Monar Jomban (part 2 of 4)

Dear Manali

Beautiful travelogue (I hope that`s the right word for this writing). Simply beautiful.

Regards

Re: # 4 by harimau:

``I don`t call them Iranians or Persians when ``rug merchant`` would do.``


And that dear harimau is the problem! Just think about how the `goras` dealt with your ancestors and how they are perplexed dealing with you ..... no off the cuff reactions please.

[.....we were directed to this 100 year old Gaz factory at the Western entrance of the square. There we meet the carpet seller....]

Aren`t they all rug merchants? I don`t call them Iranians or Persians when ``rug merchant`` would do.

On a totally different note: The intellectual hawks in Washington know very little about the civilizational persistance of `romance` which shapes the will of the average Hamid and Farzana in our neighborhood. Can they ever `inform` on the nature of this war which is presently raging .... I just wonder.

``After over months of nurturing the lifeless wool, ...... they are not material anymore.``

You are actually a very good writer. I do not know the abc of writing, ....., but it seems possible that into the future I might brag to my grandchildren that I read some of your early writings.

“Do not apologise – I do not care if I sell even a single of them, I just love them so much that I would want to be near them always, were I penniless – And I believe not everything beautiful need be possessed, beauty is for admiration first and foremost – respect for the creator and awe for the creation. Come let me show you my collection.”

Subhan Allah. You are a master weaver yourself. What imagery and what a powerful story-telling so far.Your description of the Imam square and the beautiful mosques reminds me of Noon Meem Rashid who wrote one of the most poignant poems in Urdu poetry, titled - ``Isfahan ki masaajid ke meenar``. Do read it if you can and please continue with the story.