Ayatollah Marashi Najafi Library is home to 35,000 manuscripts.

TEHRAN, June 15--The Library of Ayatollah Marashi Najafi, which houses 35,000 rare manuscripts, in the holy city of Qom is the third largest library in the Muslim world after those in Egypt and Turkey.
The late Ayatollah Marashi Najafi began collecting rare manuscripts from Iran, Iraq and India when he was 25 years old. He faced difficulties in paying for the books since he had no extra money. He used to cut down his own expenses to buy the handwritten books he loved to collect.
The ayatollah jotted down a note on one of the manuscripts: "I performed prayers for a person for one year and several months to be able to pay for this handwritten book."
On another book he wrote that he paid for the book instead of paying for food of the past two days. "I bought this book at the cost of staying hungry for two days, because I paid my money for this book."
He has written notes on many of the books he collected for his library.
The religious leader collected 25,000 manuscripts himself and the government added another 10,000 handwritten books to the library after Ayatollah Marashi died in 1990.
"The magnitude of Ayatollah Marashi's service becomes clear when you compare the number of the book he personally bought and the number of the books which were added to the library in the past 15 years from government fund," reported CHN.
In 1988, the late Imam Khomeini ordered the then prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi to safeguard the handwritten books. Ayatollah Marashi laid the foundation stone of the library when he was 93.
The library contains a unique handwritten version of the holy Qur'an which was written 1,300 years ago when Imam Jaafar Sadeq (AS), sixth Imam of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) infallible household was alive.
'Zabor' by Prophet Davood, written 800 years ago, is also being kept at Ayatollah Marashi Library.
The book was written in 200 pages on goat hide in beautiful Latin handwriting in red and blue. It is one meter long and was given to Ayatollah Marashi by a Spanish friend as a gift.
The ayatollah never accepted gifts from anybody, but, book was an exception and he accepted 'Zabor' from a Spanish friend.
The library also has books printed in lithography and date back to 300 years ago.
The late Ayatollah Marashi spent all his earnings on books for his library and did not go to Hajj pilgrimage because he thought he was not wealthy enough for it.
Microfilms are available for those interested in the books. The library is open for academics and researchers.

Ali Rahbari conducting Tehran Symphony Orchestra

TEHRAN, June 15--Internationally celebrated composer, Ali Rahbari said on Tuesday that advanced education should be given a priority to boost the talents of young Iranian musicians and raising the standard of music.
Rahbari, who was invited by Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance to take over as the conductor of Tehran Symphony Orchestra, said that national music will make progress once necessary investment is made on upgrading the talents of young musicians.
He told IRNA that his main concern for development of national music has always been investing on the youth and their talents.
He recalled that in the past some 80 percent of the musicians playing opera music instrument were foreigners and their departure from Iran would have led to the dissolution of opera.
Rahbari said that composers in Iran are facing financial problems and officials are expected to help remove the shortcomings in this respect.
He said that composers cannot maintain a basic standard of living because of their low salaries and they should be given extra benefit to cope with the high costs of living.
"The next president is expected to help tackle the financial difficulties of the culture and art community," conductor of Tehran Symphony Orchestra said.
He admitted that the propaganda about living conditions had discouraged him from returning to Iran in the past three decades.
"It is a pleasure to see that the social, cultural and political conditions in Iran have improved compared to what it was 30 years ago," he said.
He said that four Iranian professors are working for Vienna Academy of Music and if they come back home, national music will move forward and undergo drastic changes.
Rahbari won medal of Human Rights for his composition 'Hunger in Africa'.
He led the Tehran conservatory and Musical de la Jeunesse (Music of the youth) until 1977 when he left Iran to pursue academic ambitions.

TEHRAN, June 15--A book containing information about tourism attractions in 30 Iranian provinces will be published in 500 pages by Irangardy (Iran Touring) Publications.
The publication is a summary of the series of books titled 'Comprehensive Guide to Iran Touring' that was published in 28 volumes.
The author, Hassan Zendeh-Del, told CHN the book contains comprehensive information about history and geography of Iranian cities and a list of important tourism sites, roadmaps and details of major cities in addition to about 400 color pictures of Iranian tourist sites.
"The book includes a comprehensive introduction about Iranian history, tourism regulations, culture and art, as well as other topics of interest to tourists," he added.
He noted that Arabic and English translation of the book is ready for publication.
The author further said that he will also publish a series of guides about 40 historical cities along the Silk Road. 'Iranian Caves and Castles' is yet another work by Zendeh-Del.

TEHRAN, June 15--Iranian Physics Association and Development Literature Association will award prize for the best short story on science-fiction.
The main objectives of this competition are to promote science, diversify Iranian literature and improve the status of science-fiction stories as an interdisciplinary field linking art and science, ISNA said.
The short science-fiction stories should have a minimum of two pages and maximum ten pages.
The deadline for submitting the stories for the competition is November 22.
Science-fiction stories should be original and translated works will not be eligible. Authors should be above 18 years old and only one work by each author will be selected for the event.
The prize for best science-fiction story will be awarded in April.

TEHRAN, June 15--An exhibition of puppets made by Alireza Mir-Asadollah will open here at Saales Gallery on Thursday and continue until June 22.
According to SYNA, the pieces on display are unique and differ from the general concept of puppets. They are the recreation of creatures in the form of dolls with strange outfits. They even have their own identities and stories.
Mir-Asadollah, who was born in 1973, organized several exhibits of paintings between 1991 and 1996, the most important of which was held in Naqsh-e Jahan Gallery.
He toured New Zealand in 1996 and took up painting and dŽcor of buildings.
He also visited England in 1999 and held a number of exhibits in Birmingham, Leicester and Liverpool.
In 2003, he returned Iran and published a collection titled 'Unusual Stories'.

BUSHEHR, June 15--Vice President and Head of Iran's Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) Hossein Marashi has announced that 30 billion rials has been earmarked for establishing the Persian Gulf Museum in Bushehr, southern Iran.
Following the distortion of the name of the stretch of waterway off the southern Iranian coast by the Washington-based magazine National Geographic last year, Marashi said that the ICHTO decided to set up the Persian Gulf Museum in the southern city of Bushehr, CHN said.
Following strong objections by academic centers about the distortion, National Geographic was forced to make corrections in subsequent maps it published as well as on its website.
National Geographic also apologized for the mistake.
Marashi said that an international tender will be called for establishing Persian Gulf Museum.
He said that conditions for international bidders to take part in the tender will be announced soon.
The official said that 30 billion rials has been earmarked as the base budget for the Persian Gulf museum.
The civilization, archeology and anthropology of the Persian Gulf region explicitly indicate the name of the Persian Gulf throughout history, said Marashi. Some 500 hectares has been set aside for building a park in Bushehr of which 20 hectares will be dedicated for the Persian Gulf museum.

TEHRAN, June 15--Some 3,000 young adults will take part in recreational painting in Tehran during the summer vacations with the focus on peace and justice for the entire international community.
Fars news agency said that the students will paint the longest painting as a collective work during the summer holidays.
Young Adult Cultural House said that the plan has been adopted to convey the message of the young adults to the international community seeking peace and justice for the whole world.
It said that the painting would be regarded as a cultural work. Young Adult Cultural House called on students of visual arts, including painting and designing, to register for the national plan during the summer holidays.