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We begin tonight’s edition of A Window to the Fatherland with Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh reading one of his poems from the book of his collected works.
Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:
We will continue the program with looking at Prince Reza Pahlavi’s statement on the discovery of a mummified body near the demolished site of Reza Shah’s mausoleum, which reads as follows:
My dear compatriots:
From the first moments after hearing the news of discovery of a body in Shahr Rey, at the site of the destroyed mausoleum of Reza Shah, my family and I have been collecting and assessing additional information in an effort to verify reports. After further evaluation, we believe that this body most probably belongs to my grandfather, Reza Shah.
At no point did my father or my family remove Reza Shah’s body from his mausoleum in Shahr Rey and any rumors to the contrary are unfounded. We ask that the current regime and its officials afford our family access to the body, through medical doctors and scientific experts trusted and selected by us, for verification and assurance of proper burial.
Reza Shah must ultimately be buried again in Iran in an appropriate manner respecting the wishes of our family and the Iranian people. If not as the father of modern Iran or as a King, but if only as a simple soldier and servant of his country and his people, Reza Shah must have a marked grave in a location known to all Iranians.
This matter is not merely of a personal or familial nature; rather, it carries significant cultural and historical significance as Reza Shah belongs to all Iranians. Accordingly, I ask the Iranian people, as the true guardians of Reza Shah’s legacy, to join and support my family, whether through social media or peaceful public protests, as we pursue this matter in order to ensure that it is handled and resolved appropriately with transparency and dignity befitting Reza Shah and Iran.
Reza Pahlavi
Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:
On the anniversary of the launch of Iran’s National Radio Station we continue the program with an interview with Mrs. Azar Pajoohesh, who would share with us her memories of working at the station as a newsreader and then a moderator for Persian music programs.
Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:
What do we know about the early days of Iran’s National Radio Station?
Mrs. Azar Pajoohesh:
I recently spoke at a cultural gathering in Paris about this topic and my speech was later published by the Rahavard quarterly.
When we talk about Iran’s Radio broadcasting organization, we are talking about the Moinian Radio. Moinian was intrinsically a decent person of highest intellect and discipline.
Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:
When and how did you get into the station?
Mrs. Azar Pajoohesh:
I had been employed at the provincial government in the province of Rezayieh as the head of public relations and had to collect and read the latest news about the city’s municipality services. Later they asked me to work at the city’s local radio as a newsreader.
However, we had to come to Tehran for medical treatment for one of my children and there I went to the Tehran Radio Station and asked if I could meet with Mr. Moinian. He agreed to test my voice and the following day I read some news with Mr Rouhani and I passed the test and got the job.
I am very proud of having had the privilege of meeting with two towering figures in the history of Iranian music and they were the late Ghamarul Molok Vaziri and Abolhassan Iqbal.
Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:
What was the Golha music program about?
Mrs. Azar Pajoohesh:
It was one of the most successful programs of Iran’s national radio station and people like the late Mr Pirnia played a major role in that respect.
One day Mr Pirnia asked me to read a couple of couplets to the microphone and that was the beginning of my life long involvement with the radio station.
We used to first record the program with the singers performing first, followed by my reading of poetry at the end. Only on one occasion it was a live performance when the late Marziyeh sang.
I also once had the honour of meeting with the late Shah of Iran.
Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:
Stay with us for this edition of A Window to the Fatherland and share it with your family and friends.
