A41 A Painting of the King Of Iran

Frederic Ayyubkhan of ⁺Spurǧān in Los Angeles, California

ʾətva lətva xa … yala ⁺roba jīl šəmmu ʾIlíyyəva. ʾa hak̭yat duz꞊ila. savúniva. šəmmət savuni ʾIlíyyəva. ⁺roba jīl꞊iva. mən-k̭ám ⁺p̂lāš-k̭ámeta yalə jīl gu-ʾUrmi, ⁺Spurǧān, lena ⁺šula mačuxə. gami vayəla. ⁺dostə váyələ, bitaya bətyávəna gu-gami. bitáyəna, b-šənnə, b-yarxə bəgrášəla, bitáyəna América, duz gu-Chicago. ⁺mṱáyəna Chicago. ⁺tama ⁺šarúyələ pəlxana ʾu-⁺bək̭raya. xa-tláy šənnə, balci ʾəsri xamša šənnə, tlay šənnə ⁺várəla, ʾa yala jīl ⁺bək̭ráyələ šəmmu ʾIlíyyəva, ʾIliyya Daniyyəl. k̭a-babu zuyzə ⁺šadúrələ. mən Chicago pəlxánələ. mara b-xá-dana bita ci-xayyənva. le ⁺ʾaxlənva zuyzə ci-⁺jammənva k̭a-babi ⁺šadrənva gu-⁺ʾatra, ci-taniva, k̭a-ʾUrmi ci-taniva ⁺ʾatra. zuyzə ci-⁺šadərva. xa-ʾəsri xamša šənnə ⁺várəna. ⁺bəddáyələ k̭at-⁺bayyə gavər. mara le gorən laxxa. gu-dé ⁺ʾatra꞊zə, ⁺yanə ⁺Spurǧān gu-ʾUrmi xa-brátəva šəmmo Helínəva. ⁺roba šap̂ərta vítəla ʾe-⁺dān-gano … nanunti váyəla. ʾa-brata ⁺roba šap̂ərta vita, ʾa-ʾIliyya b-surutu ⁺bíyyolə. mədrə bətyávələ gu-gami, ⁺bəddárələ ⁺ʾal-⁺Spurǧān. mara ʾe-⁺dān-k̭át ⁺bəddarəxva k̭alət ⁺topə ⁺bəšmáyəxva. ⁺p̂lašət k̭ámeta ⁺šúryəva. k̭āl ⁺top ⁺bəšmáyəva. bitáyələ l-a-ybət … bitáyələ ⁺mṱáyələ ʾUrmi. babi ⁺gura xa-naša ⁺roba … babi ⁺gura ʾIliyya Daniyyəl xa-naša ⁺roba ⁺rama, ⁺ʾaynu míləva. xá-dana suysa ⁺xvara bəzvánələ. jullət ⁺xluylət nanunti꞊zə zvineva mən Chicago. jullət ⁺xluyla zvínəva, jullət calu zvínəva. bitáyələ gu-ʾUrmi, bərrə́xšələ k̭at-nanunti xazzila. nanunti ⁺roba ʾelčiyyə ʾətvala, ⁺roba ʾelčiyyə. savuyni ⁺roba šap̂ira laxúyməva. jibatu məlyəva mən-dannə pencilə xodkɑ̄́rə davanayə másalan tanuyə ⁺ʾəsrá-danə xodkɑ̄́rə ʾətvalə, xa-dana꞊da ⁺saʾat mən-dan-⁺saʾattə ʾamricayə ⁺gurə. gu-da jibu vítəla. nanunti har-savuni bəxzáyula, mən-dannə xodkɑ̄́rə, mən-de-⁺saʾat xošo bitáyəla. k̭a-savuni ʾaslan lela bəxzá k̭at xošo ʾatya. bəgvárəna. bəgvárəna ⁺ʾúydalə, yumət Christmas꞊la. xa šabta ⁺várəla, ʾa sapar k̭ala-k̭oxa bitáyələ palgət lelə. yumət Christmas ⁺havar mxáyəna, ʾarəmnayə váyəna, ⁺bərxaṱa, ʾÍliyya k̭u-rúk̭ mara mu vítəla? mara vena ⁺bək̭ṱalan. slaba váyələ. ⁺bək̭ṱalan꞊na. ʾIliyya bitáyələ nanunti Hilina k̭at-xá-šabta gvírəna ⁺ʾal-suysa mattúyolə. mara tre yarxə, ya ⁺ṱla yarxə, gu-talga váyəna ʾurxa bərrəxša hal ⁺Hayəstan, ʾArmanəs-⁺tɑ̄́n ⁺mṱáyəna ⁺Háyəstan ⁺mṱáyəna. xa mən-dán mavā́t ⁺Háyəstan ⁺mṱáyəna. mara gu-da-ʾurxət k̭at-bərrə́xšəxva gu-da-talgá ⁺roba našə yāl-surə mattúyəva, ʾaxnan ⁺hayyurēxva. yāl-surə bəšk̭alēxva čun leva ⁺bašurə yāl-surə lablívalun, ya ⁺roba soyátə-ʾətva bənpáləva ⁺hayyúrəxva k̭a-dani labúləxva. Anyway ⁺mṱáyəna ⁺ʾal ⁺Hayə́stɑn, gu-xa-matət ʾArmanə́s-⁺tɑn꞊la, ⁺tama pyášəna tré-šənnə. ʾina ⁺šula xáč̭č̭ələ ⁺roba ⁺šula xáč̭č̭ələ ⁺tama. savuni mən-nanunti bitáyəna gu Leningrád, paytaxtət ⁺tama ⁺Rusya čun savuni ʾəngliz ⁺bəddáyələ, ⁺tama꞊za mə́ndila, carxananət consersɑ̄zí. xa carxana mattúyəna savuni vádəna gurət de carxana, fóreman, čun nak̭šə ⁺bašúrələ ⁺k̭arə. ⁺tama꞊zə mantúyələ savuni. duccananət ⁺xalta šteta ptaxəl ⁺tama gu-⁺Rusya. xob vazyatté ⁺spay váyəla. har vazyatté ⁺spay vayəlá, revolútion váyəla gu-⁺Rusya. ⁺yanə comunəstí váyəla. šəmmət savuni gu-listət k̭ámetət dannə šəmmánələ. savuni mu vádələ? cullə məndyanu zabunelə ⁺mublə ʾə́tvalun. ⁺k̭aravattə ʾə́tvalun, ⁺mašinət ⁺xyuṱa ʾə́tvalun. cullə ⁺bzayelə. cullə məndyanə k̭at zvinelə dava videlə, mapšurelə. gu-dán ⁺mublə k̭attatət sandaliyyə gu … ⁺mašinət ⁺xyuṱa mláyulə davə mara bərrəxšəx Yurup. ⁺bəxláṱəna bitáyəna ⁺ʾIran. ʾIran lela Yurup. mən da gibət darya-ye Xazár bətyávəna gu-gami mən dá-gibət yama mən nanunti bitáyəna. ⁺ʾarp̂a yāl-surə꞊zə vayelə ʾe ⁺danta yāl-surə xina ⁺gurə víyyəna, gu-⁺Rusya víyyəna ⁺k̭əryə. b-gami bitáyəna l-a-ybət ⁺ʾIran. mədrə bərrák̭əna mən-⁺tama la ⁺k̭aṱlívalun, ⁺yanə mār zúyzəna ʾannə. bitáyəna gu-l-a-yba, ⁺ʾIran, gu-⁺ʾIran꞊zə ⁺Sultanabad. surayə ⁺roba, surayə mən-ʾarəmnayə ⁺roba gu-⁺Sultanabad, ʾUrmi, Cərmanšar, ⁺Hamadan burbəzzelun. ʾe ⁺danta malcət ⁺ʾIran ʾiva Reza ⁺Šāh, malca ⁺roba sammana málcəva. ⁺roba sammánəva. ʾannə b-šənnə pyášəna ⁺tama max yaxsər, surayə ʾarəmnayə b-yaxsər čun ʾannə ⁺ʾiranayə bəxšávəna ʾannə communíst꞊ina. k̭até communíst ⁺šula leva yavé, cullə꞊zə ⁺k̭əryánəva. ⁺k̭ə́ryəva, ʾina ⁺šula leva yavé. ʾannə mən-dán zuyzə k̭at-muyyəvá xarújəva. mən-dán zuyzə xarújəva. Anyway, babi k̭at ⁺rabi Daryavuš꞊va bitáyələ. mu vádələ? šəclət do malca bəgrášulə. šəclət Reza ⁺Šāh k̭at ⁺ʾal-xá-dana tanina velə cəlya, k̭a-xá tanina velə ⁺bək̭ṱala. ⁺yanə tanina dəžmənnət ⁺ʾátrələ ⁺manayu. ⁺manayət babi ʾáhəva. ⁺bək̭ṱálələ ʾo-Reza ⁺Šāh va dəžmən bək̭ṱálulə. ⁺roba ⁺gurta ⁺tablo vítəla. bi pastəl, pencil cuma gríšulə. həč-naša lelə ⁺bəyyara ʾa-šəcla k̭a-malca, k̭at-Reza ⁺Šāh꞊ilə, maxzilə, čun ⁺bəzdáyəna xošu la-ʾatya k̭a-⁺nak̭k̭aš꞊zə ⁺k̭aṱəl. bitáyəna k̭a-brū́n-malca, k̭at vali-ʾáhd꞊ilə, Mahamat Reza ⁺Šāh, k̭at-brū́n málcələ, k̭a-⁺davun maxzúyəna. mən-tariǧət ⁺dostət baba ⁺roba ʾət-k̭ošunayə ⁺dostə ʾə́tvalə. xá-dana mən-dani꞊zə ʾAlám꞊iva. šəcla bəšk̭álələ k̭a-do-Mahamad Reza ⁺Šāh k̭at-brū́n-malca vali-ʾáhd꞊ilə maxzúyulə. ⁺roba xošu bitáyələ. ⁺roba xošu bitáyələ. babi꞊zə bəxzáyulə mara mu ⁺bayyət? babi xa-⁺nak̭k̭aš꞊va. ʾé-⁺danta k̭at marən gu-⁺ʾIran másala ⁺nak̭k̭aš arzéš lə́tvalə artist arzéš lə́tvalə gu-⁺ʾIran ⁺roba꞊zə məscínəva mār-zuyzə leva. c-⁺áməsva tániva xa-beta halli. zuyzə halli. ⁺roba məndyanə c-⁺áməsva ⁺ṱáləbva mən-malca čun sník̭əva. ʾina čun artist꞊va k̭a-məllattət ganu víyyələ taxmuna k̭a-məllattət ⁺ʾaturayə taxmúnələ k̭a-dan-našə k̭at-yaxsər꞊na bəxzayeva k̭at … mu ʾodən, mu lá-ʾodən? k̭a-malca mara malca havət basima. hak̭yat ʾáhəla k̭at ʾaxnan mən dūr našət diyyan mən-do-⁺ʾatrət ⁺Rusya k̭at-tíyyəna l-a-ybá yaxsər꞊na laxxa. ⁺ʾiranáyəna ʾina yaxsər꞊na. la ⁺šula yavena, la … ʾe-⁺dān ⁺bayyi másalan ʾazi Tehran gări passport ʾávilun, ⁺ʾəmza ʾodi passport ʾazi Tehrɑn mədrə másalan k̭a-⁺ṱlá yarxə ⁺deri mədrə ⁺ʾal-⁺ʾatra másalan ⁺Spurǧan꞊la ya ʾUrmi꞊la ⁺deri ⁺barayə. malca leva mara ⁺bəddaya har ʾe ⁺danta k̭a-dó ʾAlám vazirət darbɑ̄́r xa varak̭a bəctávələ pečat mxáyulə. mən ⁺tama məllattət ʾarəmnayə mən-surayə ⁺ʾazad váyəna, k̭at max ⁺ʾiranayə k̭abulena. bərrə́xšəna ⁺šulanə mačúxəna, xina, ⁺ʾazad bərrəxša bitáyəna gu-dá ⁺ʾarra. ʾa xa mən-dán hak̭yáttəva k̭at xina ⁺bili tanənna.

There was once a very young lad whose name was Elijah. This is a true story. He was my grandfather. My grandfather’s name was Elijah. He was very young. Before the First World War young lads in Urmi and Spurǧan do not find work. There is a ship. He has friends. They come and board the ship. They come, years, months go by, they come to America, directly to Chicago. They arrive in Chicago. There he begins to work and study. Some thirty years, perhaps twenty-five years, thirty years go by. This young lad studies, his name was Elijah, Elijah Daniel. He sends money to his father. He is working from Chicago. He says ‘I used to live on one single egg. I did not eat. I used to collect money to send to my father in the homeland.’ He used to call Urmi the homeland. He used to send money. Some twenty-five years go by. He knows that he wants to get married. He says ‘I shall not get married here.’ In that land, meaning Spurǧan in Urmi, there was a girl whose name was Helen. She was very beautiful for her time … she becomes my grandmother. This girl was very beautiful. Elijah had fallen in love with her in his childhood. He boards the ship again and returns to Spurǧan. He says ‘When we were returning we heard the sound of cannons.’ The First World War had started. He heard the sound of cannons. He comes and arrives in Urmi. My grandfather was a very … man, my grandfather Elijah Daniel was a very tall man with blue eyes. He buys a white horse. He had bought the wedding dress of my grandmother from Chicago. He had bought the wedding dress, he had bought the bridal dress. He comes to Urmi. He goes to see my grandmother. My grandmother had many suitors, many suitors. My grandfather was very handsome and good-looking. His pockets were full of golden automatic pencils, for example, say he had ten automatic (pencils) and a watch too, one of those large American watches. It was in his pocket. As soon as my grandmother sees my grandfather, she is attracted by these automatic (pencils) and this watch. She does not see my grandfather and becomes attracted (to him). They get married. They get married to one another. (Now) it is Christmas day. A week goes by. Then the sound of yelling comes in the middle of the night. On Christmas day they scream, they are Armenians, they run (and say) ‘Elijah, get up and flee!’ He says ‘What has happened?’ They say ‘They are killing us. There is looting. They are killing us.’ Elijah comes. He puts my grandmother Helen on a horse, after they have been married for only a week. They say they journey for two months, or three months in the snow until they arrive in Armenia, Armenia, they arrive in Armenia. They arrive in one of the villages of Armenia. They say ‘On the journey that we made in the snow many people put down their children and we helped them. We took the children, because they did not manage to carry their children, or there were many elderly women who fell and we helped and carried them.’ Anyway they arrive in Armenia, it is in a village of Armenia and stay there for two years. But work is scarce, work is very scarce there. My grandfather goes together with my grandmother to Leningrad the capital there, of Russia. Because my grandfather knew English, and there is something, a workshop of concert artists. They establish a workshop and they make my grandfather the man in charge of the workshop, a foreman, because he is able to read designs. Also there my grandfather is successful. He opens food and drink shops there in Russia. Well, their situation improves. Just as their situation improves, the revolution occurs in Russia, that is communism comes. My grandfather’s name is on the first list of the names (of the proscribed). What does my grandfather do? He sells all of his things. They had furniture. They had beds. They had a sewing machine. He breaks everything up. He melts down everything that he has bought and which is coated with gold. He fills the furniture, the arms of chairs, the sewing machine with gold. He says ‘We are going to Europe.’ But they make a mistake and go to Iran. Iran is not Europe. From the shore of the Caspian sea they board a ship, from the sea shore, and he comes together with my grandmother. They had four children at that time. The children had grown up, they had studied in Russia. They go in a ship to Iran. Again they flee so that they (in Russia) do not kill them, that is (because) they are wealthy. They come to Iran, in Iran to Sultan-Abad. They scattered many Assyrians and Armenians in Sultan-Abad, Urmi, Kermanshah and Hamadan. At that time the king of Iran was Reza Shah. The king was a very malicious king. He was very malicious. They stay there for years like prisoners, Assyrians and Armenians were in captivity, because the Iranians think that they are communists. (They call) them communists. They did not give them work, although all of them were educated. But they did not give them work. They spent the money that they had brought. They spent the money. Anyway, my father, who was Rabi Darius, comes. What does he do? He draws a picture of that king, a picture of Reza Shah, who (in the picture) is standing on a dragon, is killing a dragon. The meaning is that the dragon is the enemy of the country. This was my father’s meaning. Reza Shah is killing, he is killing the enemy. It was a very large picture. He drew it in pastel, with black pencil. Nobody dares to show this picture to the king, who is Reza Shah, because they are afraid that he would kill the painter if he does not like it. They come to the king’s son, who is heir to the throne, Mohammad Reza Shah, who is the king’s son and show it to him, by the way of the friends of the father—he had many military friends. One of them was Alam. He takes the picture and shows it to Mohammad Reza Shah, who is the king’s son, the heir to the throne. He likes it very much. He likes it very much. He meets my father. He says ‘What do you want?’ My father was a painter. At the time that I am talking about in Iran a painter was not valued; an artist was not valued in Iran. He was very poor and had no money. He could have said ‘Give me a house. Give me money.’ He could have asked for many things from the king, because he was in need. But because he was an artist, he was thinking about his own people, he was thinking about the Assyrian people. Concerning the people who are prisoners he was considering ‘What should I do? What should I not do?’ He says to the king ‘King, may you be well. The story is this. ‘We, who have come from afar, our people who have come here from the land of Russia are prisoners here. They are Iranians but they are prisoners. They do not give them jobs … for example when they want to go to Tehran they must have a passport, they have their passport stamped and they go to Tehran, then, for example, after three months they return again to their country, be it Spurǧan or Urmi, they come back.’ The king said he had no knowledge of this. At that very moment he writes a document for that Alam, the minister of the royal court, he seals it. It is on account of this that the Armenian and the Assyrian people become free, that they accept them as Iranians. They go and find jobs, and from then on they travel freely in the land. This was one of the stories that I wanted to tell.