I Consider the Book My Best Friend

History and Politics Service of Iran Book News Agency (IBNA), Tahereh Mehri – The idea of naming a day after books and reading took shape in the 1990s (1370s in Persian calendar). In 1993 (1372), the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance decided to name a week as ‘Book Week’, starting from Aban 24 (November 15) and continuing until Aban 30 (November 21). This naming was done with the aim of promoting reading culture, supporting authors and publishers, and strengthening the position of books in society. The 33rd period of Book Week, with the slogan ‘Read for Iran’, is currently being held with various ceremonies across the country. On this auspicious occasion, we sat down for an interview with Dr. Reza Shabani, an enduring figure in history, which you can read below:

What is your view on books and reading, and what message do you have for book lovers in this regard?

My belief is that all the legacy of our ancestors, in forms that could offer variety to future generations, has remained in the works they left behind. The most important of these works, which has been worthy of study and appreciation since the invention of writing, is the book.

I know that works of writing have survived for about three thousand years. As for how; I must say that writing has certainly changed, and works have remained in various forms. For example, in Jiroft, Kerman, remnants have been found that were agreed upon by a group of people living in that region, who used them to create scientific, intellectual, and artistic symbols worthy of permanence for themselves. But what has remained in Iran for at least three thousand years and has evolved day by day in the human world, is that humans are a collection of knowledge, science, and information, in such a way that others can learn them effortlessly. I use the word ‘effort’ because there are still languages in the world, like Japanese or Chinese, that are accepted by millions, even billions, of people, yet learning them is a lifelong endeavor for anyone. But the sounds that have remained in the form of an alphabet, and the legacy of writing, especially after Gutenberg invented printing – although printing originated in ancient China – what became widely accessible is what we have in our books and written works. In Iran too, there were many cultured and knowledgeable people who used this method and left some of their information and knowledge as a legacy for future generations. In whatever field you look, our ancestors made extensive and complete efforts to enrich us with their thoughts.

I hope that our current generations, despite the many ways available today to inform people about what is worthy of preservation, maintenance, and reuse, will not neglect books.

What is the importance of reading in our lives, and what place does it hold in your life?

Throughout history, our people have shown that despite the hardships of civil life, which have always manifested in our existence, they have never neglected books. There were individuals like Imam Mohammad Ghazali who would tie books under their stomachs and travel from Neyshabur to Tus through snow and rain to preserve them for future use. It is said about him that he and Avicenna left behind as many as a thousand small and large volumes, and we value both Avicenna and Ghazali, and all those who have been able to benefit from their knowledge.

I have a serious recommendation, to quote the great Iranian poet Ferdowsi: ‘Do not rest from learning for a moment.’ They should never waste time and should benefit from the countless books available in Persian and languages close and similar to Persian, like Arabic. In any case, they should use these languages to an extent that is acceptably understood and grasped by a Persian speaker.

I appreciate those who, even in times of poverty and hardship, when they might face difficulties, do not neglect the publication of enduring and lasting works. I hope our people, especially our youth, despite the numerous audio-based means of enlightenment now available, which we all know about, will not neglect books, and God willing, will cherish this ancestral legacy placed at our disposal and benefit from the works made available to the public.

Even at my current age, I read at least four hours of books every day, and I have truly seen that whenever I reread works, I don’t get tired, and each time I read, I learn new things. Let me add, in my humble life, every day I read at least about 140 minutes of the Shahnameh, 4 to 6 ghazals of the great Hafez, and the quatrains of the beloved Khayyam. I also look at the esteemed Masnavi Ma’navi. These are things that are part of our heritage and hold a high rank, and I enjoy reading them. Each time I read, I grasp something new, and at the same time, I insist on benefiting from the works of contemporaries and others. I also try to understand English and French as much as possible and read a little German.

I consider the book my best friend, and I hope that today’s generation will not neglect this great and noble legacy.