the world we lived. Furthermore, we would not forget who we are and where we came from. He encouraged us to learn numerous languages throughout our lives. To speak and read another language is to gain perspective into the world of others, he often reminded us.
I have used these books to teach my children a few words of Farsi, but as my children often reminded me, why continue learning a nearly obsolete language in today’s world? As Americans, they take great pride that English is a universal language used in most parts of the world.
As adults, my children now understand, perhaps they miscalculated not learning Farsi, as it would give them further insight into understanding me and my world. The book remains in our family library. Who knows, perhaps it will be picked up again by someone to educate themselves from one day.
As my maiden name Omid suggests, there is always hope.
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Regine M. Tessone 