By Syma Sayyah, Tehran

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there, I do not sleep

I am a thousand winds that blow

I am the diamond that glitters on snow

I am the sunlight on ripened grain

I am the gentle autumn rain

When you awaken in the morning’s hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight

I am the soft stars that shine at night

Do not stand at my grave and cry

I am not there, I did not die

                         (Mary Frye)

On 2^nd April 2003 we lost a distinguished and a highly accomplished Iranian photojournalist, Kaveh Golestan, at Kifri in Iraq.  He was a freelance journalist who at the time of his death was working as a cameraman for the BBC when he stepped on a landmine as he was getting out of the BBC jeep.  His passion was reporting and registering the truth and this has been engraved on this tombstone in Afjeh in Lavasanak, a small beautiful village on the east side of Tehran where the air is fresh and the mountains are so close and lovely.

These mountains and some trees keep watch over Kaveh’s grave, who is with us in spirit because we have not forgotten him and, for many of us, whenever we take a camera to an event we may feel his presence helping us, watching us and showing us what to do or not to do.

Photo: Jassem Ghazbanpour

He was a good friend, a wonderful teacher and a great colleague.  He also was a man who cared about all members of his family and made them happy.