Ali Mohammad Afghani
Encyclopedia
Ali Mohammad Afghani is an Iranian writer.
. He was raised in a poor family. Although a top student, he dropped out of school to work along with his father. He tried to get employed in the National Iranian Oil Company
, but failed for certain reasons. Then he decided to continue his education. After obtaining a high school diploma, he joined the armed forces, and studied at the Military Academy. That was a time when the country was experiencing political turmoil. He became a member of a clandestine political organization comprising army colonels. They had left-wing political inclinations and opposed the then leader of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
. On Aug. 19, 1953, the nationalist government of Mohammad Mosaddeq was overturned through a Shah-backed coup d’etat. Activities of the organization were disclosed after Zahedi
swept to power, Afghani and a number of his colleagues were arrested. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, but was released after five years due to a commutation.
Afghani wrote his masterpiece Lady Ahou’s Husband while in prison. The novel was published in 1961. Literary figures such as the renowned translator Najaf Daryabandari and prominent author Mohammad Ali Jamalzadeh
went into raptures about his novel. The novel depicts the appalling life of Iranian women in that era.
Daryabandari once stated, "Looking into the life of the rabble, the author in this book pictures a painful tragedy. The scenes described in the book are reminiscent of masterpieces written by Leo Tolstoy and Honoré de Balzac. I have never had the same opinion about any other Persian books."
In March 1962, Jamalzadeh, in a letter to a friend, wrote, "I received Lady Ahoo’s Husband. I think fellow writers and I should kiss goodbye writing. Iran is a bizarre country. It nurtures talented youth in no time. What a wonderful book! Such descriptive images."
Four years later in 1965, Afghani published his second novel Happy People of Qarehsou Valley. The novel is about the love of a poor boy for the daughter of the village lord. It also depicts political currents of the post-1941 period.
His other works include Woven of Grief, Sindokht, Turnip
, and Cousin Parvin. His forthcoming books are Fathers’ World; Children’s World as well as a novel on Iran-Iraq War.
Biography
Veteran contemporary writer, Ali Mohammad Afghani was born in 1925 in KermanshahKermanshah
Kermanshah is a city in and the capital of Kermanshah Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 784,602, in 198,117 families.The overwhelming majority of Kermanshahi people are Shi'a Muslims...
. He was raised in a poor family. Although a top student, he dropped out of school to work along with his father. He tried to get employed in the National Iranian Oil Company
National Iranian Oil Company
The National Iranian Oil Company , a government-owned corporation under the direction of the Ministry of Petroleum of Iran, is an oil and natural gas producer and distributor headquartered in Tehran. It was established in 1948...
, but failed for certain reasons. Then he decided to continue his education. After obtaining a high school diploma, he joined the armed forces, and studied at the Military Academy. That was a time when the country was experiencing political turmoil. He became a member of a clandestine political organization comprising army colonels. They had left-wing political inclinations and opposed the then leader of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
. On Aug. 19, 1953, the nationalist government of Mohammad Mosaddeq was overturned through a Shah-backed coup d’etat. Activities of the organization were disclosed after Zahedi
Fazlollah Zahedi
Mohammad Fazlollah Zahedi was an Iranian general and statesman who replaced democratically elected Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadeq through a western-backed coup d'état, in which he played a major role.-Early years:Born in Hamedan in 1897, Fazlollah Zahedi was the son of Abol Hassan...
swept to power, Afghani and a number of his colleagues were arrested. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, but was released after five years due to a commutation.
Afghani wrote his masterpiece Lady Ahou’s Husband while in prison. The novel was published in 1961. Literary figures such as the renowned translator Najaf Daryabandari and prominent author Mohammad Ali Jamalzadeh
Mohammad Ali Jamalzadeh
Mohammad-Ali Jamālzādeh Esfahani , was one of the most prominent writers of Iran in the 20th century, best known for his unique style of humour...
went into raptures about his novel. The novel depicts the appalling life of Iranian women in that era.
Daryabandari once stated, "Looking into the life of the rabble, the author in this book pictures a painful tragedy. The scenes described in the book are reminiscent of masterpieces written by Leo Tolstoy and Honoré de Balzac. I have never had the same opinion about any other Persian books."
In March 1962, Jamalzadeh, in a letter to a friend, wrote, "I received Lady Ahoo’s Husband. I think fellow writers and I should kiss goodbye writing. Iran is a bizarre country. It nurtures talented youth in no time. What a wonderful book! Such descriptive images."
Four years later in 1965, Afghani published his second novel Happy People of Qarehsou Valley. The novel is about the love of a poor boy for the daughter of the village lord. It also depicts political currents of the post-1941 period.
His other works include Woven of Grief, Sindokht, Turnip
Turnip
The turnip or white turnip is a root vegetable commonly grown in temperate climates worldwide for its white, bulbous taproot. Small, tender varieties are grown for human consumption, while larger varieties are grown as feed for livestock...
, and Cousin Parvin. His forthcoming books are Fathers’ World; Children’s World as well as a novel on Iran-Iraq War.