Shahnoosh Parsipour Discusses Global Warming with Her Guests

Host: Shahnoosh Parsipour Guests: Khayyam, Nezami Ganjavi, Hafez, Rene Magritte, and Tuba Music: The Four Seasons by Vivaldi Dinner Menu: Eggplant Koshk and Kotlet This week's host is Shahnoosh Parsipour. Ms. Parsipour is a successful Iranian novelist, and her novels, particularly her two famous works Tuba and the Meaning of Night and Women Without Men, have been translated into various languages. She has had a tumultuous life and is known for her courage and frankness. In 1974, while working for the National Iranian Television, she resigned in protest against the execution of Khosrow Golserkhi and the detention of several writers, resulting in her imprisonment. After the revolution, although she did not belong to any political group, she was arrested for possessing her brother's books and spent over four years in prison. She has published her memoirs from these imprisonments. Ms. Parsipour studied Chinese language and literature in France and has translated works about Chinese culture into Persian. She has published other stories, including The Dog and the Long Winter, Blue Wisdom, and several other works. Iranian director Shirin Neshat, residing in New York, has also made a film based on the novel Women Without Men. Ms. Parsipour lives in the suburbs of San Francisco, and I visited her at her home. Shahnoosh Parsipour discusses global warming with her guests on Radio Farda. Ms. Parsipour, welcome to the program. First of all, can you tell us who you invited to your dinner party? I greet your listeners. For my dinner party, I have invited Khayyam, Hafez, Nezami Ganjavi, the French painter Rene Magritte, and my grandmother Tuba, for whom I wrote the book Tuba and the Meaning of Night. Very well. We have three poets, a painter, and your grandmother attending your dinner party. You will certainly explain later to the listeners why you have an interest in these five individuals and invited them, but first, if possible, can you tell us what music you would like to play for the guests? I want to play Vivaldi's Four Seasons. I think it's the best music. What do you like about Vivaldi? When did you first hear it and when did you become familiar with it? I was a teenager when I heard the Four Seasons, and I think it is international music. It aims to describe the seasons, and it does so very well. Spring, summer, autumn, and winter are common all over the world, and this person has tried with all his might to express this state of the four seasons. His music always makes me happy. The first guest you want to choose is Khayyam. Why Khayyam? Khayyam is both a mathematician and a poet, and the things he has said are incredibly fascinating. I always wished I could see Khayyam and discuss with him how he viewed the world to be able to write such poetry. This is extremely interesting to me. Moreover, he has set the Iranian calendar, which is the most accurate calendar in the world, and he is a great mathematician who has done a lot in mathematics. His status is clear and recognized worldwide. For all these reasons, I invite Khayyam. What do you see in Khayyam's poetry? What is interesting in his quatrains? It is his way of thinking. There is a sadness about coming and going without knowing why and for what reason this happens. He doubts God, but he is not foolish enough to think that God does not exist. He wonders why such things happen. But since he is a mathematician, he certainly believes in a kind of universal consciousness. I mean, there is a kind of awareness in the essence of existence. Therefore, I do not think Khayyam is against God; he is just questioning. He wants to know why this is happening and why we come and go, and all this is in his poetry. I really want to sit down and discuss with Khayyam. I actually want to have a glass of wine with him! Your second guest is Nezami Ganjavi. Nezami Ganjavi is a very astonishing character. He is stuck in the middle of the attacks of the Turkic tribes, and all of Iran is chaotic, and there is no central government in Iran. This person is sitting alone and writing poetry, and he is extremely civilized. He is one of the rare poets of Iran who has female characters. These female characters are very strong. Shirin rides horses in search of her love. She meets men. All these things are in Shirin. Nezami Ganjavi (1141-1209 AD): Iranian poet and storyteller Works: Khosrow and Shirin, Leyli and Majnun, Haft Paykar, and other works Reason for invitation: Nezami Ganjavi is a very astonishing character. He is one of the rare poets of Iran who has female characters. These female characters are very strong. Yes, they fall in love. They have things that Nezami did in that period in that space, and he has preserved the Persian language, which I think is an extraordinary achievement similar to that of Ferdowsi. Now we move on to your third guest, Hafez. Hafez (1315-1390 AD): Renowned Iranian poet Major work: Divan-e-Hafez Reason for invitation: I don't think it is necessary to explain about Hafez, who has written such astonishing poetry. How can a person write poetry that is so simple and yet profound? Such a thing is very rare in the world. I really don't think it is necessary to explain about Hafez. Wouldn't you want to see Hafez? Very much! I mean, Hafez, who has written such astonishing poetry. Every time I open a ghazal by Hafez, I am amazed. How can a person express so much in such a simple and profound way? I mean, in a ghazal format, he can say so much! And so complete and flawless and beautiful! And so meaningful! Such a thing is very rare in the world. Do you think Hafez represents the Iranian spirit among poets more than others? Absolutely right. Because Hafez is a riddle. This is the state of Iranian culture. Riddles. Because throughout our history, we have been attacked and invaded, and being a riddle has been the only way for us to maintain ourselves. This is beautifully evident in Hafez when he speaks with Amir Timur. When Amir Timur tells him, 'I took Samarkand and Bukhara with all this effort, and you give it away for the beauty mark on her cheek?' He replies, 'That is why I am poor! I give away Samarkand and Bukhara for her beauty mark!' Yes. There are some opinions about Hafez that say the beloved he describes is celestial. What is your view? Is this beloved earthly or celestial? For example, we know that most of the romantic poetry by poets is for men. I mean, two men love each other. It is very rare for them to describe a woman. This is because women are in the harem, in the household, and it is not appropriate to talk about them, and it is considered inappropriate. It seems that the structure of Iranian culture is like that of Afghanistan, which is still the same; women belong to the home to give birth to children and prepare eggplant koshk for men to eat. But men are the ones who love each other and reach high and noble levels. Hafez's poetry is probably more related to men. But when you look deeply into his poetry, you see that in many places, a woman must be present. I mean, Hafez either has a dual personality or has managed to somehow bring women into the field of love. This is my perception, but I cannot insist on it. Now we come to your fourth guest, Rene Magritte. Rene Magritte (1898-1967): Belgian painter Fame: One of the most prominent representatives of surrealism in painting and the inventor of visual puns Works: The Return, Treasure Island, The Secrets of the Horizon, September 16, and other works Reason for invitation: Magritte is an astonishing painter; he is a surrealist. He is similar to Dali, but he has created a world in painting that is amazing. These works must be seen and understood how he worked. One of his paintings that I remember now depicts leaves that have veins. Between the leaves and veins, birds are sitting. Just watching this takes your breath away due to the kind of work he has done and the astonishing beauty he has created. I chose Magritte among painters. Is there anything else about Magritte that interests you? No. I do not know his life. I only know that he was born in the Year of the Dog! Year of the Dog!? Since I am also born in the Year of the Dog, I find it interesting that a dog sees the world this way. For you, having studied in the field of China and so on, does being born in the Year of the Dog have a special meaning? Absolutely. I believe that in astrology, what exists in the months and years must have some strands of reality. What characteristics does being born in the Year of the Dog give a person that you also have? Dogs are said to be quiet, sullen, self-absorbed, irritable, and bitter. When they get angry, they bark like a dog and cause problems. But there is a part of noble traits in them that is very loyal, and secondly, they listen well and learn well. If necessary, they can be leaders and become good leaders. These are the aspects of a dog. He speaks very well. I mean, in his words, there are precious points and so on. Do you really believe in these? Belief? Excuse me! I find it interesting. It is interesting! Now we move on to your last guest, Shams-al-Moluk, your grandmother. Tuba or Shams-al-Moluk: Shahnoosh Parsipour's grandmother Reason for invitation: Her behaviors were different from the traditional definition of a woman. She was an extraordinary role model in my life, and I always looked at my grandmother and learned from her. Correct. My grandmother's real name is Tuba. After marrying a Qajar prince, she became Shams-al-Moluk. She was a very reclusive woman; she was a dervish, devoted. At the time I was a child... I mean, what I am telling you is from 63 years ago... my grandmother had her own library. She read books. When I grew up and read Mantiq al-Tayr, Tazkira al-Awliya, and so on, I found it strange that I knew all these things because my grandmother had told me all of them. She was very interested in mysticism. She saw God on a high level, very different from the people. She paid no attention to the nonsense that is said about religion and so on. I mean, her behaviors were different from the traditional definition of a woman. She was an extraordinary role model in my life, and I always looked at my grandmother and learned from her; even now. And between us, I mean, I as a granddaughter and she as a grandmother had a special relationship. In short, I loved her very much this way. Among all these people I have invited, I wanted my grandmother to be there too, and she would definitely enjoy it. When was the last time you saw your grandmother? When did she pass away? I was in Khorramshahr when my grandmother passed away. I was not in Tehran, so I could not attend her funeral. You did not have the opportunity to attend her memorial service; you must be happy that she will be at your dinner party. You will meet her and thank her for the impact she has had on you. Very well. Now that your guests are known and you will play Vivaldi's Four Seasons for them, they will surely enjoy it. What food do you want to prepare for them? First of all, let me tell you that I strongly oppose the word food because the word means camel urine. Therefore, I advise all my compatriots not to use the word food and to use the beautiful Persian word 'khorak' instead. Just as it is better to say 'Parsi' instead of 'Farsi.' Since we have 'p' and can say 'Pars,' there is no reason to say 'Farsi' like the Arabs. Not that you think I am anti-Arab; do not get me wrong. As a result, I suggest we say 'khorak.' What dish do you want to serve your guests? What dish should I serve? I prefer to serve my guests eggplant koshk and kotlet.