Section 1 – The Reign of Gayumars Was Thirty Years

Brief Summary (SPOILER)

Gayumars is the first king of the world, establishing civilization and the "Royal Glory" (Farr) from his home in the mountains. His era is peaceful until the envious Ahriman (the Devil) plots to destroy Iranian greatness by sending a monstrous Black Demon. Gayumars’ beloved son, the young prince Siamak, goes out to face the demon "bare-bodied" without armor to protect his father’s throne. Tragically, the demon overpowers Siamak and rips him apart, making him the first martyr (Javidnam) of the Iranian nation. Overwhelmed by grief, Gayumars and the entire world mourn for a year until a divine messenger commands them to stop weeping and seek justice through a war of vengeance.

The Triumph of the Poet

Despite countless attempts to erase the Shahnameh from our collective memory, Ferdowsi always emerges triumphant. His stories of Iran-zamin often seem to loop in a cycle of tragic repercussions rather than happy endings, yet we return to them because we see our own faces in the verses. It is surreal that in 2026, we find our current history, culture, and identity preserved and repeated in a book from a millennium ago. I have decided to read this epic until we finally reach a new beginning, finding happiness in the fact that no matter what happens, our essence survives.

The Modern Dehqans

In 2026, we still desperately need the "Dehqans" - those unsung keepers of culture who protect our heritage when the state tries to suppress it. Because our history is being systematically rewritten or erased in official textbooks, Iranian identity now lives in the "Generational Memory" passed from parent to child and through such books. These modern Dehqans ensure that the truth of who we are survives through family stories rather than state propaganda.

Starting with Nowruz

It is beautiful that our story doesn't start in the middle; it starts exactly with the New Year. Today is Nowruz 2026, and I am starting this journey with the Shahnameh as a symbolic act. In a landscape of ideological religious calendars, Nowruz remains the most powerful symbol of our secular identity - a celebration of the Spring Equinox that promises the beginning of the end for darkness and the start of a new light.

The Colors of Ahriman

Every story needs a villain, and for Iran, the enemy has always been Ahriman, though his forms and colors change over the centuries. In 2026, Ahriman is the metaphor for every oppressive force or "Anti-Iran" influence that seeks to hollow out the Iranian soul. Whether through internal tyranny or external pressure, the face of the demon remains the same in its desire to destroy our Farr.

The Bare-Handed Warriors

It is heartbreakingly surreal to see history and mythology repeat itself as the young generation of Iranians fights "bare-handed" just like Siamak. Like the prince in his leopard skin - a symbol of raw, pure courage - the youth of the movement since history remembers, especially within the last few years, face monstrous, technologically heavy enemies with nothing but their bravery. Siamak is every young Iranian who has stood unprotected against a demon to save the soul of their country.

A Blue Mourning

As we reborn ourselves and redefine what it means to grieve - sometimes even dancing on the graves of our fallen to defy the enemy - we should look back to our ancient roots. Let us cast aside the black of mourning and return to the "Blue Mourning" of our ancestors. Choosing turquoise in our memorials today isn't just an aesthetic choice; it is a signal of collective resistance and an ancient tradition of standing tall in the face of loss.

The Duty of Justice

Finally, there is the matter of Kineh - which in the Shahnameh is not petty hate, but the sacred duty to restore justice (Dadkhahi). Only blood washes blood, and the families of those lost to modern violence cannot rest until there is accountability. Every individual, from the top of the power structure to the bottom, must respond for the suffering they have forced upon Iran-zamin - a weight of sorrow that modern history has rarely witnessed.