Yaddasht (Memoirs)
By Rafiq Hilmi 1898-1960
The First English Translation of Yaddasht
Is the most widely read Kurdish History book which covers the period between 1908 to 1922 (The Sheikh Mehmud Period of Rule).
The book which is a step by step analysis of that era, was compiled and written by the author who lived during the events and took part in them. The Author Rafiq Hilmi was a man of vision and political prowess. During the Mehmud period he worked as an advisor and confidant of the Sheikh and was highly regarded by his fellow countrymen as a great patriot and political figure. Upon the Sheikh's command he travelled on horseback through Persia, Russia, Georgia and finally to Istanbul and Ankara, to meet and seek the assurances of Mustafa Kemal. He was himself a graduate of Ottoman Military Engineering school and had established contact with the Northern Kurdish patriots such as the Prince Jeladet Aali BedriKhan and his compatriots.
In 1938 he headed a small group of southern Kurdish Patriots after changing the name of the group to the Hywa (Hope) Party after the group by the same name which had been formed in Istanbul during his student days. The book has been translated into Persian, Arabic and Turkish. New Hope have not added English to the group of languages and Volume I is now available. If you wish to acquire a copy, please use the provided order form.
The First Sorany Kurdish Teach Yourself & Reference Book
By Dr. Fereydun Rafiq Hilmi
July 2000
Testimonials
Below are some of the many testimonials we have received including all critical ones.
Mrs Tahir - Xan, &ldots; I hadn’t yet enough time to study sincerely, but I do repeat : the book is VERY interessant and VERY helpful for all autodidactic learners. Some words I know from hearing the Kurdish language by my husband and his friends, and I understand a lot. But till I get your book, I was looking for a book or a grammar in Latin letters about one year, and nobody could help me in Germany. I’m a teacher for German as a foreign language, and I’m very glad to see the high quality of Mr Hilmi `s program . Zor Zor supas le-alemania-we, Xwa hhafîz
Kerstin, Germany
Yes, I received the book. Thank you. It looks very good, from what I have seen so far.
Allison, Canada
Thank you very much for the book. It will be very useful and I hope the second edition will be more colourful! I think, it is unique and is the only one in its area.
Rebwar, London
Dear Friends
I have sent a copy of this Fax to Dr. Fereydun Rafiq Hilmi so that he
can send each of you a copy of the book he has published. I believe it
is a very useful book to have, especially it can be very helpful for
your children.
Chalak, California
Roz bash, Her xosh bin, Zor supas , Kitebeke geyisht be destim , Her bijin
Ali Sayadi , USA
I received my book yesterday. I really look forward to starting my lessons. The book is structured in a very user-friendly way and I am sure that I will benefit greatly from its teachings. I am thinking of writing an article for KurdishMedia on the experiences of a Canadian trying to learn Kurdish! I wish you all the best and hope to keep in touch with you. Hopefully, one time I can write in Sorani!
Sincerely, Alison , Canada
The book and tape arrived yesterday. We had visitors last night and so I haven't had much time to look at the book so far. My first impression is that it's very "rich", i.e., it has lots of information and examples of Sorani with English translations. I'm sure it will be very useful to me, since I already know Kurmanci fairly well. I'm not really in a position to judge how useful it would be for someone who knows no Kurdish at all. In any event, it's clear that a lot of work went into preparing it, and I know that I personally will learn a great deal from it. Best wishes, Forrest
An American, United States Embassy, Australia
Thanks for the book and tape etc. Hopefully, I will be able to impress my Kurdish teacher when she returns from Sulymanya in a few weeks time. All the best
John, London
I am just happy to confirm the receipt of "Sorany Kurdish for English - Speakers. Having looked into the book and the addendum and listened to the tape, I am very pleased of my purchase. If I can muster sufficient energy I am convinced I shall truly benefit from it. God bless Kurdistan and its good people. Thank for the book and tape - be sure I shall do my best - Inshallah!
Jimmy, Denmark
Dear friends, I ´ve got your address from G. Haig, and because my husband is a Kurd from Suleimaniya I´m urgently looking for a book to learn Sorany Kurdish. I´want to order these two books : "Sorany Kurdish for English Speakers ( A Complete Teach Yourself and = reference Manual )" and "Kurdistan at the Dawn of the Century, Volume = I" .
German Lady, Germany
hello
I’m in Japan, I want to buy that book of Sorani for English speaker
how can we get it?
simko, Japan
Roz basw, Her xosh bin, Zor supas , Geyisht be destim.
Her bijîn
H, United States
Greetings I am interested to buy the Sorany Kurdish for English Speakers (A Complete Teach Yourself and Reference Manual) (360+ pages), priced 15 pounds. I am also interested to resell it on my page . How much it would be to buy 5 or 10 copies? Newa Kurdish Bookstore, as a Finnish company.
Riikka, Finland
Hello. my name is Petr and I am 22-year-old Czech native with interest for anything Kurdish. Some of my articles on Kurdistan in the Czech language have been recently published on the Internet
As I have been looking for a good Kurdish textbook, I feel interested in your offer of the Sorani textbook, published in the KurdishMedia. Frankly said, I would rather take Kurmanji - don't you have also a textbook ? If so, I would definitely prefer it than that one for Sorani. If there is no Kurmanji available instead, I will take Sorani anyway.
I am fwd. this message to you and if its possible through you to other friends and relatives. If you would like to contact Dr. Faraydoon to get a copy of the book and encourage others to buy it as well it will be great. (I must say that I am going to get the book from you anyway when I come to visit you maybe in July).
Sh., Canada
Thanks for responding Mrs D Tahir, I wish to purchase 4 copies of your latest book 'Sorany Kurdish for English Speakers'. It would be really appreciated if I get them soon. Thank you very much for publishing this book and the effort. I will send you more email when I got the book and read it. Wish you the best and more of this kind of books.
Ghafoor - Sydney, Australia
Dear Sir, KurdishMedia informed me that there is a new Kurdish manual for sale: Sorany Kurdish for English Speakers. I would like to order one copy. Could you please let me know how payment should be effected and how much should be added for postage? My address is:
Middle East Bureau attn. F, AMSTERDAM Holland
Greetings from Los Angeles! I am the Middle East Librarian here at UCLA. Can you please tell me what publications you have about Kurdish or Kurdistan in any language and how we can purchase? Supas!
David Hirsch Middle East Bibliographer Charles E. Young Research Library UCLA, USA
Thank you very much for your book and the voice cassette. I will send the payment of book during this week and hopefully you will get it by next week. The book is a great tool for non Kurdish speaker. I have not been yet read the book, but from the cover and some fast view I noticed some spelling mistakes in Kurdish writing. That might be because of lack of knowledge of the way how to write "Latin" Kurdish. I hope for the next edition this spelling mistake would be corrected. best regards ---
Kurmanc, Sweden
I just received the book today. Although I have only leafed through it briefly, I can already tell that it is a refreshing contribution to the field. My only comments so far are regarding a few small orthographic decisions: for instance, I would have preferred the Polish L (l with a slash) to the double L (ll) for the lamî qurs. My reason for saying this is that in my opinion all Kurds should be using the identical orthography in Latin script -- to show the outside world that the Kurds are capable of acting in unison as a mature nation. I look forward to perusing the book in depth, and listening to the accompanying cassette tape. My heartiest congratulations
Michael L. Chyet, Washington
Thank you, thank you for your valuable parcel containing your grammar book and the cassette. I will certainly us it in my teaching and research on Sorani. I know that you have invested a lot of work and time on this book and that you must have felt at times exhausted: well the baby is born, it is a nice baby and that is good. My congratulations
French Professor of Oriental Languages and Civilisations
We have also received many telephone and personal testimonials as well as newspaper articles with similar messages.
Book + Tape + Addendum
Australia, NewZealand and the Far East: 22 British Pounds inclusive
Kurdish New Hope is the logical extension of the original Hope.