Notables
Internet survey
January 7, 2000
The Iranian
The following (in alphabetical order) are all other Iranians nominated
by our readers as the Iranian of the century. All received less than one
percent of the vote, but none can be ignored for their impact on Iran and
Iranians in the 20th century -- even individuals we may never have heard
of.
Back to the Iranian of the century main
index.
Abdul-Baha
Bahai leader
* I look now at the accomplishments of all the great Iranians in the
20th century. But which Iranian's words, deeds and position will in the
future end up being Iran's greatest contribution to the evolution of humankind?
As lovers of Iran, we should not restrict ourselves to the impact made
simply within Iran's cultural borders, nor base our decisions on the here-and-now.
As I contemplate the future of a rapidly-changing world, I see Abdul-Baha,
son and chosen successor of the founder of the Bahai faith, who presumably
does not garner any mention in Iranian history books as a part of an "outlawed
sect" at this time -- ultimately becoming the most influential Iranian
from the 20th century, an incredible period which Abdul-Baha labeled as
the "Century of Light." Shahbaz
Sabeti
Also see
Abdul-Baha's
biography
Azizi, Khodadad
Scored goal which qualified Iran for World Cup 98
Also see
"Mersi
hamshahri"
"We
were there"
World Cup 98 features
Bakhtiar, Shapour
Assassinated former prime minister
* I believe he was our last hope and he never got a real chance to save
his beloved country. He was the only politician of the time who didn't
sell himself out and he didn't offer his country to the enemy. And because
he lost his precious life in the most hideous way by even more hideous
people. He was a true martyr of our generation. Moji
Also see
National
Movement of Iranian Resistance
"Dinner
in Paris"
Baniahmad, Dr.
Scholar
* For his approach to child development and education. His motto"Together
we build a new world" focused mainly on children and their development.
Sherrie Etemadi
Daei, Ali
Named best Asian soccer player in German league
* Ali Daei is the first Iranian footballer to represent the country
in the champions league. He has been a great ambassador for the sport.
Nima Sobhi
Also see
World Cup 98 features
Damghani, Mohammed Mehdi Rajab
Doctor
* He attended undergraduate school in the US (Alabama) and went back
to Iran to the University of Tehran Medical School and became a doctor.
Upon graduation from medical school he was drafted into the Iranian army
where he was placed in a hospital near the Iran/Iraq border. Twelve years
ago, during the Iran/Iraq War, while working in the hospital as a doctor
(which is all he ever wanted to be) the Iraqis dropped a bomb on the hospital
and Mehdi was killed. He was only 35-years old, a wonderful and caring
doctor and a wonderful person. He will always be missed. Pat
Ebrahimi
Dehkhoda, Allameh
Persian scholar, satirist
* I don't know of anyone who has made a greater contribution to Iranian
culture. I wish we were selecting the worst Iranian of the century as well.
J. Namazi
Erani, Taqi
Socialist thinker, activist
* Philosopher, scientist, political leader, progressive democrat who
was imprisoned and killed by Reza Shah Pahlavi. Yusef
Jalali
Etessami, Parvin
Poet
Also see
Nahaal-e
aarezu
Farrokhzad, Forough
Poet
Farrokhzad along with Googoosh received the most votes of any woman
in the survey.
Also see
Poems (1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
"The
women we wanted to be"
"To
live or to be alive?"
Website
Forouhar, Daryoush and Parvaneh
Murdered dissidents
* Parvaneh and her husband Daryoush fought and sacrificed their life.
She believed that to enhance freedom and dignity, an Iranian must experience
a full range of civil liberties in the society. This includes freedom of
speech and the press, political democracy, the legal right of opposition
to governmental policies, fair judicial process, religious liberty, freedom
of association, and artistic, scientific, an cultural freedom. She opposed
the increasing invasion of privacy, by whatever means. Amir
Rahimi
Also see
In the name of the pen
Interview
with Arash Forouhar
Ghajar, Jamshid Ghahremani
Neurosurgeon
* Jamshid Ghajar, chief of neurosurgery at New York's Jamaica Hospital.
He spoke at Stanford University for the students association in December
1999. This man has dedicated his professional life to advancing and teaching
the best ways to treat severe head injuries. While a resident at New York
Hospital, he actually invented surgical devices to help with his aggressive
treatments of severe head injuries. The incredibly important thing to note
is that this is actually the number one cause of death in the U.S. (severe
head injury) from car accidents, kids hitting their heads and people just
falling down! Dr. Ghajar's treatment involves teaching doctors, hospitals,
trauma centers etc. how to prevent this from happening, allowing for an
almost full recovery. Please see the following website
for a more complete bio. -- CK
Also see
The
New Yorker feature on Dr. Ghajar
Googoosh
Singer
Googoosh along with Forough Farrokhzad received the most votes of
any woman in the survey.
* She touched people's hearts like no one else and her music has survived
the test of time. She's the best. Ali
Hafezi
* Because she brought a lot of joy and happiness to all and created
a united Iranian community through her music. Ladan
Homayoon
Also listen
Music
Also see
Googoosh.com
Hedayat, Sadegh
Writer
* It has to be Sadegh Hedayat. He was the first person who thought our
country should modernize, even before this word was the mouth-piece of
all those "motejaddedin." His impact on Iranian literature is
of course too obvious. If Iran produced one person that can be presented
to the world and be held in the same level as Kafka or Camus, it is him.
Khodadad Rezakhani
Also see
"Dast-e
bar ghazaa"
"Tanz-e
Hedayat"
Drawings
Hesabi, Mahmood
Mathematician
Karbaschi, Gholam-Hossein
Former mayor of Tehran
* For his high quality of management skill, his avoidance of abusing
the resources in his hand, his greatness of spirituality and courage in
court when he took responsibility, for all his assistant managers wrong
doing, his intelligence in directing his case as a win for himself, his
effort to support Khatami in presidential election in spite of predicted
unpleasant result for himself, his integrity in life when he could live
easily by allying with those who are his enemy now. Amir
Hossein Sepasi
Maroofi, Javad
Composer
* Because of the fact that he composed classical Persian piano pieces
without any precedence or tradition to follow. Because of his lyrical pieces
and advancement of Iranian culture. Kaveh
Pahlevan
Also listen
Music
Mojtahedi, Mohammad Ali
Headmaster of Alborz High School
* He was not a politician, he was a teacher, mentor, visionary and a
dedicated man. His contributions to Iranian students specially those of
Alborz High School, Aryamehr and Polytechnic Universities and others have
left thousands of proud Iranians around the globe, contributing to the
society in all fields of science, technology and humanity. Ravaanash paak!
Bob Mani
Also see
1944-45 Alborz
High School Year Book
"Paying
our debt"
Alborz High School website
Mother and father
* They instilled in me all of the positive things a person could have,
such as good morals and values and the ability to make correct judgments
by myself and without the influence of others. They also put in me, pride
and recognition of my culture. I was born in the U.S., but still they taught
me about Iran and taught me how to read, speak and write the language.
The immortal queen
of Babylon
Nouri, Abdollah
Outspoken cleric
* Standing up against the Islamic regime in a constructive fashion.
Ezat T. Sanii
Also see
"It's
over"
Omidyar, Parviz
Founder and Chairman, ebay
* Parviz Omidyar created ebay, the
online auction powerhouse, and has continued to support charities and other
Iranians in pursuit of internet riches. Bravo Parviz, bravo! Oraee
Also see
Omidyar's
biography
Pessian, Colonel Mohammad Taghi
Dissident military man
People: students, victims, ...
* The Iranians of the century are those women and men who dedicated
their mind, soul, and life to make a better Iran for all of us, and left
no name behind for us to commemorate them. Dariush
Asfari
* Our families In Iran who have gone through a war, nightly bombings
and now uncertain future, inflation, high price of living and on top of
these being away from their children and loved ones. They get my vote and
my gratitude. Siros Hozhabri
* All those Iranians who died during the revolution and after the revolution,
thinking that because of their deaths Iran will finally be a peaceful place
where everyone from all creeds, languages and religions can live in harmony
and safety, under a democratic elected government. Oh, what an illusion
and what a big waste of precious human life. Alexander
Yazdani
* Rather than choose a single person such as Mossadegh, I choose all
Iranian victims of repression and terrorism (somewhat like the 'unknown
soldier' concept in the West). This includes those people murdered by the
Shah, by the Hezbollah, and by all other groups believing that violence,
torture and murder are a reasonable means to an end. Farzin
Farzin
* All those Iranians who stayed in their country after 1979, despite
the adversity they faced, despite the opportunity they had to leave, and
didn't abandon their home like the rest. Nounou
Taleghani
* Iranian people are the Iranians of the century. There is no
country in the world which is dealing with such a situation. They are really
brave. What I hear from Iran and my family is that all the dreams and hopes
are gone. They are living in the shadow of the past without any joy in
the present and lots of fears for the future, and still they try to hold
on to their pride and culture and tradition. How long do we have to go
on like this? The STUDENTS, the young generation of Iran, they brought
some hope and light, the movement that none of us had the guts (jorat)
to create. THE STUDENTS are the Iranians of the century. Fariba
* My choice is the Iranian students who managed to overcome force
and overwhelming planned propaganda to rise and stand up for democratic
principals and essentially light the candle for what will inevitably become
a new and democratic Iran for the first time in centuries if not millenniums.
Amir Ryan Lahuti
* College students who participated in the last demonstration
for the freedom of press & speech and basic rights in Iran. Homayoun T.
* I can't name a particular person. But my Iranians of the century are
all those innocent civilians who lost their lives in cities all over Iran
in eight years of war with Iraq. R.
Sahragard
* All the poor bastards that died in the fruitless war between Iran
and Iraq. Siamak Mirnezami
Also see
Revolution
photos
War photos & music
Student
protests
Samad
Parviz Sayyad's fictional peasant character
* None of the real personalities in our recent history deserve recognition.
Triumph
Also see
Website dedicated to Parviz Sayyad
Sattar Khan
Leading figure in the 1906 Constitutional Revolution
* He was one of the first fighters for a constitutional democracy in
Iran. I believe he is a hero not only to the Azari people, but to the whole
of Iran, as well. Zarvan
* My Iranians of the century are those thousands of innocent children
died in defense of their country while, the rich & educated sought
the comfort of the West! My Iranians of the century are those who fought
for the constitutional revolution. They fought with humility and never
tried to impose their values on the nation! Long Live Sattar Khan &
Bagher Khan! Sharifi
Also see
"Iran's
American martyr"
Seihoun, Farideh
Dr. Farideh Seihoun who has trained thousands of teachers all over the
world & has won the title of outstanding educator of the century by
Oxford University. Farideh Seihoun
Sepehri, Sohrab
Poet
Also see
"New
York va jeek jeek"
Poetry
narration
Shajarian, Mohammad Reza
Singer
Also listen
Music
Biography
and links
Shariati, Ali
Intellectual
* Because Shariati knew that a country, and a civilization, must stand
on its own feet. He dared to challenge the establishment, he dared to challenge
Muslims, Islam, Iranians and the Shah. He forced us all to confront what
Iran had become, and what Iran had to be. His influence reverberates throughout
Iran, and indeed, the Islamic world. Haroon
S Moghul
* He revived the Islamic ideology in the Persian society, and articulated
the means for people to change as a nation. Abbas
Ahrabi
* I would have to say that my choice for the Iranian of the century
is definitely Dr. Ali Shariati. With his wonderful writing he has given
our culture a meaning that will live on for years to come. His point of
view is not only Islamic but also is very open minded, which true Islam
is. He's given us a lot to read and think about and I wished he'd be more
publicized than he is now. Marjan
Also see
Shariati.com
Siassi, Ali Akbar
Chancellor of Tehran University, Minister of Education
Soccer team
World cup 98
* With their win over the U.S. in World Cup 98, they did more to increase
the self-worth of Iranian-Americans than anybody else in the 20th century.
Rameen Zahed
Also see
World Cup 98 features
Soheili, Mehdi
Poet
Soroush, Abdolkarim
Intellectual
Also see
Interview
with Soroush
Tonekaboni, Sepahsalar
Vali
* Freed Iran from civil disorder and foreign influences. He showed greatness
in not accepting the crown the Majlis wanted to give him. A true nationalist.
Tasva
Yushij, Nima
Poet
* My choice for Iranian of the century is Nima Yushij, who revolutionized
Persian literature and opened the way for the likes of Forough Farrokhzad,
Naderpour and others. Karim
Pakravan
* His new way of poetry changed contemporary literature in Iran. Seyed Gharabety
Also see
100th anniversary
"Father
and fatherland"
Zarrinkoub, Abdol-Hossein
Historian
