Farewell to Thomas Jefferson's University

Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the University of Virginia boasts a student body of 17,000 in central Virginia. Steeped in tradition and academic excellence, it stands only second to UC Berkeley amongst premier public universities in the United States. This June, Shahrzad finished her fellowship in Faculty Development at the Department of Family Medicine and I finished my residency at the Department of Anesthesiology at the University. We are both proud to have been a part of this esteemed university and the age-old Virginia prayer holds true that,

"Remembering the purple shadows of the lawn, the majesty of the colonnades, and the dream of your youth, you may say in reverence and thankfulness:
"I have worn the honors of Honor, I graduated from Virginia"

We are indeed thankful to the generous and unwavering support of our parents for achieving this milestone. Attached, you may find pictures of the farewell dinners of both Departments. Shahrzad stands next to David Slawson, M.D., the internationally renowned physician who founded the concept of information mastery. I am pictured with the chairman of anesthesiology at the University, George Rich, M.D., Ph.D., and his wife Karen. Others pictured are Shahrzad's mentor Fern Hauck, M.D. and the entire Department of Family Medicine in front of the Rotunda.

We will miss you, Virginia!

"The Hidden Tongue"

The Hidden Tongue (Lesanu'l-Ghayb) is an appellation for Hafez, Khajeh Shamsu'd-din Muhammad Hafez-e Shirazi (حافظ شیراز) a Persian mystic and poet. He was born sometime between the years 1310-1337 in Shiraz , Persia (Iran). His lyrical poems, in particular his ghazals, are noted for their beauty, expression of love, and early Sufi themes that had long pervaded Persian poetry. Many scholars of Persian literature have devoted their lives to study of Hafez' poetry. Over the centuries, some of his poems have been taken out of print and other have been added, so it takes a scholar to decipher between the original and the later additions. Hafez was a man of great insight and inspiration. He wrote extensively about the glory of Shiraz, the city of his birth. In the Meshkin Qalam edition of Hafez published in India over a century ago one finds the following that was later omitted from newer editions:

شیراز پر غوغا شود شکر لبی پیدا شود
ترسم که اشوب لبش برهم زند بغداد را

Also, in line with Khazen's poem "What is it to you," that was published on this blog, Hafez also has a piece that states everyone is responsible for his own deeds. Read on and see how beautifully he weaves the thought, "Fret not, for you shall not bear the sins of others..."

Happy Father's Day!

To Mehdi and Ziaollah,

Shahrzad and I are eternally grateful to have such wonderful fathers as you. You have been an ever-present encouraging force in our lives, even as you watched us struggle through the upheavals of life. We are indebted to you and no pen can express our gratitude to the fullest. An unknown author has summarized the essence of what it means to be a father below.

With our unwavering love,

Shahrzad and Nizam

"God took the strength of a mountain, The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun, The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature, The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages, The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring, The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity, The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities, When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad"

به تو چه

Khazen Bakhtiari was a little known poet in 19th Century Persia. A mystic and revolutionary, he wrote many great poems. One of my favorites is the one entitled "Be to Cheh," literally conveying, "What is it to you?" He has written this piece in response to the onslaught of criticism from his adversaries and for accusing him of apostasy for departing from Islamic thought and embracing a new belief system. Here is the original in Persian:


زاهدا من که به میخانه نشستم به تو چه
ساغر باده بود بر کف دستم به تو چه

تو که مشغول مناجات و دعایی چه به من
من که شب تا به سحر یکسره مستم به تو چه

تو اگر ساغر رندان بشکستی چه به من
من اگر توبه ی صد ساله شکستم به تو چه

تو به محراب نشستی احدی گفت چرا
من به میخانه اگر باده پرستم به تو چه

اتش دوزخ اگر روی به ما و تو کند
تو که خشکی چه به من من که تر هستم به تو چه

گفته بودی شده گمراه به عالم خازن
جان من هر چه تو گویی همه هستم به تو چه

O pious one! If I sat in a tavern, what is it to you?
Held the chalice of wine on my palm, what is it to you?

I mind not if you are immersed in prayers all day,
From dusk to dawn, If I am intoxicated, what is it to you?

If you broke the chalice of the lovers, I mind not.
If I break a one hundred-year covenant, what is it to you?

When you led the prayers at the mosque, did anyone object?
If I worship the goblet at the tavern, what is it to you?

If we both face the fire of hell,
I mind not your dryness, but if I am wet, what is it to you?

You have said that Khazen has gone astray from the straight path,
O my dear! All that you say, I am! What is it to you?

A Tribute to the Darvish Family

In August of 1996, when I first moved to Charlottesville to further my undergraduate studies, I joined the mailing list for the International Center at the University of Virginia. In one of the programs at the Center, I met a fascinating couple named Shahrzad and Kurosh Darvish. The Darvishes were too young to be my adopted parents, but certainly they served the role of older brother and sister. They were knowledgeable in many fields including Persian poetry and literature, Western and Eastern music, and even the occasional politics! They both came from the intellectual elite of Iran and I am most proud to have rubbed shoulders which such a wonderful family. We had many memorable times together and they were always the life of any gathering. This summer, their time in Charlottesville came to an end and they departed for Philadelphia, where Kurosh joined the faculty at Temple University and Shahrzad continued with her work in infection control.

A few weeks ago, we paid them and their lovely children a visit at their beautiful new home in Bryn Mawr, PA. You may find some pictures of that memorable day below. I have also included a couple of pictures from a party they held welcoming my new bride and her family to Charlottesville last year.

غزلی از طاهره قرة العين

Táhirih (Arabic: "The Pure One") or Qurratu'l-`Ayn (Arabic: قرة العين‎ ​ "Comfort of the Eyes") are both titles of Fátimih Baraqání (b. 1820, d. 1852), an influential poet and theologian of the Bábí faith. As a prominent Bábí she is highly regarded by Bahá'ís, and often mentioned in Bahá'í literature as an example of courage in the struggle for women's rights. Below, you may find an example of her poetry followed by a translation:


در ره عشقت ای صنم ، شيفته ی بلا منم
چند مغايرت کنی ؟ با غمت آشنا منم
پرده به روی بسته ای، زلف به هم شکسته ای
از همه خلق رسته ای، از همگان جدا منم
شير تويی ، شکر تويی، شاخه تويی، ثمر تويی
شمس تويی، قمر تويی، ذره منم ، هبا منم


خواجه ی با ادب تويی، بنده ی بيحيا منم
کعبه تويی ، صنم تويی، دير تويی، حرم تويی،
دلبر محترم تويی ، عاشق بينوا منم
شاهد شوخ دلربا گفت به سوی من بيا
رسته ز کبر و از ريا ، مظهر کبريا منم
(طاهره) خاک پای تو ، مست می لقای تو
منتظر عطای تو ، معترف خطا منم


In pursuit of your love, O darling
Enamored of afflictions, I am
Why do you shun me so?
Weary of your separation, I am.

You've veiled your face
You've dishevelled your hair
You've abandoned people
Just as secluded, I am

You're the milk and you're the honey
You're the tree and you're the fruit
You are the sun and you are the moon
A speck, an iota, I am.

You're the palm and you're the date
You are the nectar-lipped beloved
A distinguished master, you, dear love,
An insolent slave, I am.

You are the Mecca and you are the One
You're the temple and you're the shrine
You're the beloved, the honored one
The miserable lover I am.

"Come to me!"
Love said alluringly
"Free of pride and pretense,
Manifestation of the One, I am."

Tahereh is but floating dust at your feet
Drunk by the wine of your face,
awaiting your blessing
A confessing sinner, I am.

la vie est belle!

I do not know the poet for this piece, but I came across it recently on a friend's site. The poet paints glorious picture of life and gives some wisdom as to how one can make it beautiful. A rough translation is provided:

It is said, life is beautiful,
Yes indeed,
Life is simple and beautiful.
If you ponder upon its beauty,
If you behold the "full half,"
If you shun
the spiteful thoughts of tomorrow,
If you set your gaze upon the light,
and no longer ponder upon darkness,
If you sow the seeds of love,
If you water the flower of friendship,
If you part with the thoughts of the past,
If you cherish love,
If you cherish friendship,
Yes indeed,
Life is beautiful!


گفته اند زندگی زيباست
آری، آری
زندگی آسان و زيباست
گر بيانديشی به زيباييش
گر ببينی نيمه پر را
گر ز خود دور کنی
انديشه های زشت فردا را
گر کنی بر روشنايی روی
گر نيانديشی به تاريکی
گر بذر محبت را بيافشانی
گر دهی آب گلهای رفاقت را
گر برون از دل کنی انديشه بگذشته را
گر بداری پاس عشق را
گر بداری پاس دوست را
آری ، آری
زندگی زيباست