When her country is at war and at the centre of global tension, Anita Kamali from Zahedan in eastern Iran was quietly immersed in sessions at the 2026 Global Spirituality Mahotsav in Auroville. Kamali, 35, who describes herself as “half Muslim and half Zoroastrian”, grew up in Zahedan, about 41km south of the tripoint of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, in an open-minded family.
Her mother, a Muslim, never imposed Islamic practices on her. Her father, now retired from government service, once visited her school and told the teachers not to make his daughter wear a hijab or participate in compulsory religious practices. They agreed. Her mother worked as a computer science teacher.
“I applied to Auroville in 2020 and was selected as a resident in 2022. I was inspired by an Iranian friend who lived here,” she said. “What I like about this place is that human unity is what we strive for. There is no religion or nationality in Auroville.”
Kamali said there are currently seven Iranians living as residents in Auroville. “None of them were brought up in hardcore Islamic traditions. Their parents, even if they were Muslims, were open-minded. Many outside Iran perceive Iranians as strict Muslims. That’s not the full picture. It is mostly those connected to the government who are like that,” she said.
It is said that before the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iran was a rapidly modernising nation marked by secular reforms, oil-fuelled economic expansion and broader personal freedoms for women.
“We are desperate for change. The economy in Iran has collapsed. As an Iranian, I am exhausted by division. We need help from the outside world. We tried our best to change but did not succeed,” Kamali said.
Zahedan is located in Iran’s Baluchestan province. “We have a different thought process compared to Balochistan in Pakistan. Baluchis in Iran love India and Indian culture. We have grown up influenced by Indian films and music. I have always loved India and classical music,” she said.
She added that recent bombings by US and Israeli forces have largely targeted Tehran and western Iran. “Eastern Iran is mostly unaffected, so far. But there is no internet connectivity across the country. People are suffering because of the regime. It has been many days since I last connected with my parents. I cannot reach them. I hope to speak to them soon,” she said.
Though she identifies partly as Muslim, Kamali says she was brought up more in the Zoroastrian tradition. “Every religion gets due respect in Iran. It is not how many Indians imagine Iran to be. It is only certain rigid sections, or the regime, that create problems there,” she said.
Kamali says she longs for the Iran that existed before the 1979 Revolution. “Even though I am an Aurovillian now, I love my city of Zahedan and want to see a peaceful transformation in my country,” she said.
