Memories of Naser al-Din Shah: When I Saw the Indian Prince, I Laughed So Hard I Almost Choked

According to Saed News , this section covers the memoirs of Naser al-Din Shah on Thursday, 21st of Ramadan 1287 (December 15, 1909).

In the memoirs of this day, Naser al-Din Shah wrote:

I woke up in the morning; my back tooth hurt intermittently, sometimes fine, sometimes very painful. It was quite bothersome. We went to the men’s bath. Erfanji and others were there. A herald was shouting; I said to have him beaten. They said the mule of the chief photographer had gone missing with its load, so he was shouting. It was extremely cold, with a harsh, biting wind. After lunch, many letters from Khorasan, Sistan, and Tehran were read, and I wrote responses. The harem went for pilgrimage late and returned late. Two hours before sunset, we went to the shrine. The judge and the members of the Karbala assembly were at the entrance of the courtyard. Vakil al-Molk from Kerman had sent two Tarlan falcons, 500 tomans, a shawl, felt, and a carpet. The deputy aide-de-camp had arrived via Bandar Abbas and the Tigris River and was presented to me.

In short, we went for pilgrimage. At the shoeshiner’s stand, the Indian prince – brother of the late Mohammad Najaf Mirza, who was in Iran, and now residing here – named Zahid al-Din Shah, was standing; Yahya Khan had brought him. Pasha and others were all there, as well as Hesam al-Saltaneh and others. When I saw the prince, it was such a bizarre and strange sight that one could not help but laugh; even if a loved one were dying before him, seeing this person at that moment would make it impossible not to laugh.

He wore a short, worn-out zari-golabtun jacket, and a strange, indescribable hat – neither a turban nor a scarf, neither Arab nor Persian, neither European nor Indian. Fabric hung around his ears and head. The loose, floppy hat had a large, dirty, worn-out tassel – all the “seeds” were large fake beads sewn onto rice-patterned fabric – the tassel hung crooked in front of his head. His beard was neither white nor black, neither long nor short, neither thick nor thin. Its color was neither purple, white, black, brown, blue, nor yellow. He wore dirty white trousers and thick, old woolen socks.

In short, the prince appeared in such a way that it was impossible to restrain oneself; I laughed so hard I nearly suffocated. He presented two bottles of perfume and an old European gold snuffbox after bowing in the Indian manner. I could not bring myself to look at his face directly.

Many nobles and notables were present. The prince stood behind me. Laughter overcame me so strongly that tears came to my eyes, and I nearly shouted. The reciter of the pilgrimage prayers dragged his speech, risking embarrassment, but I somehow restrained myself. We went to the inner shrine, and the prince came again and stood there. Even during the prayers, I laughed.

After the prayers, we went to Hazrat Abbas; the prince was there as well, creating more amusement. Today, because of this prince, everything truly turned into laughter and mischief, leaving no serious moment for us.

In short, we returned from Hazrat Abbas to the house at dusk. I ate some lettuce. It became a women’s gathering; the ladies arrived. Mahtaban Khanum Qamar al-Saltaneh came with Anis al-Dawlah and others.

Haji Qasem Beyk, aide of the second regiment, had gone for pilgrimage tonight. He came, had tea, and died. The chief aide said – that is, he would say tomorrow – “Chokhli keja bayat yadi oldi,” meaning he ate leftover dinner and died.

In short, we slept that night. Anis al-Dawlah…