Michel’s memory
Though I have walked many times passed this hospital with an exotic name (Avicenna) in the suburbs of Paris, it all started with Gilbert Sinoue’s book: Avicenna or the road to Isfahan.
In a few words: “« Me, Abou Obeïd el-Jozjani, I offer you these words. They were entrusted to me by the man who was my master, my friend, my eyes for twenty-five years: Avicenna, prince of the doctors, whose wisdom and knowledge dazzled every man. From Samarkand to Shiraz, from the gates of the Round-Town to those of the seventy-two nations, the greatness of his name still echoes... »
Thus starts the tale devoted to one of the highest figures of universal thought.
Born in 980 in Bokhara, Avicenna or Abu Ali Sina, is already the most famous doctor of his time at the age of eighteen. Caught in the swirls and wars shaking the far end of Turkey and the Persian territory during the 10th century, he was a traveller, and exiled man, and a vizier. His last travel takes him to Isfahan, magnificent city, where he died at fifty-seven years old, after having drunk, till inebriation, from the cup of love and knowledge.”
Through this story I discovered a man, a life and a country. I couldn’t consider going to Hamadan without visiting his mausoleum.
In 2001, while traveling to Hamadan, I was able to visit the mausoleum and I noticed the kindness and the spontaneity of the people there. As I was talking in French with my guide, in front of the windows of the museum, an extremely kind man offered, in French, to share with me his knowledge and to show me the work and the surprising modernity of Avicenna in the context of today’s Iranian’s society.
This kindness made me extremely happy as the man did know quite well the life story of the inflexible teacher, rebellious to the powerful and religious people of the world.
During my stays in Iran, I have often witnessed this will to help and share that makes the country extremely welcoming.
