“People’s Movement to Save Nima Yushij’s House” Rally to Be Held Today
The “People’s Movement to Save Nima Yushij’s House” will gather today on the 59th anniversary of the death of the father of modern Persian poetry in front of Nima Yushij’s house in the Dezashib neighborhood of Tehran to draw the attention of officials to the condition of this house.
Previously, Mohammad Hassan Talebian, Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage, was tasked with investigating the condition of Nima Yushij’s house in Tehran following reports that the house of the “father of modern Persian poetry” was removed from the list of national monuments by the Administrative Justice Court. However, after approximately one year has passed since this incident, there has been no change in the condition of this house.
The Administrative Justice Court removed Nima Yushij’s house from the list of national monuments on November 6, 2017, based on Islamic law rulings, as the new owners of the house filed a complaint with the court, stating that the house did not belong to Nima and therefore could not be considered a national monument.
This was despite the Cultural Heritage Organization announcing, by presenting documents, that the house belonged to Nima Yushij, although the deed was not registered in his name. However, the Administrative Justice Court did not recognize these documents as valid.
Recently, one member of Tehran’s City Council stated: “The municipality is trying to purchase Nima Yushij’s house at a fair market price, but the owner is not cooperating with the municipality. Last year, when currency fluctuations had not yet occurred, the owner set the price of this house at 12 billion tomans.”
On the other hand, Alireza Shajae-Pourian, Deputy Director for Social and Cultural Affairs of the Tehran Municipality, told the ILNA news agency: “A budget of 4 billion and 500 million tomans has been allocated for the purchase of this historic building.”
The house of the great Iranian poet is located in northern Tehran, just a few meters away from the house of “Simin Daneshvar and Jalal Al-Ahmad.” This house covers an area of approximately 688 square meters, and its built-up area is 180 square meters.
Delavar Bargannia, Director General of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department of Tehran Province, announced that in a conversation with the General Director of the Company for the Development of Cultural Spaces, an order was given to District One Municipality to purchase the property, and after the purchase, the company will proceed with discussions on its operation and use. However, regarding why the Cultural Heritage Organization is not taking steps forward, Bargannia says: “The Cultural Heritage Organization has financial limitations in purchasing this property and cannot buy Nima’s house.”
Mehdi Rafizadeh, Deputy Director of Planning and Urban Development, regarding plans that exist for the purchase of Nima Yushij’s house, says: “We do not have a budget line for the purchase of this house, but Pirouz Hanachi, the mayor of Tehran, is determined to do this work, and if this is carried out, we have the readiness to convert this house into a museum house. Of course, this will be done after restoration and reconstruction.”
The “People’s Movement to Save Nima Yushij’s House” is set to gather in front of Nima’s house on the 59th anniversary of the death of the father of modern Persian poetry at a time when the fate of Nima Yushij’s house is shrouded in uncertainty, in order to bring officials’ attention to the unclear condition of this house.
Source: DW
