Iran – A Call to the Emperor/Empress Within.
August 14, 2008
National Geographic (awesome photos) ran a story on Iran and focused on the country’s legacy, people & culture. The Iranian people are fiercely independent thinkers, and place a serious premium on honor. Reading this cover story triggered a lot of thought into where Iran is today and how it can move forward by looking deeper into its past and not just acknowledging it.
There is no question that humanity advanced significantly when the Persian empire was at its zenith. Before the Magna Carta, there was the Cyrus Cylinder, the world’s first charter of human rights.
Cyrus Cylinder:
Before email, Peter Drucker, planes, trains & automobiles – the Achaemenid Dynasty established a doctrine that allowed them to rule over a land-mass that began with Macedonia in the West and stretched into the Indus river valley, or what is known today as Pakistan. Much of the known world, remained united under this umbrella for approximately 200 years. At the core of the doctrine, was a pragmatic process of delivering regional independence, religious freedom & a preservation of leadership in exchange for loyalty to the empire.
This legacy was interrupted by Alexander the Great, who was greatly influenced by the Persian model and exercised it during his short reign of the region. Persia was back in the driver’s seat with the rise of Parthians and then the Sassanids, who coined the term Iran and ruled over the largest empire on Earth as Rome declined. In summary, for about a 1,000 years (550b.c. – 650a.d.) they remained one of the most influential empires in existence. Then came the Arabs, the rise of Islam and the transformation of Iran into how we know it today. An Islamic nation with deep ties to its heritage and identity.
The cover story in National Geographic ends with a line that I identify with very much:
Inside every Iranian, there is an emperor or empress.
There appears to be a natural tendency for every Iranian to seek comfort & pride in their past as a benevolent & innovative superpower, regardless of how suppressed & vilified it may be today. The Persian identity isn’t muddled, and it certainly isn’t divisive. The Cyrus Cylinder would have permitted a difference of opinion with the United States on cultural, religious & sociological issues.
The rise of the China clearly makes that very clear – a nation unified in thought and comfortable with its cultural legacy can set its own terms. China differentiates itself from other asymmetric nations by quietly abandoning historic faux pas and embracing new approaches. It’s prepared to fail on a micro level if it has to, as long as the macro goal is reached.
However, a confused Iran is one that cannot fulfill its potential, and the world is lesser for it. Iran is not Western. It is not Eastern. It is not Arab. It is not European. It is Persian, and the day it figures that out, I don’t see the planet having any issue with it.
Full Disclosure: While I am certainly Indian by birth, I am Persian by blood. I am a Zoroastrian, my forefathers came to India about a 1,000 years ago when the Arabs invaded Iran. We didn’t want to convert, and thus we came to the shores of India to preserve our faith. India has taken care of us, and we of them. It seems that India learned more from the ‘Cyrus Cylinder’ than Iran has.
Note: This is an opinion piece. I will not be lured into any political or religious debate. I simply think Iran can be better than it is now and some of the answers lie within the people.
Filed under: Personal | Comments (7)
Zub
Very nice write up on the call to the emperor/empress within. So in this present century: Are all Iranians, considered Persians? or the other way around.
Also, a request on a new blog:
IYO, What is the Best Technology Stack / tools favoring the real world startups.
Thanks
Bala.
Hi Bala,
Thanks for reading! When it comes to Iran or Persia – it’s basically interchangeable because the terms have been in existence over a thousand years.
I’ve never been there, but from what I read and the people I have interacted with, the Iranian people either embrace Western or Islamic ideals depending on how they perceive the world.
The common thread, regardless of perception, is their heritage. So in my opinion, that’s really what should galvanize the people of Iran and set forward a 5/10/20/50 year vision for their own future.
It would be silly to presume that everybody in Iran is confused, unhappy & craving change. Iran’s average per-capita income is $6800, which isn’t exactly bad. All I am saying is that it can do better. Plenty of talent there.
And Bala, I’ll consider your topic request and see what I can produce! It’s quite an opinionated topic and I am likely to end up on the “it depends” side. There is no default. Everything is situational.
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Zubin,
I read the National Geographic’s feature on Iran recently and found it to be very good. I want to share with you some of my comments, first as a Parsee and second as someone who has been to Iran and worked with the UNHCR serving the Iranian refugees.
Iran is a very beautiful country, in all aspects. The people there are very humble and as the National Geographic’s article writer puts it, they are humble at heart. I take great pride in our Zoroastrian heritage and feel all the more stirred when I read or learn more about what others have to show / share about our ancient past. When I worked as a Protection Assistant for United Nations High Commission for Refugees, I truly understood how tough it must have been for our Zoroastrian community to have survived the conquest over time of the Arabs in Persia. History has repeated itself time and again in that part of the world. I served refugees from the Bahai, Jewish, Christian and our own Zoroastrian community feeling Iran and the Islamic oppressions. Interestingly, I also served the Kurd population that was feeling the rape of their land by the Arabs, before the Iraq invasion by US. At the bottom of all these communities are strong ties to our ancient past and their rituals. I heard so many glorious stories through these refugees and was moved to tears to know what treasures lies out there. I would love to share more, but cannot hog too much of your blog space, but liked what you had to share and hope this topic continues amongst others.
Thank you again for letting me share and for others to inquire of learn more from.
Rustom,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and I do appreciate the feedback! Glad you like it.
I think it is time we stopped being bitter or resentful as a community about the past and focused on the road ahead. It’s been centuries since the balance of power shifted in Iran and I would hold our leadership responsible for that failure. There will always be an oppressor and the oppressed. We weren’t prepared and thus we fell.
I don’t think we were completely innocent at the height of our powers. While benevolence was a priority, “shock & awe” was a very valid second option.
All I want is Iran to be free and capable. As the GDP numbers will show, even in the current state, it is good for number 18 in the world (Purchasing Power Parity scale).
Many, I am sure, are happy with the way of life there. Yet many, I am sure, wish to run free and truly aspire to better things. It has many treasures, and some truly brilliant people. The world, as a whole would benefit if it re-adopted the Cyrus Cylinder’s premise.
Iran is a great country, no matter who is in power. The people all over are the same, as the culture has not changed and neither have the sentiments over centuries and that is what counts. I am sure it will prosper in time and I pray that it rises in spirit too, in world view. When I visited Iran a long time ago, I was very impressed with all the riches and beauty it treasures. The average man may be poor in economics, but in tradition and culture, like India they are simply great in my personal view. May they always remain shining.
Coming to think about Iran and India together, have you seen the Indian movie – Jodha Akbar. Well in essence the movie shows the coming together of the Persian values withe Indian culture and the richness of both, which I thought was really splendid.