The day that the statue of the great epics writer of Iran was erected in Ferdowsi Square
On the auspicious occasion of 10 Mehr 1324 (2 October 1945)
The day that the statue of the great epics writer of Iran was erected in Ferdowsi Square
The statue of Ferdowsi, which is at present standing in front of the literature college of Tehran University, and which was built by the Parsis of India, was unveiled on 10 Mehr 1324 (1945) in Ferdowsi Square. This statue did not stay more than 14 years in this square. On 17 Khordad 1338 (June 1959), it was taken to Tehran University with a special ceremony and another statue of the savior of Persian language was unveiled in Ferdowsi Square, Tehran city. This statue, from which the people of the world know the features of Ferdowsi, and it truly draws the picture of the noble thoughts of this wise man of Toos, was made by a famous Iranian sculptor. Whoever has even a little knowledge of Shahnameh and Ferdowsi will remember these verses, when seeing this statue:
Strong buildings can get destroyed
By rain and with time
I have founded a building of verses
which will not be harmed by rain or wind
I will not die from now on, I will live forever
Because I have sown the seeds of our language.
The first thing that this statue brings to our mind is the perseverance of Ferdowsi in building the grand structure of world’s literature and epics, which will not be harmed by wind or rain and as time passes not only that it does not get damaged or forgotten, but its value becomes clearer for Iranians and the world, to the extent that its builder and the language and identity of Iranians will remain immortal, because the seeds of Persian language have spread so far and wide that no evil intention can destroy it.
Who is the artist who created such glory and honour from marble stone? Who is he who has so much to say from a sculptured stone? He has been named Michel-ange of the East. Gustinus Ambrosi, the renowned Italian sculptor, was so amazed at seeing the statue of Ferdowsi that he wrote in his notes: “The world should know that I have named the sculptor of the statue of Ferdowsi Michel-Ange of the East. Michel-Ange is born again in the East.” Abolhassan Khan Sadighi built this 3-meter tall statue from carrara marble.
In this statue Ferdowsi has the letter of the glory of Iran in his hand and at its feet Zal, the renowned Iranian hero, in his childhood, and the fabulous bird can be seen. I wish Abolhassan Sadighi was alive to tell us why he has chosen Zal from all the heroes in Shahnameh, to sit at the feet of the God of Shahnameh. According to Wikipedia encyclopedia, more than 14 statues of Ferdowsi are erected in different parts of the world. 10 of them are in Iran and the remaining four are in other countries. UNESCO headquarters in Paris, Rome, Germany and Doshanbeh in Tajikistan are the four places that own the statues of Ferdowsi. Besides these, there have been many other statues of Ferdowsi, from which there is no trace. From all these, the statue standing in Ferdowsi Square is uncomparable, and this is not the only statue built by Abolhassan Sadighi. He was born in Tehran, in 1273 (1894) and until his death in 1374 (1995) he sculptured 29 statues and
the most famous of them are the statues of Nader Shah and his soldiers in Nader Shah Mausoleum in Mashhad, Saadi in Saadi Square of Shiraz, Khayam in Khayam’s mausoleum in Nayshabour and also in Laleh Park of Tehran, Pour Sina in his mausoleum in Hamedan, Mirza Taqi Khan Amir Kabir in Dar Ol Fonoun Educational Centre, Tehran and the statue of Yaqub Leis Saffari on horse back, which is known as Rostam in the Central Square of Zabol.
It is now 15 years that Abolhassan Sadighi is no more among us but his works are still giving pleasure to our eyes. Unfortunately, maybe very soon, his statues, especially the one in Ferdowsi Square will be demolished. Negligence of the authorities plus air pollution in Tehran have joined hands in destroying the statue of Ferdowsi in this very congested square. Since 50 years this statue is standing strong and proud, like the culture of Iran. In addition to vibrations caused by the heavy traffic, the smoke from the car exhausts also bring irreparable damage to the statue. On the other hand, washing and renovating it also needs special art and expertise, and unfortunately Tehran municipality is not giving sufficient attention to it.
Fereidoon Sedighi, the son of Abolhassan Sedighi, who is also master in sculpturing, had an interview with Iran newspaper on 12 Ordibehesht 1388 (May 2009) in which he said: “Repair of this statue and other statues is a very difficult job. I had suggested to the authorities to take the statue to a suitable indoor place, which would be better for preservation and since during transfer it would incur some more damages, I would repair it once and for all. The municipality authorities said that this would incur high expenses and on the other hand, they do not have any space for placing the statue. So, I had to repair it. Two months later, it was again damaged.”
Fereidoon Sedighi added: In the past 50 years this statue has borne a lot of problems: stones have been thrown at it, paint has been splashed on it, sometimes heavy advertisement placards have been hung on its neck, sometimes during ‘Chahar Shanbeh Soori’ (the last Wednesday of the year) explosives were aimed at it, and sometimes the Ferdowsi Square gardener pours cold water on it in the hottest days of the year. All these mishaps in the course of time have caused more and more cracks to it. Once, when a stone was thrown at it, one hand broke, which was stuck with glue, in a non-professional manner.
The statues of the renowned personalities of Iran are unique in East Mediterranean and very rate in the whole world. It is a pity if they are destroyed through ignorance, negligence and lack of culture. In European countries such statues are taken to museums and their copies are put in their place. I hope it is not late when we will learn to appreciate our precious heritage.
Translation by Rowshan Lohrasbpour