About the Author: Ali Langroodi
My late parents were residing by the Caspian Sea when they met. My father was a teacher and later in his career he obtained an administrative job in the Department of Education. My mother was a housewife. I was born by the Caspian Sea and even to this day I have very fond and colorful memories from the beautiful scenery of that region, both the blue Caspian Sea and its surrounding green mountains. However, I did not have much exposure to arts when growing up, maybe except for some poetry.
I migrated to U.S.A. in 1985 and completed my M.S. and PhD in biology and microbiology. Later on, my interest shifted from studying molecular biology sciences to the field of medicine. I became very fascinated with understanding the complexity of human mind and interpersonal relationships. Thus, I went to medical school and became a psychiatrist.
In the U.S., I got exposure to a variety of art projects (painting, drawing, embroidery, poetry, song writing, and music). I also started to take notice of many great authors who made masterpieces in literature as well as fun and engaging novels such as John Steinbeck, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and John Grisham.
At first, I found myself enjoying the mere participation in the art projects with almost no sense of direction. However, gradually, my love for travel and understanding other cultures and customs and my excitement for applying bright colors all coincided and I became very interested to draw flags of different countries as a way of expressing myself.
My message is simple. I draw and paint flags of different countries to express my appreciation of all cultures and customs. Also, I am hoping that by drawing flags I could bring people of different backgrounds closer to each other. I have started the Ali Baba's book series on artistic flags and hoping to publish several books in this series. Each book has its unique message of friendship and love. This is the book three in this series, celebrating 100 countries for their participation in the Olympic Games throughout the history. With respect to music, I like to consider myself a lyricist. I have published five songs in the popular online music stores under my stage name Caspean. Writing and publishing of my first novel is in its early stage of planning.
I would like to take this opportunity and express my sincere love and appreciation to my late mother, Maryam and my late grandmother, my dear nana, Rokeyah. Their genuine love and support and their sacrifices took me to where I am now. Also, I am very much influenced by their message of love, kindness, and friendship, both in practice and in preach. I am determined to continue their way of appreciating life through my paintings, music, and novels.
As I said, as a child, I never had a formal education in art. However, Googoosh, the Persian diva, used radio and TV and magazines ( the only tools available at that time) to open my eyes and many youths to the world of art. She allowed us to believe that there was hope and future. For that, I am forever indebted to her. She gracefully filled my heart and million others with her beauty, magical voice, and extraordinary choreography and dance. She continues to entertain millions of people around the world. She is simply the best and the only one.
I started Ali Baba’s Book Series on Artistic Flags in 2016. Along the way, I have used the colorful flags of different countries as a tool to convey my feelings and to express my thoughts. There are between 200-250 countries spread across all five continents. There is no doubt that each country has its own unique sets of cultural norms, customs, beliefs, and the socioeconomic status. In fact, diversity is one of the human ‘s greatest assets. And, I may add that searching for a common ground and coexistence has been one of the human’s greatest challenges. Fortunately, I can recall many instances in which people have risen above their differences and reached out for commonalities and similarities.
In my previous books, I highlighted two major events- the Olympic Games and the World Cup Tournaments to exemplify as how our spirit of cooperation and humanity have brought us together. I have paid pictorial tribute to all nations by displaying their beautiful and colorful flags for their sincere efforts and contributions. My intention was to celebrate our coexistence and our victories in overcoming obstacles and adversaries.
This book is not any different. I am trying to focus on remembering and celebrating lives of those who have been lost so innocently and tragically because of affiliation of the victims to certain religious groups. The victims have ranged from those who faced forced mass migration and mass killings to those who have who have fallen victims in their own towns, streets, schools, and the houses of worships.
I recall my late mother Maryam dearly valued the freedom she experienced in her visit to USA in 1987. She was particularly amazed to see people from different cultures who were able to practice their faith and their traditions openly in America. She wished the same joy of freedom and dignity for everyone around the world.
Amazing, centuries ago, Virgin Mary had great inspiration for promoting and elevating human spirits. Judging from the Jesus’ spirit of peacefulness and forgiveness, one can easily conclude that Virgin Mary cultivated love and kindness in his heart. Her name is synonymous with tolerance, respect, and acceptance. I do believe Virgin Mary ( or Mary) and my mother Maryam (or Mary) wished friendship, love, equality, freedom, peace, prosperity, grace, happiness, health, humility, and humanity for all of us everywhere on the Earth. This book is a pictorial tribute to honor their wish. This book is all about Mary’s wish.
