TEHRAN – Writer Ali-Ashraf Darvishian who was known as an advocate of justice and the poor died of pulmonary disease in his home in Karaj on Thursday. He was 76.

The writer had long been suffering from the disease for years, his wife Shahnaz Darabian said in a statement.

Darvishian was born in Kermanshah in 1941. His grandmother was a wise and experienced person who knew many stories and tales by heart, some of which have been compiled in a book by Darvishian.

The writer first pursued a teaching career in several villages near Kermanshah but later entered the University of Tehran to study Persian literature.

He was imprisoned a few times for some political activities during the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah. 

“Bisotun”, “Season of Bread”, “Along with My Daddy’s Melodies”, “Fire at the Children’s Library”, “Cloudy Years”, and “My Favorite Stories” are some of his credits.

Photo: Ali-Ashraf Darvishian in an undated photo 

RM/MMS/YAW