Lesson 44

Amir Kabir

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Translation

Mirza Taqi Khan Farahani (Amir Kabir) was born more than two hundred years ago in one of the villages of the city of Arak in Iran. His father was the special chef of “Qa’im Maqam”, prime minister/vice chancellor of the Qajar’s royal court.

As a child, he helped his father and would take the food of the minister’s children to school for them. Every day, Taqi would stand behind the door of the class until the lesson finished. One day, like always, he was standing waiting behind the door of the class when the minster of the court came to enquire of his children’s studies. He asked a question that the children couldn’t answer. Immediately Taqi entered the class and answered the question in full. Everyone was shocked, since they had thought that he was illiterate.

Surprised, the vice chancellor asked: “Where did you learn these things?”

Taqi said “From behind the door”.

After that, on account of his high level of intelligence, he was allowed to participate in the class and study with the rest of the children. In this way he grew up in the Qajar’s court.

He undertook his first political mission at the age of 22 years and in this mission became the secretary of a diplomatic committee. This committee went to Russia to apologise for the killing of a Russian diplomat in Iran. In this way, he entered politics and whilst living mostly in the city of Tabriz, he undertook a number of diplomatic missions. When Mirza Taqi was 40 years old, the king of Iran died in Tehran and Naser Aldin Mirza, the son of the Shah, who was the crown prince, was living in Tabriz.

Mirza Taqi Khan was assigned the responsibility of preparing for the transfer of the new king, Naser Aldin Shah Qajar, to Tehran. He borrowed thirty thousand tomans from a Tabriz businessman and moved with the King and a group of soldiers towards Tehran. After six weeks they arrived in Tehran and the King was enthroned. Because of Mirza Taqi’s excellence in political matters and leading the army, on that very night of his coronation, Naser Aldin instated him to the highest position and office in the country; that is the chancellor, and from that time, named him Amir Kabir. Amir Kabir was the highest-ranking person in the country and became responsible for governmental and military matters.

He was Chancellor of Iran for 3 years and 3 months and in this short time he improved Iran’s foreign relations and created permanent embassies in London and St Petersburg. Amir Kabir established the Dar ul-Funun School, which was the first kind of university in Iran, published the second Persian language newspaper until that time (“Vaqaye-ye Ettefaqiyeh”), and reformed the country’s financial situation and treasury, the postal service and the army. Amir Kabir did a great service for Iran but, unfortunately, a number of those who saw their business interests disappearing plotted against him. At first, the king dismissed him from the chancellery and then exiled him to Kashan. After less than two months, those around the king obtained a death sentence for Amir Kabir from the king and murdered him in Kashan’s ‘Fin Bath’.

Iranians never forget the sacrifices and important works of Amir Kabir.

Leçon 44

Amir Kabir

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Traduction 

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Lección 44

Amir Kabir

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Traducción

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Translation of Dialogue

Maryam: Who is your favourite Iranian politician?
Bahman: Amir Kabir.
Maryam: Why Amir Kabir?
Bahman: Well, he gave a great service to Iran.
Maryam: How are Iran’s foreign relations now?
Bahman: They’re not bad, but we need to improve our relations with all countries.
Maryam: In my opinion this would improve the economic situation, military and education.
Bahman: I agree. I think a branch of a European university will be established in Iran soon.

Traduction de Dialogue

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