In a heartbreaking display of resilience and love for literature, this photograph captures a moment of both sorrow and determination in my father's life. Amongst the cherished remnants of our home library, carefully preserved despite the devastation wrought by the Iranian government's Revolutionary Guard, lies a story of profound loss and unwavering hope. Many of our treasured books met a tragic fate in the flames or were buried, sacrificed to the oppressive forces of censorship and persecution.
My father, questioned for his possession of Kurdish and social justice related Persian literature, stood firm in the face of adversity, offering his children a lesson in courage and perseverance. As we mourned the loss of our beloved books, my father's words echoed with wisdom: "They can be found later, but you cannot be replaced if they kill you." With heavy hearts, we bid farewell to the volumes that had shaped our minds and hearts, but my father's decision to move the remaining books to his mother's bedroom spoke volumes about his determination to safeguard knowledge against tyranny.
Despite the hardships endured, the influence of those early literary treasures remained indelible, leaving an enduring legacy that continues to resonate in our lives. In a moment of innocence and insight, my younger sister confusingly questioned why they (referred to Islamic government) wants you to burn these books. "They're scared of them," my father replied simply. "They have fear if these books exist, they won't." This exchange captured the essence of our family's struggle – the power of knowledge to challenge authority, to inspire change, and to endure even in the face of oppression. Today, as I look upon the library in my own home, lovingly displayed in the dining room alongside my partner, I am reminded that as long as we endure, so too will the power of books. In our free country, there is no scarcity of knowledge, no fear of censorship or persecution. We are the custodians of our own stories, and through the preservation of literature, we honor the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring legacy of those who dared to defy oppression.
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