Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 14, 1992

I woke up very early in the morning and could not sleep anymore. I listened to our own news, BBC Persian, and Voice of America. The war in Afghanistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina is at the top of the news.

At eight in the morning we flew toward Nahavand. On the way, Mr. Shabiri, the Director General of Planning and Budget of the province, was explaining. We passed by the Alvand peak. The green valleys and fertile plains attract attention. Traditional irrigation and traditional animal husbandry are the weak points of these good natural resources. The province's waters, which originate from these heights, flow toward the Karkheh, Sefid Rud, and Saveh Dam; they still do not have a suitable place for building a dam and controlling the waters. Transformational industries are also few, and measures are just now being taken.

The people of Nahavand gave an extraordinarily warm welcome. The density of the crowd and the warmth of the people's welcome kept us waiting in the street for a long time. We visited the newly built hospital of the city. One of the wealthy Nahavandi residents living in Germany built it, but supplying its equipment and running it is the government's responsibility, which costs more than the building. Part of the hospital has started operating, and parts are not yet active. Their request was that we activate it. Dr. Reza Malekzadeh, the Minister of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education, who is with us, says we have few personnel and little credit.

We went to the Nahavand stadium. The Friday prayer leader and the governor gave welcome speeches and reports. I also spoke. It was an enthusiastic gathering. On the way, beside the grave of the martyr Sheikh Ali Heydari, my fellow student during my seminary days who was martyred in the 7th of Tir incident, we stopped and recited a Fatiha.

We flew toward Malayer. On the way, Mr. Ahmad Zamanian, the representative of Nahavand, was explaining. He has good information about the region. He spoke about controlling the waters, the plains and heights being under walnut and poplar cultivation, building transformational industries, and converting the many kilns around Malayer that ruin the soil and air into industrial kilns.

In Malayer, the people's welcome was very magnificent. The city's very beautiful boulevard was full of welcoming crowds. They said the city's air is polluted due to the activity of about eight hundred brick kilns. At the sports stadium, the Friday prayer leader and the governor gave welcome speeches and raised the demands. The officials are very satisfied with the Friday prayer leader. I gave them a warm speech.

By car we moved toward Hosseinabad village, located 25 kilometers from the city. On the way, the villagers warmly welcomed us with the sacrifice of a sheep, the smoke of esfand, and the sprinkling of water. Hosseinabad village has been renovated.

In the village mosque they gave a welcome speech. In the square in front of the mosque they explained the renovation method. I also encouraged them. We visited the health house and the Minister of Health explained. The behvarz women implement programs for health and population control.

We flew by helicopters to Tuyserkan. There was a huge crowd around the helicopter landing area. We barely managed to connect with the cars. The people's fervor and emotions were indescribable. One of the factors behind this enthusiastic welcome was compensating for the disrespect that the hypocrites [MKO] supporting Bani Sadr showed in Tuyserkan during my trip in the early days of the revolution's victory, during my speech.

The speech for the people was scheduled for two hours later, but the people did not disperse; they had not eaten lunch either. So, despite all our fatigue, we too forwent rest and lunch, and the speech ceremony for the people was held in the city's large and newly built square.

After prayers and lunch, which reached four in the afternoon, I rested a bit and then we went toward Kuh Bijar village in Kabutarahang. This village has been renovated with the cooperation of the people and the government. There was a ceremony, and the people raised their many demands. I also spoke and encouraged them.

Then we went to the city of Kabutarahang. There too the welcome was strange and enthusiastic. At the people's gathering in the stadium, the Friday prayer leader and the governor spoke. I also gave a short speech. Because it was near sunset and the sun had set, the helicopters had difficulty flying, so we returned very quickly.

At sunset we landed at Bu-Ali University. The cars were waiting for us at the airport. To save time and because the university was close to our residence, we said to land here contrary to the program. A Peykan and a pickup truck were used to go to the residence. The people along the way were surprised.

At night the provincial administrative council had a meeting. The governor spoke in great detail and described the province's situation and needs. I explained the country's general situation and expressed satisfaction with the managers and the people and spoke hopefully. Due to fatigue and lack of time, the managers and the province's representatives, contrary to the usual practice of such meetings, did not speak. We had dinner. I took a bath and slept.