Seminar on tangible and intangible veterinary heritage and Hill Committee
Logo unveiling ceremony, 4 July, 2013, National Museum of Medical Science
History of Iran
Key-note address by Mr. Peter Tejler, Ambassador of Sweden
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me start by thanking the organizers for inviting me to speak at this event.
It’s especially good that Sweden is represented here today since my country –
and in particular one fellow countryman – has played such a crucial role in
helping Iran develop its veterinary establishment. Before I come back to this
man and his achievements, allow me to say a few things on a more general
basis on the importance of cultural and scientific exchange between different
countries.
Today’s event gives the participants – Swedes and Iranians – an opportunity to
create a platform for dialogue among two different nations and to discuss and
improve cooperation in the specific scientific field upon which we are touching
today. It’s a good example on how easy it should be to enhance mutual
understanding in any field, between any countries, might it be veterinary
heritage or more overarching political topics or fundamental human rights
issues.
It is also a day to remind ourselves that there are links, old links, between our
two countries. From excavations in Sweden we know that already during the
time of the Vikings contacts existed as approximately 50 000 silver coins from
north eastern Persia have been found. These coins were minted in the mid
800’s.The first Swede we know by name stayed in Esfahan 1616-1618. And we
know that a group of Persian traders were in Stockholm in December 1688.
Later an optometrist Conrad Fagergren settled in Shiraz. Later a Swedish
explorer and scientist, Sven Hedin, visited Iran on three occasions 1886, 1890
and 1906 and took many pictures and made many drawings which showed Iran
in those days.
And every day at the Embassy, through the sheer number of applicants for visa,
we are reminded of the number of Iranians who have family and friends in
Sweden.
Now let me take you back 100 years in time, to the early 20th century Persia
and the story about the Swedish veterinary and soldier Konrad Hill. At the time,
Persia had little established infrastructure. In order to improve the situation,
the Shah started to recruit foreign experts from different fields. Konrad Hill was
a part of a group from neutral Sweden invited to Persia to set up a functioning
gendarmerie and police force. Hill set up training for farriers. However, this is
not what made him famous in the end.
As a veterinary by degree he noticed that the country lacked a proper
veterinary organisation. In 1912 Konrad Hill founded Persia’s first Veterinary
Boarding School, thus laying the foundation for the modern veterinary
education system in this country. The first batch of students numbered eight
and graduated two years later.
But his adventure wasn’t yet over. As a soldier of the gendarmerie Hill was
stationed in Bouroujerd. It was almost immediately attacked by bandits. Hill’s
division managed to strike back but many of the soldiers were injured in battle.
Since Bouroujerd at the time didn’t have a hospital - or a doctor - Mr. Hill had
no choice but to treat his co-soldiers. Many lives were saved thanks to his
efforts. His achievements were promptly highlighted in Persia where he was
appointed colonel. Also in Sweden, where he upon return became the last
Swede to be awarded “For Valor in the Field”, a military medal awarded officers
in battle.
Konrad Hill’s achievements were commemorated last year in Tehran in
conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the first Veterinary School in Persia,
at an event organized by the National Committee of World Veterinary Heritage
in Iran.
Following the commemoration the National Committee of Iran decided to
honor Konrad Hill by proposing to name their organization to “the Hill
Committee”. This was proposed at the 81st General Session of the World
Assembly of The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), held in May this
year in Paris. It was unanimously approved by the assembly.
More than 100 years after Konrad Hill came to Iran, his accomplishments are
still relevant. Iranian veterinary education is well established and today’s event
is a token of maintained scientific exchange between Sweden and Iran.
Ladies and gentlemen, let’s regard Konrad Hill’s achievements and the formal
establishment of the Hill Committee as good examples of a fruitful exchange of
know-how between us. Let’s use this exchange as a source of shared
inspiration and knowledge. And let us remember that also animals have rights.
Thank you.