Teenage and High School

I was about fifteen that I saw street protests by Tudeh party and National Front (Pan-Iranist Group)[1] supporters against each other. Each of them had shock groups that would clash with the other side in the streets.[2]

I remember once in one of Pan-Iranist rallies I had participated along with my brother Mahdi who was the head of some 4-member shock groups. Protesters fired a puppet of Pishehvari.[3] They would sing together these verses:

We would take our swords   to bring our sunrise after a dark night

 Watching these scenes was so interesting to me at that age. Participating in these rallies added my name to the list of supporters; in a way that later when I was arrested by SAVAK, I was accused of being a member of this group.

In clashes, particularly with Tudeh Party supporters, we would avoid bringing the police and we would finish the matter before the police come. In some cases, some of our friends would use sticks and knife; but I never used a knife against anyone; sometime we may give and take knives to show off.

When I entered high school, my brother Mehdi stopped study and finished his school years with 6^th grade. He told our father: “Dear Papa, one of us should work and the other should study to make our living.” He left school to work and I continued my studies.

I finished the first three years in Jami High School and for the second three years I had to choose one of three fields of study: literature, mathematics and natural science. Since I was good at math, I chose mathematics. Jami High School did not have this field. Forcibly I registered at Allameh High School located at Anari crossroads. This high school was far from our home. Since I had not money, I always had to go to school on foot this long way.

One thing that I remember from that time is the unsuitable condition for women considering the matter of Hijab (covering the body). School girls were also under the effects of that tawdry culture. Consequently, going to school for the girls who would wear Hijab was so hard or almost impossible. My sister like many other girls could not continue her studies because this condition after finishing her 6^th grade.

My brother, Mahmood, could not also continue his school after the 3^rd grade because of his mental problems. Then, the only student in the family was I and my parents had always a special look at me.

I would study during the day and work at nights in order to help my family. I had found a job at a half-prepared barn belonging to NIOC as a night guard. I would get 80.4Rls per month. After two years study at Allameh High School I decided to change my school and go to Marvi High School. Marvi High School was one of qualified schools such as Dar-ul-fonoon or Adib. Marvi students were so naughty and sometime they would run away from school from the back alley.

I remember that I would stand in the high school’s yard looking at the students and think of the tyranny against them that the Shah’s regime was imposing on their destiny. Sometime while I had a book in my hand, I was thinking for a long time and it was the school’s bell that would alarm me to be ready for the next class.

During my years at school, I saw many teachers whose behavior was so meaningful to me. The ones who were affiliated to the government would praise His Majesty! And every day had a new style of clothes in the class. The ones who were independent and had a free soul would tell some points against the regime’s tyranny conservatively in order to awake the new generation for seeking freedom. There were also some teachers who were only concerned to get their salary and earn their living. They would come and go without any risk and would only teach school materials.

In this condition and multidimensional atmosphere, I grew up while looking for my lost goal. My soul was not calm and I was restless. Everything happening around me would take me to deep thinking and then I had reactions and was sensitive to that event.