Shahab al-Dowleh, then the Minister of Education, took us to and introduced us to Farmanfarma the Prime Minister. He shook our hands and congratulated us for having succeeded in our studies. Then he turned to the Minister of education and said: “You are fortunate that these educated men have returned to Iran you can benefit from their expertise at Daral-Funoon.” At that time, the only two important schools in Tehran were Daral-Funoon and the Siassi School, which was connected to the ministry of foreign affairs

Although our education in Europe was not complete and was at the level of a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, in Iran we were considered the highest scholars in modern science and technology, therefore we were all employed immediately. Reza Khan, and Mohammad Khan and I were appointed teachers at Daral-Funoon school. Dr. Ali Akbar Siassi, Memoir

NASIR AL-DIN SHAH UTTERED THE FOLLOWING WORDS IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS trusted physician, Dr. Jakob Eduard Polak. "If only no European had ever set foot in my country, we would have been spared all of these tortures. But since these aliens have penetrated I intend to take as good and as much advantage of them as possible.” The driving force behind the creation of the Dar al-Funun was Nasir al-Din Shah's first premier, Mirza Muhammad Taqi Khan Farahani, better known as Amir Kabir. He founded the institution with the intention of ensuring that a new generation of Iranian youth, primarily military officers, was trained in the "useful sciences. Amir Kabir believed that a disciplined Iranian standing army would not be possible without a single unified body of Iranian officers, and hoped that by implementing such reforms and centralizing power, Iran would be better equipped to protect its territorial integrity.

Establishment of

IRAN JAVAN and

return to Europe

For those who are too young to have seen Iran’s condition before the Solar year 1300(1921) it is very difficult to believe what I will briefly describe here. In Tehran, the capital of the imperial Iran, the alleys or streets were dark and narrow, full of muddy sediment in winter and full of dirt and dust in other seasons. For this reason, horses, donkeys, mules, or stagecoaches, which were the means of transportation when they passed covered the pedestrians either with mud or dust and dirt. Asphalt was not heard of nor was there any sign piped water. People had to fill their ponds and granary with dirty water from polluted brooks which they used to drink, cook with and wash…

Dr. Ali Akbar Siassi, Memoir

In this capital there did not exist a municipality nor a registrar office. There was not a birth certificate nor a surname. Everyone was introduced in the name of their father. For example, they would say Hasan the son of Taghi, or Ghassem the son of Abol-Hasan, or Reza the son of Mohammad Jafar…If they asked who Mohammad Jafar is, they would say the son of Molla Ali etc. Men wore long gowns, cloaks, wrappers, and women were hidden under their black veils and burkas. Women did not participate or play any role in civic affairs and were obedient and dutiful towards their husbands who could divorce them whenever they wanted. Girls would have to wear the veils from age six and parents could marry off their daughters from the age of nine.

Dr. Ali Akbar Siassi, Memoir

There was no army since a small number of soldiers who, had to work as vendors to earn their livelihood could not be called an army. The effective army consisted of a regiment of Cossacks under the command of a Russian colonel. The economic condition was very precarious, and the government’s treasury was always empty. To pay the salary of its few employees, the Government often had to ask “Anglo- Iranian Oil Company” (the Darcy Concession) for an advance of 15,000-16,000 pounds.

Dr. Ali Akbar Siassi, Memoir

Anglo-Persian Oil Company Former Building

The Russian and English embassies exerted power and politicians, landlords and other people of means to preserve their possessions and position would attach themselves to one of these embassies. The consular right of judgment or “Capitulation”, which had its roots imposed in the Turkmenchay Treaty was fully in effect and all the Western countries benefited from it since in the treaty concluding with the government of Iran they stipulated with the rights of the “most favored” which at the time was Russia (that had imposed the Turkmenchay treaty on Iran). Therefore, whenever a foreign citizen was convicted of a crime – even killing an Iranian – he would be seen in an office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called “The Office of Consular Judgment”, and briefly questioned in the presence of the country’s consulate and would be handed over to the said counsellor for any punishment. The excuse foreigners used at that time was that since there was no judicial system similar to the one in Europe, and the legal decisions were in the hand of mullahs, their citizens could not receive fair treatment in Iranian religious courts. The customs tariffs were dictated by the foreigners so that their exports to Iran paid little or no tariffs and they took whatever they wanted out of the country without any payments for imports.

Dr. Ali Akbar Siassi, Memoir

Turkmenchay Treaty

This was a synopsis of Iran before the Solar year of 1300. All throughout the 19th century until the communist revolution of 1917 when Imperial Russia became Communist Russia, the policy of the British Empire was to keep Iran dependent, backwards, poor, and without highways, as a buffer between Russia and its largest colony, India. This political tactic was put into play by Britain when Napoleon was planning to pass his army through Iran to conquer India.

However, after Russia’s revolution in 1917 the communist government’s attention to its southern borders, especially Iran, forced Britain to change its political strategy on Iran completely. Poverty of the Iranians with the encouragement and incitement of Russia might have led to communism in Iran. Colonized and poverty-stricken India, then might have been swayed toward communism too.

To prevent such a possible undesirable outcome, England with a look to future decided to use the opportunity, while Russian government was occupied with its internal affairs, to bring Iran under its complete control. Thus, it reached agreement with Iran’s Prime Minister Vusoogh ol-Dowleh practically handing over the (Department of Finance) and the (Military) to England.

Dr. Ali Akbar Siassi, Memoir

At any rate, Iranians that had seen nothing but transgression for over 100 years from Russia and England to trust their intentions rose in opposition to Vusoogh’s agreement and when this treaty went to the Parliament for ratification, the representatives, although most of them were supported by the government, under severe pressure from public opinion rejected it. When English politicians realized that poverty and misery of Iranian had not diminished their national pride and nationalism, they came up with a new plan which eventually benefitted Iranians. The plan was for Iran to progress and prosper in the hand of Iranians and in that way protect it against communism. This was the reason they plotted the coup of 1299 executed by colonel Reza Khan, and Seyed Ziya-alDin Tabatabaie, the former editor of the Raad Newspaper who was believed to be connected to England, became the Prime Minister and Reza Khan at first was content with being the Commanding General of the Army, and later became the Minister of War after which he became Prime Minister then finally he was crowned King. He, by implementing the manifesto of “IRAN JAVAN” - as will be described later – totally changed the country. Without a doubt Reza Khan rose to power with England’s blessing but he was in all respects a nationalist and since he didn’t do their bidding when it was against national interest, in the beginning of World War II, when the allies occupied the country, the British imprisoned Reza Shah and exiled him to one of their colonies.

Dr. Ali Akbar Siassi, Memoir

Prime Minister Reza Pahlavi addressing the opening session of the Constituent assembly in Tekiyeh Dowlat 6 December 1925

Founding

Iran Javan

association

Here I refer to Persian mystic Baba Taher: “Gather together heart-torn lovers, for the state of the heart-torn lovers know”

When I departed to Europe, I was a mere 17-year-old immature kid. Whatever I saw happening around me I thought to be normal. After living in one of the most civilized countries of the world for five years, realizing the vast distance between Iran and the European countries made me surprised and depressed.

My mind was passionate, and my heart was compassionate, and I couldn’t help comparing the living conditions of my fellow countrymen to the Europeans, and I tried hard not to be too hurt from the obvious differences. It was after settling and solving my family issues that I sought the company of my friends to see how they were doing only to find out that they were in the same situation I was in, which was sad and depressed.

This is how the association was founded, first under the name of “Angel of Knowledge” renamed a little bit later to “Iran Javan”. Among the select company of individuals who co-operated with me to found this association were: Aligholi Khan (Engineer Al-Dowleh) Hasan Khan (Shaghaghi) Esmail Khan (Merat) Javad Khan (Ameri) and Hasan Khan (Mosharef Nafisi). With this group the ideology and constitution of the association were issued, and I was chosen as its President. The position and responsibility that I have held for over 60 years.

The society’s platform (marām-nāma) was published in Farvardin 1300/April 1921 with a green cover symbolizing hope for the future (Siāsi, 1987, p. 75).

The principal points of the platform were: the establishment of secular government in Persia and the separation of civil and religious issues;

the abolition of extra-territorial rights of foreign powers (see CONCESSIONS) and all the legal privileges enjoyed by their citizens; the abolition of private tribunals and the referral of all cases to secular public courts; demand for the construction of railroads in various parts of the country;

revision of commercial treaties and agreements, in particular those involving customs; reform of the system of taxation and the establishment of graduated taxes on income, capital, and inheritance;

banning the use of opium and restricting its cultivation; giving high priority to education in general, making elementary education compulsory and free, building more high schools, providing classes for adult education, and paying more attention to technical training;

sending students (both male and female) abroad to study; changing the Persian alphabet; building museums, libraries, reading facilities, and theaters;

at the beginning membership was restricted to those who had studied in Europe or the United States and hence were familiar with Western ideas. The reason for such restriction, according to Siāsi,

was the fact that the ideas that the society wished to promote were too radical for the popular taste, and there was also the consideration that the inclusion of members unfamiliar with ideas of modernity might hinder the smooth functioning of the society (Siāsi, pp. 74-75). Source Encyclopaedia Iranica

Shortly after the founding of Iran Javan The Commander of the Army (Reza Khan) who was also the Prime Minister summoned the leaders of Iran Javan.

Source : “The Life and Times of the Shah”, By Gholam Reza Afkhami

After leaving his presence we still felt and heard his sentences, though we could not take his promise too seriously or rely on his word too literally. We were reminded of a French saying whose translation means: “This is too beautiful and pleasing to be real.” Time proved that the man did not make an empty promise for in the short time of his reign – which was twenty years – almost all our wishes were enacted. “Iran Javan” is the only association in Iran with over 60 years of activity. Its activities have included artistic, literary, cultural, and social….

Dragman at

"French Légation

Tehran"

The Imperial governments of Russia and England in all of the 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century were competing politically and economically with each other in Iran

a competition which always ended up in a loss for Iran. So much so that Iranian nationalists especially intellectuals had antipathy for those two governments and turned to the government of France, who paid more attention to its cultural and spiritual influence, for support to solve its disputes with Russia and England.

A winter day in the Solar year of 1298 (the beginning of 1920) as I was leaving my last class at Daral-Funoon, the janitor said there is somebody waiting for you in the Teacher’s Lounge. This man was Colonel Ali Riyazi (who later became brigadier general): “The government has written a letter to the French Embassy because my presence is needed at the Ministry of War and I have to return there. I could think of no better person for the job than yourself and when I mentioned it to the Deputy Ambassador, he welcomed the idea with pleasure. This is an assistance that the government gave the French Deputy Ambassador who is a true ally of Iran. “I will accept your offer on the condition that I’m able to fulfill my teaching duties at the Ministry of Education and that this is a temporary position.” With kindness he replied: “Whatever other conditions you have I will willingly accept.” Although one of the reasons for my accepting this responsibility was that I had progressed well with the translations and compilations for my lessons from the previous three to four years and I felt also that this was an opportunity to save enough money to be able to return to Europe to finish my studies and to earn my doctorate degree in Paris.

Dr. Ali Akbar Siassi, Memoir

25th April 1928 I have been honored by the highest order of merit in France ”Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’honneur.

Return To

Europe

My wish to return to France was realized in 1928 (1306 Solar) and I returned to Sorbonne (a University in Paris) to complete my studies, research and start my doctorate’s dissertation which I would have to submit to the University Professors who would make up my jury of examiners. My dissertation topics included:

“Testing Methods, their advantages and disadvantages”

And “La Perse Au contact de L’Occident, 1931”

Three years later (1931or 1309 Solar) I had to defend my dissertation, and the date, time and place were to be determined at the University. The jury consisted of: (Dr. Henri Delacroix, Teacher of Public Psychology) (Dr. Henri Wallon, Teacher of Children’s Psychology) (Dr. Paul Fauconnet, Teacher of Sociology) & (Professor Henri Masse). Before the jury entered and sat in their seats, I was like a defendant in the hall awaiting my trial sitting on a chair in front of the stage unaware of what was going on behind me and who was coming or going for I was busy reviewing my notes. “Mr. Ali Akbar Siassi, you have received your Doctorate’s with distingtion…” Hearing this news followed by the clapping of hands made me very joyous and wet with sweat. As I turned around, I saw that the auditorium was filled. In the first row was Hussein Allah, Iran’s deputy Ambassador, and Mohsen Reis, the Embassy Advisor. They got close to warmly congratulate me and to tell me that I had proudly represented Iran.

The French

Academy Award

”l’Academie Francaise”

One of my dissertations, “La Perse au contact de l’Occident”, got a great deal of publicity that I did not expect. Several French and English publications critiqued it – and the French Academy considered it to be worthy of one of its awards. The prize money was two thousand Francs, but the honor was worth much more. Several English magazines, while acknowledging that the research was well done, regarding England’s oppressive politics in Iran which was detailed and discussed in the book were critical that the assessment about their politics was exaggerated and biased. Of course, from English critics I could not expect anything else.