Recording Revolution Memories: Obstacles

In Iran, writing memoirs by political figures, travelogues of pilgrimages, memories and autobiographies by personages have a long history. Writing memoirs is a new form of historiography in the contemporary era which came into vogue under the kingship of Nasser-e Din Shah Qajar when the king and his house tended to pen memories of their timely visits. However, a book entirely devoted to memories has never been published since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 except for a few royal travelogues and personal accounts. With the fall of the Qajar dynasty and rise of the Pahlavi regime in Iran, writing memoirs and relating memories of foreign visits gained momentum especially at a time Iran and the region underwent monumental political and geographical changes.

Library pays more attention to oral history

The head of National Library and Archives of Islamic Republic of Iran Seyyed Reza Slahi Amiri has regarded the compilation of the documents' encyclopedia, activating of the Research Center of Documents as well as the center of Iranology and Islamology aimed at setting up of a large research center under its respective organization, expansion of the level of scientific, research and historical productions and publications, paying more attention to oral history area, bibliography of manuscripts, collection of manuscripts as well as national archives as the new plans of the organization in the Iranian New Year. According to Salehi Amiri, the digitalization of the existing resources in the National Library and Archives of Islamic Republic of Iran will continue with more speed. He also said that we try to increase the capacity of Iranian library and national Archive's resources through signing agreements with different countries.

Oral memoirs of freed POWs released

The book "Totally Ten Years and Thirty Nine Days" which is the oral memories of four freed POWS form the town of Shaft has been published and unveiled by Sooreh Mehr Publications and with the attempt of the Resistance Culture Department of the Art Bureau of Gilan concurrent with the Art Day of Islamic Revolution on 20 Farvardin 1393 (April 9, 2014). The book has been published in foure chapters which are: :They have leaned to each other" memoirs of Bashir Khodad Parast, "Three years later, a loud guffaw at 3 AM" memoirs of Ghaffar Shirdel, "He was shouting something in Arabic" memoirs of Esmaeel Farmani, and "I am captive and you are free" memoirs of Iraj Mazloum. It has been compiled by Shahab Ahmad Pour.

Pilgrims of Syria Peace Convoy tell memories

The 245th show "The Night of Memory" was held on 4 Ordibehesht 1393 (April 24, 2014) in the venue of Art Bureau. In the meeting, the literates and writers of the pilgrims of Syria's Peace Convoy retold their memories. "The Night of Memory" is produced by the Office of Resistance Literature and Culture of the Art Bureau. This time the show was allocated to memories of the poets and literates of the Art Bureau as well as the country's literary and cultural figures who had travelled to Syria in late Farvdradin (April 2014) in order to sympathize with Syrian people. Mohesen Mo'meni Sharif, Alireza Qazveh, Mohammad Hossein Jafarian, Nasser Feiz, Firouz Rajaee Far, and Hojjatoleslam Za'eri retold their memories at this night.

Oral History Weekly Magazine Aims and Regulations
Oral History Weekly Magazine wishes to create a suitable place for thoughts and idea development; Its main field would be “Oral History” and subjects as telling & writing memoirs, writing diaries, travelogues, chronologies, and all other subfields of history which are presented in the form of news, articles, reports, notes, interviews and memoirs can be included. There is no limitation on the length of would-be-sent materials.
Mentioning the name, academic background and email is necessary. Articles with complete references and bibliography are more credited and an abstract would quite helpful.
Weekly is not about to publish any material consisting insults and libels about other people or anything that brings anxiety to public opinion. Weekly can edit and translate the received materials.
The published articles and materials are only the writer’s ideas and Oral History Weekly Magazine has no responsibility about their content.