Dara and Sara Street in Gorgan; A Name for Half a Century of Cultural Memory / A Tribute to Children’s Literature
IBNA (Iran Book News Agency) Provincial Service – Seyed Ehsan Moslemi, cultural and social activist: Years ago, due to the prominent presence of the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (Kanoon) and the movement of hundreds of children and teenagers along this route, people gradually named it “Kanoon Street”. Later, this popular name was officially adopted as “Dara and Sara Street” with the approval of the Gorgan City Council, to be registered on the city’s official map.
A Legacy for Generations and a Sign of Cultural Transformation
The naming of streets and alleys is not merely an administrative act; rather, it is a reflection of a society’s culture, history, and perspective on urban identity. “Dara and Sara” is no exception to this rule. These two names, which for decades symbolized two Iranian children in Persian languages, books, and magazines, have now transformed into a lasting legacy in the collective memory of Gorgan’s residents in the form of a street.
Choosing the name Dara and Sara for this street is not only a tribute to children’s literature but also an effort to preserve the connection of the current generation with the cultural memories and educational values of past generations.
Today, every passerby who crosses this street sees traces of that familiar feeling from elementary school books amidst the colorful walls of Kanoon and the laughter of children. Dara and Sara Street is now not just an urban route, but a sign of the lasting bond between past and future; a place where culture, art, education, and hope find meaning together.
Such namings not only connect children with stories and literature but can also provide better conditions for the general public to connect with literature by continuing to name thoroughfares and places after books, literary figures, and fictional characters. Therefore, Gorgan’s urban management can be effective in promoting a culture of reading in the urban sphere through such actions.
Book Week and Dara and Sara Street
On the eve of the 33rd edition of Iran’s Book Week, walking on Dara and Sara Street takes on a deeper meaning. This street, with the presence of Kanoon’s library and the sound of eager children who come there to discover a new world of imagination and knowledge, acts as the most vibrant cultural heart of the city.
The books nestled on the shelves of this Kanoon are not merely words printed on paper; rather, they are windows to understanding, imagination, and identity, and every child who holds a book, as if taking a step towards knowing themselves and the world, and this is the magic that has kept Kanoon and Dara and Sara Street alive.
Dara and Sara and a Relic of Former Times
In today’s fast-paced world, books act as a bridge between generations. Just as Dara and Sara created two familiar images of childhood and learning in people’s minds in the books of previous decades, they can now inspire today’s children to build a brighter future.
If in the past books taught children education and literacy, today they can teach them to think, be creative, and live kindly. Dara and Sara Street, with the name and memory of these two cultural symbols, can become a center for expanding the culture of reading and strengthening the spirit of inquiry and creativity among the new generation.
The Future in the Hands of Child Readers
Ultimately, it must be believed that the future of any society lies in the hands of the children who read books today. Every leaf of a book turned in a child’s hands plants the seed of knowledge and insight in their heart.
Perhaps one not-so-distant day, these very children of today will be the writers, artists, and decision-makers of tomorrow’s city. So Dara and Sara Street is not just a name; it is a path that begins with yesterday’s stories and extends to tomorrow’s dreams; a path that becomes brighter with every book, with every child’s smile, and with every new thought.
According to IBNA, there is a street named “Dara and Sara” in one of Gorgan’s old neighborhoods, whose name reminds many residents of their childhood days and old books.
This street, located in the vicinity of Takhti neighborhood and leading to Gorgan’s Kanoon No. 1 for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults, has been known by this name among people for more than 30 years.
