A Symphony of Life

About the Book

A  Symphony of Life

Triumph of Education over Adversity

A Journey of a Persian - American Woman

Through War, Revolution, Love, and Freedom

The story of Dr. Redjali, a well known public figure in Iran in the mid-twentieth century, begins in Iran (Persia) during the time of Iran's westernization and modernization spearheaded by Reza Shah Pahlavi at the beginning of the 20th century and follows the social, historical, political turmoil, and educational events of the past seventy years in Iran, in Europe and the United States.

Like a symphony, this book is composed of four movements. Through these movements, the author weaves the notes of her life into melodies of social and historical changes, upheavals, wars, revolutions and peace. She traces her own transition from being part of Iran's ruling class to her job-seeking struggles in the United States. This provides the reader, through the author's firsthand experience with many of the great events of the 20th century, a personal account of Iran's contemporary history and politics, education, along with an eye-witness account of the United States civil rights movement, the women's rights struggle, other important issues related to psychology and mental health, and personal issues such as surviving cancer in the United States. Her story encompasses shifts in the tempos and melodies of life, along with a leitmotiv of love of family, individual freedom, and unwavering hope for humanity.

The book illustrates the personal approach the author has adopted throughout her life in coping with and overcoming every adversity through using the power of education. It's also a testament to a woman's ability to balance all the facets of her life-. career demands, family responsibilities, emotional needs, and the quest to help others.

This  book with historical pictures uniquely covers the period between the rise and the fall of the Pahlavi dynasty, the rise of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the author's personal life in Europe and the United States. It is supported by extensive research, and expresses a great hope that the longstanding cultural misunderstanding and miscommunication between Iran and the West will soon be replaced with a mutual respect which celebrates the power of individual freedom and democracy.

About the Author

The life story of Dr. Simin Redjali (Khadiri) begins in Iran (Persia) during the time of Iran's westernization. Her story follows the social, historical, political turmoil of the past seventy years in Iran, Europe and the United States.

Like a symphony, this book has four movements. The author traces her transition from being part of Iran's elite to her struggles in the US encompassing Iran's recent social historical movement, the women's rights, mental health, and personal issues such as surviving cancer. The book illustrates the personal approach the author has adopted throughout her life in coping with and overcoming adversities through the power of education. Her journey is a testament to a woman's ability to balance all facets of her life: family, career, emotional turmoil, and quest to help others.

Education has been the cornerstone of Dr. Redjali's life. She received her Ph.D. in Educational and Clinical Psychology from the University of Heidelberg in 1961. After a post-doctoral Fellowship at the University of London she became the fi rst women professor at the National University of Iran, an NSF Fellow and a Fulbright Scholar in the United States in 1966/67. Dr. Redjali worked tirelessly to promote the social status of women in Iran and as the Secretary General of the Women's Organization of Iran she helped establish more than 150 Family Welfare Centers throughout the country. In 1973 Dr. Redjali established Shemiran College which provided three much needed new areas of study: early childhood education, family counseling, and welfare administration.

After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Dr. Redjali and her family were granted permanent residency and citizenship to the United States because of her education. Then she has devoted her time to advancing services in the fi elds of mental health and intellectual disabilities in the State of Virginia as Fellow Center Director, Research Director, Clinical Faculty of MCV and Consultant and is the author of several books and articles written in three languages.