Who Was 'Nane Esmat'? The Woman Who Knitted Gloves for Fighters for Nearly Half a Century

Nane Esmat's activities date back to the Iran-Iraq War, when the imposed war had drawn in a large part of Iranian society and people were striving in various ways to support the fronts. She too decided to use the skill she had: knitting warm gloves and scarves for fighters.

Ambassador of Arjan: "Fateme Soghari Falkian", known as "Nene Esmat", was a Yazdi woman whose name was associated with knitted gloves and supporting the fighters in the 8-year Iran-Iraq war. He was neither a military commander, nor had an official responsibility in the country's defense structure, nor was he present on the battlefield; But with the art he learned at home, he found a way to contribute to the defense of the country. He wove gloves for warriors and border guards for years, and even old age and illness could not stop this ancient habit.

Fatemeh Soghari Falkian, who was known as Nene Esmet in media narratives, was born in Shahrivar 1319 in Yazd. He died yesterday at the age of 86. A woman whose life is known in the narratives, with yarn, knitting needles and gloves, who went from a house in Yazd to the fronts and border areas.

From a house in Yazd to the war fronts

The beginning of Nene Esmat's activity dates back to the years of the Iran-Iraq war; The days when the imposed war had involved a large part of the Iranian society and people were trying to help the fronts in different ways. She also decided to use a skill she had: knitting gloves and warm neck scarves for warriors.

What made this decision more serious for him were the stories he heard from the cold of war zones. According to the published account of her life, Nene Esmat had heard that warriors face many difficulties in the extreme cold of the fronts and even their hands stick to their weapons in the cold. This image inspired him to start knitting gloves and neck scarves for the troops on the front:

In explaining his motivation, he said that he did not have a son to send to the front and that is why he decided to help the fighters with his knitting art. This narrative is one of the keys to understanding his character: Nene Ismat wanted to have a part in the war, but he did not play this part by being on the battlefield, but by doing household work according to his abilities; "I didn't have a son to send to the front. It occurred to me to knit shawls and gloves for the warriors at least with the art of knitting. I heard that it is so cold on the front that their hands stick to their guns. I felt for them. Since then, I vowed to knit scarves and gloves for as long as I live, and I will never get tired of this work. In those days, to help the front, one made jam and the other wove shawls and hats. Many people sent money and gold to help the front. With this, I wanted to pay my respects to the fighters."

The end of the war was not the end of glove weaving

With the end of the Iran-Iraq war, Nene Ismat's activity did not stop. He continued to knit gloves, except that in later years, border guards were also among those who received his hand-knitted ones. Nene Esmat, on the other hand, turned knitting gloves into a continuous work; The work that started from the days of the war and continued for years after its end.

Every year, especially as the cold season approaches, she knits gloves for the troops serving in the frontier and cold regions. In this way, what was important was not just the number of gloves; Continuity was a personal decision that continued to mean something to him decades later. Long years of weaving, aging and physical problems gradually reduced Nene Asmat's ability. However, according to published accounts of his life, even in his old age and illness, his interest remained.

For Nene Asmat, mill and cotton were not just tools for a home entertainment; Knitting gloves had become a part of her daily life and personal identity. Maybe that's why he said in one of his last conversations: "Many fighters visit me and thank me. "I'm happy to see they still have my gloves."

Gloves that became symbols

Over time, Nene Esmet's gloves went beyond a personal gift and became a symbol of her volunteer activity. His name was also associated with the popular Ammar film festival; where a special award titled "Gloves of Grandma Ismat" was given to some chosen ones. Among the people who have received this award are Behrouz Afkhami and Masoud Deh Namaki.

After the news of her death was published, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards also expressed his condolences to Nene Asmat in a message and praised her role in supporting the fighters.

The end of a life, the permanence of a narrative

The death of Nene Esmet on 21 Mehr 1405 was the end of the life of a woman who spent nearly half a century of her life knitting gloves for warriors and border guards. In this way, he was not looking for official responsibility, nor was his activity formed from the beginning with the aim of public fame; Knitting gloves was a way for him to help those who, he believed, were in difficult situations to defend the country.

Grandma Esmat's knitting needles no longer move in her hands, but her name will still be remembered with gloves that were knitted to warm the hands of others; Gloves, each row of which was a part of the life story of a woman who wanted to play her part in the defense of the homeland.