Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Persian hope


Among Time 100 of 2010, Zahra Rahnavard, wife of Mir Hossein Mousavi is a very apt choice. A writer and sculptor Dr. Rahnavard  was born in a Sh'ia and anti-communist family. She was an early revolutionary and close aide to Ali Shariati, a dissident Islamist leader, instrumental in uprooting Shah in 1979. She has served as political advisor to  Mohammad Khatami. This learned woman was  first woman-Chancellor of Al-zahra University in Tehran after 1979 only to be removed from that post by Ahmadinejad’s Government in 2006 because she had invited Shirin Ebadi, the Iranian human rights activist and Nobel laureate, to give a lecture.
Last year she was in news for lending sparkle to the campaign of her distinctly low-key, uncharismatic husband, introducing him at rallies, addressing meetings solo and writing newspaper articles. She came under international media spotlight when she demanded apology from Ahmadinejad for accusing her of obtaining her various educational degrees through contacts. Her  ferocity was unmatched by any of the three opponents of Mr. Ahmadinejad.
The thing because of which I look up to her are her floral headscarf and open black chador that reveals colourful clothes beneath, and appearing hand-in-hand with her husband, giving clear signal to reformist that she stands for women equality and  would live up to her name (Zahra: white flower) in bringing peace and tranquility to Iran. I would love to see her in place of her aging husband as the presidential candidate next time. 
Till then, Ma'am keep adding stars to your sky-high résumé.

1 comments:

Vikram S R said...

By the way her latest tweet is : "Our nation is confident that the peak of real democracy will be reached in Iran someday".
Follow her on http://twitter.com/zahrarahnavard