The Lady in Room 1424

Gravestones at Dulab cemetery have many things to say, at least for the lady in room 1424 Enqelab hotel, Tehran.Exactly, 60 years ago a group of 114000 polish people, a combination of military and civilians left Soviets and came down to Iran. Most of them left the country soon after to join the war against allies, some sought refuge in other countries and very few established new families and preferred to stay in the land, which they found it to have plenty of sunshine. But, some 3000 fell victims of ‘‘War’’ as the worse human-made disaster and the most foolish and ignorant decision made by politicians.Among the tragic casualties was the mother of 12-years-old Krystyna whom 60 years later, in a 2 weeks visit stays at the room 1424. Krystyna Sass, a senior lecturer recalls the time when she used to walk the distance between the camp where she lived with her family and the hospital where her mother was confined. ``I never forget the hospitality of the people and their goodness, which helped us to regain our life``, she said. After a 12 days tour in Iranian cities; Anzali, Isfehan, Shiraz, at their good-bye party she told me that people behaved toward them as if they were celebrities and even had asked her autograph. I was there to hand them my two reports published in Iran daily and Iran newspaper (Persian) on this occasion. They were surprised and very happy seeing their photos and interviews on the press.They are gone now to continue their lives, which had a very tough beginning. And what is left is a series of questions that I’ve asked myself several times; do I owe them? What am I striving for? Perhaps, the notion of such destiny for my own 7 and 13 years old children is the very motive of my concern. Or; I as an Iranian whose nation is named axis of evil by U.S. officials, am trying to bring into west’s public opinion that, we are the kind of people whom irrespective of religion, colour or nationality received those needed shelter and escaped inhumane treatment. To remind inexperienced Americans and Britons, how it is to be a subject, what is the feelings of a secondary citizen in a so-called global village. No matter how civilized one may be, every nation or even man has his ups and downs; a period filled with wealth and glory, and inescapably times to be down. Undoubtedly generations to come shall judge us, and surely not for things, which the weak did not do, but of course for the decisions the strong made.