The closing event was celebrated by the recreation of a Persian radio programme called Golha. Golha was introduced in 1956 by the Iranian government owned radio and ran through 1979 before being shut down by the Iranian Islamic Revolution in 1979. Being lazy, I reproduce what the closing event handout says about Golha -'Each week, the foremost Iranian musicians, vocalists, literary critics, poets, and radio announcerswere invited to perform a selection of the best modern and classical music and poems.'
The recreation of Golha at Philadelhia was conducted by Jeri Lynne Johnson, Music Director of Black Pearl Chamber Orachestra. The event included recitation of poems by Ursula Rucker, Homa Tavangar and Jahan Tavangar. I am not a big fan of poetry, often times I dont understand them. But one poem by a legendary Persian Poet Rumi impressed me. You can find the transalted version of a Poem by Rumi here . This Poem titled 'Not Ever Sea Has Pearls' is translated by Jahan Tavangar. I found a shorter version of the same peom online and here it is.
My heart, sit only with those who know and understand you.
Sit only under a tree that is full of blossoms.
In the bazaar of herbs and potions don't wander aimlessly
find the shop with a potion that is sweet
If you don't have a measure people will rob you in no time.
You will take counterfeit coins thinking they are real.
Don't fill your bowl with food from every boiling pot you see.
Not every joke is humorous, so don't search for meaning where there isn't one.
Not every eye can see, not every sea is full of pearls.
My hart, sing the song of longing like nightingale.
The sound of your voice casts a spell on every stone, on every thorn.
First, lay down your head then one by one let go of all distractions.
Embrace the light and let it guide you beyond the winds of desire.
There you will find a spring and nourished by its see waters
like a tree you will bear fruit forever.
--from the website http://www.rumi.org.uk/divan.htm
Rumi: The Hidden Music
by Maryam Mafi & Azima Melita Kolin
The program also had a intrumental music recitation by Cello artist Udi Bar-David, Santur artist Kazem Davoudian and Negin Moshtagh on Daf. I
The recreated Golha at the Free Library of Philadelphia is one of the several such events conducted by the public libraries across the country. The public libraries serve several important roles in the society, not just places to get free books on loan and restooms for the homeless. They are a wealth of knowledge, great places to find information for research. But those are expected roles on the outset. Libraries also play other key roles, that of community gathering, policy dissemination by the local, state and federal government, cultural exchange, author events, book reading, writing and art workshops for the kids and adults, free access to internet, resume critique and job search workshops, free advise to small business people and several more. Most of these services are provided for free of cost to all. In the absense of the public libraries, the underprivileged have to pay up which they cannot afford.
In the last couple of years, the city of Philadelphia as part of its budget deficit trimming efforts have begun plans to sadly shutdown some public libraries in the Philadelphia region. This seems not just a Philadelphia event, rather a state wide and possibly nation wide course of action to trim budgets. It makes me cringe when any city/town targets the libraries whenever there is a discussion of fat trimming. Libraries as a fat of the city budget is a very wrong notion. In an increasing divisive society where the difference between the rich and poor is growing, libraries are one of the prime resources for the poor and underprivileged to know what is happening in the society, what policies are available to them to improve their lives and ofcourse free books for knowledge and entertainment.
Research has shown that the education gap between the rich and poor kids can be explained by the number of books(thereby greater reading oppurtunities) and words(vocabulary) the kids are exposed to in their environments(home, school, friends etc). Libraries help in supplementing this deficieny by providing books to read, events to participate and interact with other people.
This in earnest is the gist of my rant; the next time you see a library, get yourself and your family member a membership card, make use of the library, participate and/or volunteer in the events conducted by the library. Be a part of your library community and that simple act can save the library from closing. Your town administration is definitely looking at the number of people using the library. You will be helping the underprivileged indirectly by keeping the libraries open. Also if you find out that your local library is closing, call or write to your local administration and express your support for keeping the library open. I did that along with thousands of other libraries in my local community. Hopefully the powers that be are listening.
Links of interest:
http://www.radiogolha.com/
http://www.nalbeki.com/RADIO/golha.htm
http://radiotime.com/station/s_81726/Radio_Golha.aspx
http://www.javad-maroufi.com/pageid=7.htm
http://www.khamush.com/works.htm
http://www.rumi.org.uk/divan.htm
http://freelibrary.org
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