People know me as Hamid Reza Ekbia. Who I really am is a different story. On these pages, I describe myself as a P.O.E.T., I write about history, politics, privacy, and existential angst, and I share images of the places that I’ve seen. But I’m neither a poet, nor a historian, a pundit, or a philosopher — not even a good photographer. I am, to use the words of the great Iranian poet Ahmad Shamloo, “a citizen with an average body and mind.”
And, like Shamloo, I am not fond of my first name, which like his, is an Arabic word related in meaning to “praise.” Looking around at what we have done to the Earth and to each other, I see little room for praise — least of all of myself.
My middle name is even less telling, having to do with “being content.” I’m anything but.
My last name, on the other hand, is an old word from middle Persian, and hence unknown to current speakers of the language, meaning “nerve.” Maybe it is my last name that gives me license to venture into unknown territories.
What we seek is who we are, according to Rumi. For most of my life, I’ve been seeking the duo of understanding and justice. My life has been defined by a relentless quest for these ideals — understanding the world and understanding my fellow humans, with the hope to create a just order. With age, however, I’ve learned that things are more complex and more interesting than that. I have not given up on the justice-understanding ideal, but I’m searching for a better future for the world — a future of action, beauty, dignity, humor, and humility.
I seek a better future for all. I don’t know if my seeking contributes to that, but I will keep trying.
Honorary Doctorate: University of West Bohemia
