BIOGRAPHY OF ALI AKBAR DEHKHODA

He was born in Tehran in 1880

His father KHAN BABA KHAN was resident of GHAZVIN and before his birth came to Tehran and stayed. At the age of 10, father expired and Mom headed him to continue the education. One of the scholars of that era, SHEIKH GHOLAM HOSSEIN BOROUJERDI was responsible for teaching him. DEHKHODA often said that whatever he knows is taught by that great man, BOROUJERDI. Later when political school was opened in Tehran, ALI AKBAR joined there. Due to the proximity of the late SHEIKH HADI NAJMABADI, despite less age attended his interesting classes and leaned a lot. At the same time studied French and then went to Europe, where he completed French and completed new information. Back to Tehran coincided with the beginning of the constitution revolution. DEHKHODA started to co-operate with MIRZA JAHANGIR KHAN in publishing popular newspaper called SOUR ESRAFIL. When king closed the parliament, DEHKHODA went to Europe along with a group of liberals. When king was deposed, the people of Tehran and Kerman elected him to assembly. During the First World War, he was in a village in CHAR MAHAL BAKHTIYARI state. After war, he left political affairs joined scientific and cultural services. Eventually on seventh of March 1955 expired. He was buried in IBN BABOUYEH.

HIS FABILIOUS WORKS

1) AMSALOL HEKAM, in 4 volumes included some Persian slangs.
2) Translation of grandeur and decadence of the Romans by author Montesquieu, which so far has not been published.
3) Translation of law spirits by Montesquieu, not published too.
4) French to Persian dictionary, including academic, history, literature, geography and medical vocabs. Late translator gave exact equivalents. Not published too.
5) Biography of ABU REIHAN BIRUNI, in coincides with his birthday, compiled and published.
6) Margin on NASER KHOSROU poetry book. Corrected some lyrics and added some essentials.
7) Modifications on SEYED HASAN GHAZNAVI poetry book.
8) Modifications on poetry books of HAFEZ, MANOUCHEHRI.
9) CHARAND and PARAND book, which is consisted of his own critical articles in SOUR ESRAFIL newspaper.
10) Poetry book which contains his own lyric poetry.
11) Lexicon. The most detailed dictionary of the Persian language. For writing this book, spent nearly forty years. And he has worked closely with hundreds of people to complete it.

He explains about this book:

Nothing forced me to tolerate the long fatigue except of east innocence in front of west wicked oppressors. I believe that east should be armed with new techniques. I knew the east civilization that ruled upon the world for thousands of years is not materialist.

DEHKHODA STYLE

He has great position in constitutional revolution. He is cleverest and most accurate writer in this era. His particular style of writing created a new way in critical articles. DEHKHODA was using every event to attack the tyranny. The important thing is his great compassion toward poor people. He was revealing dark sides of life, but at the same time was not forgetting to show the hope and clear direction. He also attacked idleness, laziness and fatuous.
DEHKHODA`S POEMS
His poems can be divided in to three categories:
First: poems written in the style of initiative, some of them have such strength that is difficult to distinguish them from earlier statements.
Second: in some of his poems, we can see modern literary. For example: Remember the Piles of Dead is one of the best in new Persian poetry.
Third: humorous poems he has written in plain language.
DEHKHODA is one of the few poets of the constitution era that has bright look to the world. He never gives slogan. Themes in his poetry are patriotism, justice, decry unjust and unworthy rulers and fights hypocrisy and duplicity. One of the characteristics of DEHKHODA`s poetry is his bitter and irony jokes associated with strong analysis.
AN EXAMPLE OF DEHKHODA`S POETRY
This poem was written on mourning of JAHANGIR KHAN
Remember the piles of dead
Oh chicken dawn
When this dark night
Left the black work
Out of exhilarating magic
Went out of dormancy hangover
Opened knot out of dark gold hair
You are love of blue sky
God was perfectly visible
And ugly devil is in fence
Remember the piles of dead
Oh follower of Joseph, in this jail
When there is clear interpretation of your dream
Heart full of joy, sugar lips
Assailant is in hand of companions
Went to eternity friend
More free than breeze and moonlight
Where went all those evenings with you
Wish to see you in dreams
Remember the star in the morning
Since the garden is blooming again
Oh you poor and needy nightingale
Out of hyacinth and sad cover
Gallery horizons of fringes
Rose and face sweat from dew
Lost patience and obedience
Oh you pre matured flower
In grief didn’t pay delight relief
Remember the depressed friend