The Open Door Is Just Around The Corner
Gypsy Literary Group
ّOf the fairy tales I heard in childhood, one had a significant impact on me. It was about a little girl who was stolen by a witch and put in an ancient building with 1,000 closed doors. Every day and night, she knocked on the doors, one by one, attempting to open one and get out of that prison. She couldn't. Finally, exhausted and tired, utterly desperate and helpless, she heard a voice- "I am open….I am open....find me." An invisible open door called to her.
With the other children in my family, I acted out that fairy tale. We tried to find the invisible open door. Later in life, whenever the government closed a door, I was sure that a door nearby was open, so I tried to find it. The government wanted us to be desperate and hopeless and finally disconnect us from people and die in solitude. Its scourge was worse than any other, and I had to put my ritual in front of them. I had to create my resistance.
I could not have given up. I had to find the open door.
One day, I announced on the Internet that I had created a gypsy literary group. Anyone interested in writing a story could join me. Soon, those eager to write gathered, and eventually, I hosted the first meeting in my home. During that initial session, I explained why I named the group ‘Gypsies’. It was because nobody gives a shit about me, I explained: “I have to do something. Like gypsies worldwide who have neither a permanent house nor shelter, we will get together wherever we can. Those who join can drink, dance and sing, read and write whenever they want, wherever they can.” We usually gathered at my home.
At one point, we met at a local coffee shop, but the staff was frightened and kicked us out. Subsequently, I found another one near our house in Ekbatan where we could sometimes gather. The necessary conditions for membership in the group were an appreciation for reading, writing, singing, and dancing.
When I came to America, the activities of the Gypsy group multiplied. I have now been in the United States for 16 years and still host like-minded people from all over the world.
I have hosted workshops for short stories, novels, memoirs, and coaching. We also have a monthly book club that reads English and Farsi literature. Recently, I added another class, Concentration Room, four days per week. We convene via Zoom and work together on our projects.
I have been much more successful working in my mother tongue and culture in my new American home. Very few can say they are living in exile in the Internet era unless they want to remain in exile. Thus far, I have published five collections of stories by my students, the gypsies.
Many people who join the gypsy literary group may not be reading a book at that moment, but over time they become used to reading. We also have a storytelling and writing coaching program.
The gypsy literary group is now the oldest, most enduring, and influential online Persian literary group in the world. Two things have been proven by the success of this group- Iranians can work together as a team, and such a group can flourish and expand if managed properly.
My students became friends with others across the globe. However, the Iranian government has neither forgotten nor forgiven me. They occasionally attempt to infiltrate the group with a spy posing as a student. As I have previously written, they attempt to hack me every other day.
For me, the meaning of being a writer is not only writing a story. We have to work on our culture and advocate for change. Writers should be activists, teachers, counselors, and mentors to those who aspire to such roles. Managing the group has allowed me to feel as though I am never far from my native country and its culture. It has enabled me to get to know my own culture better; I have become more familiar with its hidden angles.
We wanted to establish a Wikipedia page for the Gypsy literary group two years ago. However, a Wiki official informed us that at least two ‘scholarly’ reviews or articles about the group are needed to register it.
I replied that Persians are not used to talking about someone's work in a positive light, particularly if she is independent and is not connected to any political parties. This is the price of independence.
Despite constant attempts, the Gypsy literary group has not been defeated. These destructive forces include the Iranian government as well as my colleagues.
Source: Substack