Eva writes:

Hi Jadi,

I came across this news item on BBC news channel, about the iranian brain drain.
Do you also consider living or studying in another country...?

Best,
Eva

And I think today is the best day to answer this question cause yesterday once brave reporter asked a same question from our president Ahmadi-Nejad. Ahmadinejad answered This brain drain is not true cause I am here ! I am one of the intellectulas of the country and I am an professor and I AM STILL IN IRAN; so there is no brain drain ! Poor man.

My answer is: Yes, there is a HUGE brain drain in Iran. Some say more than 90% percent of our international winners of scientific olympiads had left the country and I know at least 10 of my best friends who are living abroad for a better life. Those are most educated and intellectual Iranians.

But what about myself? I think I have to do my best in the world. It is good to help others and this is the most joy in life. So I try to be at the place in which I can do best. I have born in Iran and raised here; so I know the culture, the language, the people and the problems. I am more useful here. Specially these days, we have to be in our country to courage other people. Everybody is leaving the country so we have to stay here to show to others that BEING HERE AND WORKING IS POSSIBLE. You hear "nothing can be done", if I leave my country other people will say "another one left this poor country, I hope my turn will come soon". So I am not going to be another PROOF for this "nothing can be done". I am here, doing something and I am sure that one day I will be able to say "Those days I did'nt left the coutry. I stayed and did my best".

For sure if I feel that leaving the country will be more helpful to others I will leave but nowadays Leila (my wife) and I must be here to show that "working is possible".

Hi

My name is Vivek. I was born in India and now engineering in USA. I have quesio for u. I hope u'll answer.
1) What do Iranian people think about India?
2) Is there any Indian movies or Music in India?
3) Are there Indian restaurants in Iran?

Thanks

Vivek

1) What do Iranian people think about India?
As you may guess my answer is: It is impossible to say what Iranian People think about something. I can talk about myself and the people I know. As you know, Iran and India are neibours. They had some wars centuries ago and Irnaians won and even occupied India for some years I think. For sure there were some cruelty and wrong-doings :( Sorrry !

India has also many influences on our poets and my favorite old style poem are "Indian Style" (i.e. Saeb).

I think we like Indian people these days. They are famouse programmers and we adore their multi-cultural democracy. I also am very interested in Indian religons (specially Hindu and Sikhism). I have a printed photo of Shiva in my room and many sculptures of Indian gods in my mothers house. I also respect Sikhism ideas and their peaceful view to the world. It is also interesting for us that we have some shared words in Indian and Farsi.

2) Is there any Indian movies or Music in India? (I think it is a mistake, you meant in Iran?)
Oh ! Is there any country without Indian Music and Movies ? :) I think you can not find one Iranian person who have never seen an Indian movie. We even have and expression wichi says "It became Indian" (farsi: Hendi shod) which means it ended like indian movies! Check these Farsi weblogs, they are all about Bollywood:

• http://www.bollywood4u.mihanblog.com/


• http://bahrashtari.persianblog.com/


• http://bollywoodiran.persianblog.com/


• http://bollywood123.persianblog.com/

3) Are there Indian restaurants in Iran?
Oh yes. I have gone to two of them. Taj Mahal and Tandor. Taj Mahal is a luxury place who "pretends" to be Indian. I mean I didn't liked it. The food was normal and the prices was too high. But Leila (My wife) and me are big fans of Tandor (just near 7tir square). It is an Indian hotel/resturant and as it is an resturant for Indians, the resturant has to be an more realistic Indian one. They are hot (not as a real Indian HOT) and Indian (vegetarian or chicken or lamp) and the atmosphier is friendly and charming ! I like it and we go may be once a season :)

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Related article: Glimpses of Indian in Tehran