Kolkata-based Iranian Woman's Agony as Family Trapped in Iran Violence
Sima Niakan, a 36-year-old Iranian woman now living in Kolkata, has been enduring sleepless nights filled with worry. She desperately tries to reach her family back home in Iran, but all attempts fail. Phone lines and internet connections have been completely severed for the past ten days due to the intense violence and protests sweeping across her homeland.
No News from Neyshabur
Niakan has no information about the safety of her seven-member family. They reside in Neyshabur, a city located approximately 770 kilometers east of Tehran. Reports suggest many people have lost their lives in her hometown during these ongoing deadly demonstrations.
"I am feeling so helpless," Niakan confessed. She managed a brief conversation with her mother last Tuesday. Her mother, Zohreh Ajelian, who is 66 years old and ailing, was on the street purchasing essentials at the time.
"She was anxious, her voice was breaking, and the call suddenly disconnected," Niakan recalled. That disconnected call marked the last time she heard any voice from her family.
Protest Toll and Overflowing Hospitals
The death toll from the protests has become a point of grim statistics. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, the number has surpassed 2,000. An Iranian health ministry official provided an even starker figure, stating as many as 3,000 may have died. The official added that hospitals are now overflowing with corpses, highlighting the scale of the crisis.
A Life Built in Kolkata
Niakan last saw her family members in person on January 24, 2023. She left Iran for Kolkata to marry her Bengali boyfriend, Dhrubojyoti Chatterjee. Chatterjee is a resident of Bagbazar and works as a show director in the animation industry.
The couple's story began on social media. They nurtured a decade-long virtual courtship before finally tying the knot. "I fell in love with Kolkata, but I miss my family too," Niakan added, expressing the duality of her current life.
Understanding the Uprising
Amidst international tensions, including threats of a US attack on Iran, Niakan offers her perspective on the unrest. She believes the current uprising is not a sudden event. Instead, she sees it as the inevitable result of years of accumulated pressures.
She cites political exclusion, severe economic collapse, and the systematic absence of basic civil rights in Iran as the core drivers. "What we are seeing now is a societal breaking point, not a momentary reaction," she emphasized.
Husband's Support and Historical Hometown
Her husband, Dhrubojyoti Chatterjee, has been her pillar of support during this challenging period. He has opted to work from home to stay by her side. Chatterjee noted the prolonged nature of the current crisis.
"During last June, there was a 12-day-long war with Israel and almost a similar situation," he said. "But this time it is now more than a fortnight and still counting, with no chance of respite."
Niakan's hometown, Neyshabur, holds significant historical value. It is the birthplace of Hakim Omar Khayyam, the renowned Persian mathematician, astronomer, and poet.
Embracing Kolkata's Charms
Despite her anguish, Niakan speaks fondly of her adopted city. "I love Kolkata's vibe during the monsoon season," she shared. She has developed a taste for Bengali cuisine, listing luchi, arhar dal, and local biryani as her favorite dishes.
She also enjoys exploring Kolkata's local bazaars and finds solace in walking down the streets of Park Street, New Town, and Salt Lake, weaving new memories in a city far from her troubled homeland.
