|
La Princesse
Noor D’Iran: Un Cśur A Prendre !
|
|
Darius KADIVAR Reports From
Paris
“This is love: to fly toward a secret sky,
to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of
life. Finally, to take a step without feet.” -Jalal ad-Din Rumi Persian Poet,1207-1273)
“That is what learning is. You suddenly understand
something you've understood all your life, but in a new way.” –Doris Lessing about Love ( Iranian-Born British Nobel Prize 2007 in Literature)
It was a particularly gloomy and cold day in snow covered Paris, as I hurried to the train station, hoping to stop for a quick coffee and take a look at the latest headlines at the newsstand as I do every day before jumping in the public transport. The tense International relations and drastic economic situation seems to dominate the news for the past two months leaving little hope for joyful and care free days to come. Whether it’s the endless Middle East quagmire plunged once again into chaos with the Gaza Crisis, the uncertainties of the recent Israeli Elections or Iran’s President Ahmadinejad’s changing moods, amidst offers by newly Elected President Obama’s wish to hold talks with Iran if the latter “unclenched its fist”, nothing in the news seems to bring a smile on our faces. So as I walked towards my favorite newsstand, I did not expect to read or see anything uplifting. As my eyes scrutinized the titles suddenly I caught a glimpse of a beautiful face on the cover of one of the most popular and enduring Royal Celebrity Magazines in Europe: Point de Vue Images Du Monde. I immediately recognized that refreshing smiling face which was none other than that of Princess Noor Pahlavi ! …
The eldest daughter of Iran’s former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi and his wife Yasmine Etemad-Amini. « Wow ! » I thought to myself with a gasp «How quickly the years have passed ! … ». The news of her birth, on the 3rd of April 1993, shortly before Spring and the Persian New Year, had made the cover of the same magazine with that of her beautiful mother and it seems like that was only yesterday…
I remember buying the magazine and rushing home to announce the good news to friends and family. Obviously the birth of a female heir to the Peacock throne, even in exile, triggered interest into the Pahlavi family and their place in history. With a Revolution that had entered the beginning of its second decade of existence, and despite the death of Ayatollah Khomeiny, the founding father of the Islamic Theocracy in Iran, few signs could suggest any radical change of regime in Iran or the restoration of the Pahlavi’s back on the Peacock Throne. Obviously nostalgia played a role in the Iranian community in exile in regard to the pre-revolution years but for the regular French friends and colleagues the Pahlavi family has been essentially embodied by Iran’s Queen: The Shahbanou, who continues to be referred to by her maiden name “Farah Diba”, in memory of her student years in Paris studying Art and architecture before Marrying the Shah of Iran and becoming the First Iranian Queen Ever to be crowned.
The Former Shahbanou has remained
a popular figure in France and Iran’s Royal Couple made some of
the most glamorous and most sold covers of Point De Vue Magazine
for more than 40 years. So it is not surprising that the magazine
has shown interest in our Royal family and followed them with regular
updates on their whereabouts in times of glory or tragedy. Their
loves, losses, and endurance through life have drawn joy, tears
and admiration to many of their compatriots, even often amongst
the staunch opponents of the monarchy. A recent Film “The Queen and I” by Swedish Iranian director,
Nahid Persson Sarvestani,
is a testimony of this enduring fascination for Iran’s Queen and
the Pahlavi Dynasty in general even 30 years after their downfall
due to an undeniably Popular yet tragically unwelcomed Revolution.
How
could it be any different? An entire generation’s individual destinies,
failures and success’ be it in exile or in Iran was shaped by the
events of 1979 for better and for worse. In thirty years another
generation has come to being, which we now call the First Generation
of Iranians in exile. Born outside Iran, their vision, hopes and
aspirations are naturally influenced by a different upbringing and
life style. They are certainly much more cosmopolitan in many ways
than their elders, yet something about the Iranian collective psyche
suggests that many first generation Iranians, have kept close to
their Persian roots and grew up with the memories of their ancient
and noble land through the experiences of their parents and grandparents.
This is certainly the case for the three daughters of Reza and Yasmine
Pahlavi. Iman the second daughter born 12 September 1993, seems to have
inherited some of the physical attributes of her father while the
last child named after her illustrous grandmother Farah born born
17 January 2004, seems like a perfect cloning of the former Empress
at the same age. Princess Noor, seems to have inherited the beauty
of her mother and the calm regal presence of her Grandma whom she
like her siblings call affectionately “Grandma Yaya”.
What do we truly know about these
young innocent Persian butterflies who are slowly but surely coming
to age ? … Little if not nothing, for their lives have been rightly
protected by their parents so as to preserve their privacy and allow
their education in a serene and family atmosphere.
How this may at times appear
strange, for had events in our country been different today, this
eldest Daughter of Iran’s former Crown Prince may have (or have
not given the Male Oriented Constitution of the time) been named
heir to the throne of the oldest monarchy in the world … , A land
that has known many Kings and Queen’s and the rise and fall of prestigious
dynasties in more than 25 centuries. Noor, Iman and little cute
Farah, would have led a less private and more priviledged life style
in the Palaces of Niavaran, Saad Abad or Golestan while being photographed
in their every move and put at the pinnacle of public attention.
The Grand daughters of Reza
Shah The Great, the Founder of the Pahlavi Dynasty
and Architect of Modern Iran, remains a much respected national
figure amongst Iranians at large despite the fall of his dynasty
that lasted half a century. His forced abdication in favor of his
son in 1941, remains a national scar that has never entirely healed
in our collective memory. For the Man who brought Iran out of the
Middle Ages into the 20th Century and emancipated Iranian Women (***) as no other
predecessor in the history of our country, nor in the history of
the Middle East ( other than maybe Ataturk in neighbouring) was
to meet an ungrateful and humilating end in exile. Nevertheless
his political, social, cultural and historical legacy has justly
been compared to France’s Great Emperor Napoleon Bonapart, and was
to strongly shape and define the vision of modernity of his own
son, Mohamed Reza Shah, for better and for worse.
One can imagine the weight of such a legacy on the still fragile
and delicate shoulders of this beautiful and sweet young girl who
may or may not one day play a role, be it symbolic, in the history
of a nation she has yet to discover first hand. In the light of
such an uncertain future, one can therefore understand her parents
desire to preserve her privacy and guarantee a “normal” family life
and education as that of any other ordinary young girl of her age.
Hollywood
and European Cinema (Above) and Vice Versa: Soraya & Grace Kelly Acting
Princess’ (Below). ©imdb &photocomposition ©DK
Nearly 30 years after the Revolution,
the passage of Time and the dreadful record of the Islamic Revolution
seems in retrospect to place the reign of the Pahlavi Kings in a
more positive light than at the time of their downfall. Although
not without its shortcomings in terms of Democracy and Human Rights,
their era nevertheless undeniably corresponded to one of social,
cultural and economic progress (aided in that by its natural Oil
ressources) unequaled in the last 3 to 4 centuries of Iranian history.
Particularly for Iranian Women and their active role in society
and personal and public emancipation, access to education, political
and civic rights (*). Recent Books
by confirmed historians like Dr. Abbas Milani ( Eminent Persians ) and Gholam Reza Afkhami
(The Times and Life of the Shah), Mansoureh Pirnia ( Lady Minister: Farokhrou Parsay Daughter of Freedom A Biography
and Memoir) (**) have allowed an objective re-examination of the legacy of
the Pahlavi Reign that was only possible with the passage of time
and necessary historical distance with the subject matter.
It may also a blessing in disguise
to see that Women play such an important role in the Pahlavi Family.
The Shahbanou’s strong genes seem to have won over the essentially
male dominated dynasty and ironically happily reflect the demography
of Iran’s evergrowing female population. Let’s allow ourselves to
dream a little and imagine what an irony it would be to see this
beautiful and young be accepted by her people in a not so distant
future and Crowned as Iran’s Queen … What an Event THAT would be
for us but also the World to see? An Event that would probably remind
many of Queen Elisabeth’s Televised Coronation in the 1950’s teleprojected
into this second Millenium …
A Utopia you may ask ? Well Yes,
of course but does that make it an Impossibility ? I’m not so sure ! …
After all European 20th
century history offers several examples of abolished absolute monarchies
that were restored only in their Democratic Constitutional form
in an attempt of national reconciliation and abiding to both Human
Rights and Democratic values and ideals. Belgium and Spain are the
two that come to one’s mind. All the more that the Former’s Constitution
inspired the 1906 Iranian drafted Constitution and the latter’s
King Juan Carlos seems to be seen as a Role
Model to our Young Princess’ father, the Crown Prince Reza who has
recently released a new book “L’Heure Du Choix” aka “The Hour of Choice”
that has got a great deal of coverage in the French Media. A book
in which the former Crown Prince outlines his vision for a Democratic
Iran and also accepted to answer to tough and challenging questions
on his father’s reign.
Only the Future can
say if The Former Crown Prince will be able to make a difference
and convince his compatriots to reconcile around a common vision
for a Democratic System of government be it a Secular Republic or
a Constitutional Monarchy …
In the meantime our beautiful
Iranian Princess will be probably focusing on her academic and private
future in pragmatic terms under the guidness and love of her parents
and her very inspiring grandmother who truly serves as a role model
of dignity, natural elegance and courage. A Grandma who at her granddaughter’s
age could hardly imagine the extraordinary destiny of a Modern
Day Cinderella that would befall on her in the most unexpected
way …
Will Princess Noor have a similar
Regal future ? Will she marry for Love at First Sight like her Grandma
or by duty ? Will she live a similar romance as Audrey Hepburn and
Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday respectively as a Princess
in the Spotlight and the unknown Journalist ? Will Her heart balance
between a Prince or a Pauper Like Grace Kelly in The Swan
? Or will she like most girls of her generation get to experience
her first kiss only to be followed by her first heartbreak and in
the process learn that Life is not always a Fairy tale ? Who can
say ? …
As this young butterfly grows
and learns to fly with her own wings, she may remember those wise
words that her illustrious grandmother repeats often in her interviews:
“La Vie Est Un Combat … Mais
Elle Vaut La Peine d’ętre Vécu ” aka
“Life is an Eternal Struggle …But it’s Worth the Fight” !
In The Meantime Princess,
We Wish You a Happy Valentine and may your Lucky Stars Light Your
Way towards Love and Happiness !
VIVE L’AMOUR !,
VIVE LA JEUNESSE !,
&
VIVE NOTRE PRINCESSE D’IRAN !
Authors Notes:
Official Website of PDV Magazine:
(*) Right to choose: First protests against mandatory
hijab shortly after the Revolution of '79 brutally suppressed in
Violence 9 (Photos)
(**) Regarding a Prominent Iranian Women and
Minister of the Pahlavi Era: pictory: A Women for All Seasons : Farokhroo Pārsā
(1922-1980) By Darius KADIVAR (Iranian.com)
(***) pictory: The Day the Veil Was Dropped: Queen of Iran Taj Ol'
Molouk followed by daughters Princess Shams (right) and Princess
Ashraf Pahlavi appear in Public without the Veil and in Western
Clothing. (1934)
Other Recommended Websites:
Official Website of Shahbanou
Farah Pahlavi
Official Website of Yasmine Pahlavi’s Foundation
for the Children of Iran Official Website of Crown
Prince Reza Pahlavi
Recommended Watching:
French Documentary on Shahbanou Farah by Frédéric
Mitterand (Aired on 21st Feb on FR3)
Reza Pahlavi New Book (A TIME OF CHOICE) Q&A With French Media
|
