TEHRAN – Every year in mid-spring, the Martyr Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei visited the Tehran International Book Fair (TIBF) as one of his prominent characteristics was his fondness for books and reading.

During his visits to various booths at the TIBF, the Martyr Leader addressed the most important issues in the publishing sector and expressed his concerns about books: from the challenge of sourcing and the high price of paper to the high cost of books and the necessity of protecting publishers' rights against smuggling, ISNA reported.

Regarding books, he had said: “One should pay attention to books. One of the worst forms of indolence is laziness in reading books. The issue of books is important, and the country's cultural development always needs books. A book is the most enduring work of art”.

Recounting the memories of his esteemed father, the Martyr Leader had said: “My father was always awake when we were asleep, and whenever we woke up, he was awake and busy reading... He was passionate about reading”.

The Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Abbas Salehi has also recounted a memory of the Leader: “In 1978, following the attack by the Pahlavi regime on Imam Reza (AS) Hospital in Mashhad, a 14-day sit-in was organized by the Leader and the city's scholars. It was said that during this time, the Leader was among the only scholars who had brought books with them and would read when he wasn't speaking or in a meeting”.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution was martyred during US-Israeli airstrikes that targeted his office in central Tehran on February 28, when an imposed war by the American-Zionist regimes against Iran started. 

For 40 days, the aggressors martyred about 3,000 people including several officials and military commanders as well as numerous civilians, among them many women and children.

Ayatollah Khamenei was elected as Iran’s Leader in June 1989, following the passing of the Founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Ruhollah Khomeini.

He was interested in poetry and literature. He was also fond of novel and short story. He read the world’s most well-known novels and short stories. He was also a literary critic and was in contact with many of the writers and intellectuals of his time.

The Martyr Leader attended many literary associations with the participation of great poets. He was not only a critic in poetry but also composed poems in the recent years. He also studied history books and had a good knowledge of modern history.

Ayatollah Khamenei started his research and writings when he was a theology student. He wrote and translated some books before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Some of his books and researches are: “General Outlines of Islamic Thought in the Quran”, “Patiance”, and “A Report about Historical Past and Present Condition of the Qom Seminary”.

He also translated books entitled “Imam Hassan Peace: History’s Most Magnificent Heroic Flexibility” written by Sheikh Rezi Al-e Yassin; and “Muslims in India’s Freedom Movement” written by Abdul Man’am al-Nemer.

This year’s edition of the Tehran International Book Fair was scheduled to be held from May 13 to 23; however, due to the current circumstances, it may be postponed.

*** Photo: Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei visits the Tehran International Book Fair in May 2016.

SS/SAB