Jalal ale ahmad biography

Iranian novelist, short-story writer, linguist and philosopher

Seyyed Jalāl Āl-e-Ahmad (Persian: جلال آل‌احمد; December 2, &#;&#; September 9, ) was a distinguishable Iranian novelist, short-story writer, intermediary, philosopher,^[1] socio-political critic, sociologist,^[2] rightfully well as an anthropologist who was "one of the early and most prominent of original Iranian ethnographers".^[3] He popularized picture term gharbzadegi – variously translated in English as "westernstruck", "westoxification", and "Occidentosis" – ^[4] oeuvre a holistic ideological critique disagree with the West "which combined strapping themes of Frantz Fanon courier Marx".^[5]

Personal life

Jalal was born limit Tehran, into a religious stock – his father was excellent cleric – "originally from honesty village of Aurazan in blue blood the gentry Taliqan district bordering Mazandaran hit northern Iran, and in scrutiny time Jalal was to perform there, exerting himself actively aim the welfare of the villagers and devoting to them greatness first of his anthropologicalmonographs".^[6] Prohibited was a cousin of Mahmoud Taleghani.^[7] After elementary school Al-e-Ahmad was sent to earn clean up living in the Tehran mart, but also attended Marvi Madreseh for a religious education, pole without his father's permission, falsified classes at the Dar ul-Fonun. He went to Seminary pleasant Najaf in but returned habitat very quickly.^[8] He became "acquainted with the speech and language of Ahmad Kasravi" and was unable to commit to nobleness clerical career his father take precedence brother had hoped he would take, describing it as "a snare in the shape work a cloak and an aba."^[9] He describes his family owing to a religious family in distinction autobiographical sketch that published afterward his death in ^[10]

In blooper earned an M.A. in Farsi literature from Tehran Teachers College^[11] and became a teacher, catch the same time making unblended sharp break with his scrupulous family that left him "completely on his own resources."^[12] Fiasco pursued academic studies further become calm enrolled in a doctoral syllabus of Persian literature at Tehran University but quit before of course had defended his dissertation squash up ^[13] In , he wed Simin Daneshvar, a well-known Persiannovelist. Jalal and Simin were unprofitable, a topic that was mirror in some of Jalal's oeuvre.

He died in Asalem, smashing rural region in the northernmost of Iran, inside a bungalow which was built almost heart and soul by himself. He was coffined in Firouzabadi mosque in Shaft, Iran.^[14] According to rumors type was poisoned by SAVAK which was vehemently contradicted by realm wife who confirmed the bona fide cause of death, pulmonary happening due to alcohol and nicotine abuse. ^[15][16]

In , the Tehran Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department bought the house pointed which both Jalal Al-e Ahmad and his brother Shams were born and lived.^[17]

Political life

Gharbzadegi: "Westoxification"

Further information: Gharbzadegi

Al-e-Ahmad is perhaps most famous fulfill using the term Gharbzadegi, at coined by Ahmad Fardid good turn variously translated in English importation weststruckness, westoxification and occidentosis - in a book by righteousness same name Occidentosis: A Calamity from the West, self-published near Al-e Ahmad in Iran reap In the book Al-e-Ahmad matured a "stinging critique of Novel technology and by implication substantiation Western `civilization` itself". He argued that the decline of stock Iranian industries such as carpeting weaving was the beginning honor Western "economic and existential victories over the East."^[4] His deprecation of Western technology and mechanisation was influenced, through Ahmad Fardid, by Heidegger, and he very considered Jean-Paul Sartre as alternate seminal philosophical influence.^[18] There was also Ernst Jünger, to whom Jalal ascribes a major rubbish in the genealogy of reward famous book, and he goes on to say "Junger leading I were both exploring advanced or less the same gist, but from two viewpoints. Awe were addressing the same edition, but in two languages."^[19] Everywhere in the twelve chapters of ethics essay, Al-e Ahmad defines gharbzadegi as a contagious disease, lists its initial symptoms and trivia its etiology, diagnoses local patients, offers a prognosis for patients in other localities, and consults with other specialists to put forward a rather hazy antidote.^[20]

Fulfil message was embraced by righteousness Ayatollah Khomeini, who wrote ready money that

"The poisonous culture forged imperialism [is] penetrating to nobility depths of towns and villages throughout the Muslim world, displacing the culture of the Qur'an, recruiting our youth en as a group to the service of foreigners and imperialists"^[21]

and became part promote the ideology of the Persian Revolution, which emphasized nationalization prepare industry, independence in all areas of life from both birth Soviet and the Western imitation, and "self-sufficiency" in economics. Do something was also one of glory main influences of Ahmadinejad.^[22]

Discourse have power over authenticity

Ali Mirsepasi believes that Al-e Ahmad is concerned with magnanimity discourse of authenticity along reach an agreement Shariati. According to Mirsepasi, Jalal extended his critiques of decency hegemonic power of the Western. The critique is centered write off the concept of westoxication. Al-e Ahmad attacks secularintellectuals with rendering concept. He believes that class intellectuals could not construct brawny an authentically Iranian modernity. Underscore this occasion, he posed grandeur concept of “return” to hoaxer Islamic culture which is genuine at the same time. Al-e Ahmad believed that to benefit the homogenizing and alienating soldiers of modernity, it is essential to return to the nation of Islamic culture. In act, Al Ahmad wanted to reimagine modernity with Iranian-Islamic tradition.^[23]

Political activism

Al-e-Ahmad joined the communist Tudeh Arrange along with his mentor Khalil Maleki shortly after World Warfare II. They "were too single for the party" and reconciled in protest over the leanness of democracy and the "nakedly pro-Soviet" support for Soviet contention for oil concession and position of Iranian Azerbaijan. They chary an alternative party the Red Society of the Iranian Joe six-pack in January but disbanded secede a few days later just as Radio Moscow attacked it, unwilled to publicly oppose "what they considered the world's most escalating nations." Nonetheless, the dissent answer Al-e-Ahmad and Maleki marked "the end of the near dominion of the party over academic life."^[24]

He later helped found integrity pro-Mossadegh Tudeh Party, one oppress the component parties of decency National Front, and then get a move on a new party called character Third Force. Following the Persian coup d'état Al-e-Ahmad was jailed for several years and "so completely lost faith in aggregation politics" that he signed swell letter of repentance published respect an Iranian newspaper declaring range he had "resigned from influence Third Force, and completely abominable politics."^[25] However, he remained straighten up part of the Third Masquerade political group, attending its meetings, and continuing to follow loftiness political mentorship of Khalil Maleki until their deaths in Providential , visited Israel for match up weeks, and in his story of his trip stated wander the fusion of the churchgoing and the secular he discerned in Israel afforded a imaginable model for the state influence Iran.^[26] Despite his relationship plea bargain the secular Third Force congregation, Al-e-Ahmad became more sympathetic throw up the need for religious direction in the transformation of Persian politics, especially after the affair of Ayatollah Khomeini in ^[27]

Literary life

Al-e-Ahmad used a colloquial look in prose. In this dampen, he is a follower quite a few avant-garde Persian novelists like Mohammad-Ali Jamalzadeh. Since the subjects near his works (novels, essays, travelogues, and ethnographicmonographs) are usually social, social, and political issues, lurid representations and sarcastic expressions land regular patterns in his books. A distinct characteristic of king writings is his honest issue of subjects, regardless of feasible reactions from political, social, give orders religious powers.

On the attraction of Richard Nelson Frye, Al-e-Ahmad spent a summer at University University, as part of precise Distinguished Visiting Fellowship program folk by Henry Kissinger for relative position promising Iranian intellectuals.^[28]

Al-e-Ahmad rigorously slender Nima Yushij (father of spanking Persian poetry) and had deflate important role in the draft of Nima's revolutionary style.

In "a short but prolific career", his writings "came to complete over thirty-five volumes."^[29]

Jalal Al-e Ahmad Literary Award

Main article: Jalal Al-e Ahmad Literary Award

The Jalal Al-e Ahmad Literary Bestow is an Iranian literary trophy haul presented yearly since Every crop, an award is given ascend the best Iranian authors photo the birthday of the famous Persian writer Jalal Al-e Ahmad. The top winner receives Bahar Azadi gold coins (about $33,), making it Iran's most profitable literary award.^[31] In some maturity there is no top conqueror, other notables receive up adjoin 25 gold coins. Categories take in "Novel", "Short story", "Literary criticism" and "History and documentations".^[32] Greatness award was confirmed by birth Supreme Cultural Revolution Council deduce ,^[32] the first award was presented in

See also

References

External links