Welcome to herati.co.uk. Introducing the great ancient city of Herat to the world.

Amir Jaan Saboori, Herati Singer

متن ترانه "زندگی همین است" از امیر جان صبوری


چشمای ترا وقتی که به خواب می بینُم
سودایی می شم، صحرایی می شم، تکه تکه تکه می شم
خنده های تو وقتی که یادم میاید
هوش پرک می شم، هک و پک می شم، ذره ذره ذره می شم
زندگی همین است
گاهی عاشقی گاهی دل دقی گه چنان و گه چنین است
گاهی با همی گاهی بی همی گه فریب و گه یقین است

خدا نکنه از کنار ما رفته رفته برنگردی
یادِم نمیره لحظه وداع چشمه چشمه گریه کردی
یاد تو بخیر ای غزل شنو
عمر تو دراز ای همیشه نو

از کشاکش چرخ زندگی بین ما جُدایی افتاد
بی رضای ما پیش پای ما سنگ بیوفایی افتاد

یاد تو بخیر ای غزل شنو
عمر تو دراز ای همیشه نو

Herat, Florence of Asia.


The golden age of Herat was the time of the Timurids, in the 14th and 15th centuries, when the city was known as the "Florence of Asia". The best painters, the best architects, the best musicians, all came from Herat. "In Herat if you stretch out your feet you are sure to kick a poet," said Ali Sher Nawai, a statesman who was himself a poet and artist. It was at this time that the beautiful palaces and mosques which still adorn the city were built. Notable among these are the Musalla complex, built in the late 1400s by Queen Gawarshad. The city is the burial place of Afghanistan's greatest mystic poet, Khaja Abdullah Ansari. Herat was formerly also renowned for its bazaars - the city is a major carpet-making centre.

Breadbasket


Herat, the city considered to have the most fertile soil in central Asia, was first settled 5,000 years ago. The ancient Greek historian Heroditus called it the breadbasket of the region. "The world is like an ocean," it was said in ancient times, "and in the ocean is a pearl, and the pearl is Herat." When Alexander the Great came to Herat in the 3rd century BC, the city was already a prosperous place. Later it became the greatest of the cities of the ancient Persian kingdom of Khorasan.
Source: BBC

Recommending a book

Three Women of Herat: A Memoir of Life, Love and Friendship in Afghanistan

by Veronica Doubleday (Author)

In the years before the communist coup and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Veronica Doubleday set up home in the ancient city of Herat with her husband, who was researching Central Asian music. At first, her only glimpses of women were as shadows--faceless and voiceless. Gradually, however, she formed friendships with three young mothers who welcomed her into their lives, taught her their customs and music and shared the details of their everyday existence. She witnessed their most personal moments: the births and deaths of their children, their marriages and celebrations, religious holidays, healings, and rituals. After the Soviet invasion in 1979, she lost touch with her friends, but returned to Herat recently, adding another chapter to this poignant story.
(Editorial Review)

Democracy in Action!

This is a music video by Abjeez, Iranian sisters from Sweden. Deep and thoughtful, in another word you will see Democracy in action. Democracy (American style) has been working in Iraq for more than five years now but it seems the right wing conservatives have not learnt from their destructive mistakes and they are planning to expand their so-called war on terror agenda beyond Iraqi borders. The battle for capturing hearts and minds is completely off the table and there is no place for diplomacy in the 21st century.

President Bush once said in that famous speech at the congress after 11 September : "You are either with us or against us." and since then people in Baghdad and Kabul streets has tasted the meaning of being against Mr. president.

The translation of the lyrics of this video is running at the bottom of the clip.

More to come.

My First Post!

This is a new start. In this blog you will read about daily events, useful links and things around that make me interested. You are most welcome to add your views and comments regarding any post on this blog.