Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – May 12, 1994

Early in the morning, we went to Mehrabad Airport for the trip to Gilan. Effat and Mehdi also came. At eight in the morning, we flew with a group of ministers, deputies, and representatives of the province and guards, and at eight-thirty we entered Rasht Airport. After the official reception and a short interview, we headed toward the city. From the airport to Shahid Ozodi Stadium, about eleven kilometers, the rows of welcomers on both sides of the street and road were connected to each other. The people had participated very enthusiastically, kindly, and cheerfully.

First we went to Takhti Sports Hall, in a gathering of the families of the selfless [martyrs and veterans]. An anthem and slogans and a report were carried out, and then I gave an encouraging speech about the important role of the selfless in the positive events of history. Then we went to the very huge and magnificent gathering of the people in the stadium, where the crowd was dense up to the heights around the square, and its fervor and excitement cannot be described.

After the performance of the anthem by the Talysh and Galesh children, a short and good welcome was given by Mr. Sadegh Ehsanbakhsh, the representative of the Supreme Leader in Gilan Province and the Friday prayer leader of Rasht, under the influence of the people's presence and widespread fervor. In the car he cried several times; he was saying this gathering is unprecedented in the history of Gilan. I too gave a detailed and encouraging speech about the Islamic Revolution and Gilan and reconstruction, and an interpretation of this widespread presence.

We had lunch at Mr. Ehsanbakhsh's house. In the outer part of his house, [I was with] the companions, and in the inner part, I rested. Before lunch, we went to inaugurate the ten-thousand-number telephone center of Rasht and 25 other small and large centers of the province, which was carried out with the report of the managers and Mr. Gharazi, the Minister of Post, Telegraph, and Telephone, and my admiring speech.

In the afternoon we went to Gilan University and inaugurated the technical faculty. We visited its different sections. This faculty, on two hundred hectares of land, with a plan of two hundred and fifty thousand square meters, is a modern building that is being built in several phases.

We participated in the magnificent gathering of the academics and educators. The president of Gilan University and the president of the Medical Sciences University and the Director General of Education gave good reports. They spoke of the progress and raised the demands. I too gave a detailed speech about reconstruction and construction and the country's important infrastructural plans.

Then we went by helicopters to Astaneh Ashrafiyeh. On the way, Mr. Ali Akbar Tahai, the governor, and Ehsanbakhsh, [the Friday prayer leader], gave good explanations, including about the Sefid Rud and the necessity of organizing the river in this region, which sometimes causes problems with its flooding.

We landed next to the huge gathering of the people. After the slogans and the good anthem of the children, the Friday prayer leader and the representative gave welcome speeches. The representative's remarks were not good and dampened the mood of the gathering. Then I spoke about the potentials and resources of the province and the region and the promises. Then, passing through the main street of the city, we went to visit the shrine of Imamzadeh Ashraf, which is a pleasant shrine. In the street, the people had much gathering and fervor.

We headed toward the city of Rasht. On the way we passed through Kuchesfahan, Lulaman, and several villages. Almost along the entire route, we were faced with rows of enthusiastic and affectionate welcomers. Mr. Torkan, the Minister of Roads and Transportation, gave explanations about the development of the construction of the freeway between Astara and Gorgan; especially this same section under construction between Lahijan and Rasht, which is a serious need in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces, and the four-laning of this road and the Rasht-Qazvin route.

We went straight to the large Mosalla of Rasht, which is under construction by Mr. Ehsanbakhsh; it is huge. Thirty-five thousand meters of land and ten thousand meters of good, half-finished building, for which they also ask help from me. In the prayer hall of the mosque, we prayed the congregational prayer led by Mr. Lakani. There was a gathering of hundreds of clerics of Gilan. Mr. Ehsanbakhsh gave good remarks about the government's services and the effects of the revolution. I too, for the seminary students, gave a detailed discussion of the revolution and its effects and the requirements and duties of the clergy and the importance of construction and many other things to enlighten them.

We had dinner and came to the governorate. Along the routes, everywhere the people had gatherings until late at night and welcomed very warmly; they are extremely warm-hearted and kind. Effat and the accompanying ladies have gone to Zibakenar. Mehdi came and gave a report on the visit to the cigarette factory. I wrote today's memoirs and went to sleep at twelve-thirty at night.