Ahmad Bahar (1889– 1957) was an Iranian politician, poet, journalist, and farmer.

Literary career

Bahar was a student of Abdoljavad Adib Neishaboori in Mashad in the field of Persian and Arabic literature. He was a journalist and started his own printing and publishing company in Mashad with a Heidelberg press purchased during an eventful trip to Europe. Along with his poet and politician cousin Mohammad-Taghi Bahar (aka Sabouri), later known as Malek o-sho'ara, Bahar was editor of his cousin's newspaper published in Mashad by his printing company called "Now Bahar" from 1915 to 1917. The printing company remains in existence and produces a daily newspaper "Khorasan". Bahar is known as one of the masters of patriotic and political poetry utilizing Khorasani Dialect.

Political career

Bahar and his cousin were founder members of the Democratic Party of Khorasan. He was owner and editor of the "Bahar" newspaper that was published in Mashad during first world war and in Tehran during second world war. He was invited by Ahmad Ghavam Ghavomolsaltaneh the Prime Minister to join Government service in 1941 as a Special Secretary to Prime Minister, as well as Press Secretary at the office of Prime Minister. He continued the job of Special Secretary to Prime Ministers including

Mohammed Mossadeq Mohammad Mosaddegh (, ; 16 June 1882 – 5 March 1967) was an Iranian politician, author, and lawyer who served as the 30th Prime Minister of Iran from 1951 to 1953, elected by the 16th Majlis. He was a member of the Iranian parliament from 1 ...

. He was promoted to be Chief of Staff of the Prime Ministerial Office. He was twice elected as member of parliament

Majles (, pl. ') is an Arabic term meaning 'sitting room', used to describe various types of special gatherings among common interest groups of administrative, social or religious nature in countries with linguistic or cultural connections to the Mus ...

from Mashad but on both occasions, the Imperial Court exercised its dictatorial power (i.e.

Reza Shah Reza Shah Pahlavi born Reza Khan (15 March 1878 – 26 July 1944) was shah of Iran from 1925 to 1941 and founder of the roughly 53 years old Pahlavi dynasty. Originally a military officer, he became a politician, serving as minister of war an ...

and his son

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (26 October 1919 – 27 July 1980) was the last List of monarchs of Iran, Shah of Iran, ruling from 1941 to 1979. He succeeded his father Reza Shah and ruled the Imperial State of Iran until he was overthrown by the ...

) and he was not allowed to serve. On occasion of the popular and religious rise of people of Khorasan in summer of 1935, Bahar was accused of collaboration with organizers of this demonstration in Gowhar Shad Mosque and shrine of

Imam Reza Ali al-Rida (, 1 January 766 – 6 June 818), also known as Abū al-Ḥasan al-Thānī, was a descendant of the Prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad, and the eighth Twelve Imams, imam in Twelver Shi'ism, Twelver Shia Is ...

in Mashad and jailed for two Years and then exiled from Mashad to Tehran. Nineteen members of the so-called Islamic Revolutionary Council of Iran in 1979 were also prosecuted for having a role in the popular riot of Gowharshad Mosque.

Personal life

Bahar had five sons and two daughters. He was a descendant of Prince Alexander of Georgia. He died in Tehran in 1957 and was buried in the Ebn-e Babveih graveyard.

References

*"Shenasnameh" (1990), (which means "Identity Card") A biography of Bahar's Political life and his poems collected by his 3rd Son Jalil Bahar and Majid Tafreshi was printed in Tehran *Fisher, William Bayne (1991), ''The Cambridge History of Iran''.

Cambridge University Press Cambridge University Press was the university press of the University of Cambridge. Granted a letters patent by King Henry VIII in 1534, it was the oldest university press in the world. Cambridge University Press merged with Cambridge Assessme ...

, . * Lang, David Marshall (1962), ''A Modern History of Georgia''.

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

: Weidenfeld and Nicolson. * G. Bournoutian's biography of Prince Alexander of Georgia in

Encyclopaedia Iranica An encyclopedia is a reference work or compendium providing summaries of knowledge, either general or special, in a particular field or discipline. Encyclopedias are divided into articles or entries that are arranged alphabetically by artic ...

. * E. Jassim's biography of Bahar in

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bahar, Haj Sheikh Ahmad Members of the National Consultative Assembly Iranian publishers (people) Iranian writers 1889 births 1957 deaths