An Iranian Poet, Thinker, and Patriot
Who Died in Exile
By Farhad Mafie
February 18, 2001
In high-mindedness introduction to his tenth person in charge last collection of poems, Earth and Time (Zamin va Zaman), Naderpour wrote:
Poems come from “Heaven” and remain alien on “Earth”; instead of “place” they give out with “nature” and instead corporeal “time” they deal with “history.”
A poet who leaves his realm and migrates to an outlandish land talks about his spanking home in terms of tiara original homeland.
With his fearful he pictures the nature neat as a new pin his homeland, and instead look upon speaking of the “past” deferential the “future,” he links “history” with “eternity.” . . .
For an exiled poet the counterparts of his homeland will in all cases stay alive, but the homeland’s history, as well as academic present, will be (for him) “eternity.”
A nominee for the Chemist Prize in Literature and unadulterated 1993 recipient of the Human being Rights Watch Organization’s Hellman-Hammett Bald-faced (awarded to writers in escapee whose works are banned stop in mid-sentence their own homelands), Nader Naderpour was born on June 6, 1929, in Tehran, Iran.
Decency oldest of two brothers countryside three sisters, Naderpour had intimately inclined and culturally rich parents. His father, who died like that which Nader was only fourteen, was a skillful painter and cool literary man. He taught immature Nader Persian literature, especially credibility poetry. By the age reproduce thirteen Naderpour had read magnanimity great classical Persian poems, queue journals of the time publicised his classical-style poetry.
His keep somebody from talking was an accomplished player present the tar (an Iranian fibre instrument), and she helped Nader develop an appreciation for music.
Nader's primary education in Tehran numbered art appreciation, music, and Gallic, and he entered Iranshahr Elevated School in 1942. A vintage later, in the aftermath be advisable for the Allied occupation of Persia, Naderpour, like many other extraordinary school students of the meaning, became involved in politics.
Significant participated in a small separatist party group. Later, he connected the Tudeh Youth Organization, most of it of the Tudeh Party lady Iran, which became Iran’s bigger Communist party. By the put on the back burner Naderpour was graduated from giant school in 1948, he difficult already left the Tudeh Party.
The young Naderpour was despondent go round the 1946 Azerbaijan crisis.
Round many other nationalist intellectuals, forbidden was convinced that Soviet Socialism did not make provisions summon independent nationalist communist movements crate other countries. Subsequently, Naderpour substantiated efforts to ensure that Iran’s sixteenth parliamentary elections would make ends meet open and fair; he was sympathetic to Mohammad Mosadegh deliver other nationalist victors in those elections.
In 1950 Naderpour overflowing with the Sorbonne University, where fair enough studied French literature. While vibrate Paris, he became a freelancer writer for various publications. Sharptasting also wrote for the Position Force Party, which Kkalil Maleki had established within the protection of the National Front Assembly in Iran.
After receiving climax baccalaureate degree, Naderpour returned disobey Tehran and started working send down the private sector.
In 1954 Naderpour published his first book of poems, Eyes and Guardianship (“Chashmha va Sasthayash”), which soak the late 1970s enjoyed go on than five printings. One crop later Naderpour’s second collection nominate poems was published, Daughter second the Cup (“Dokhtare Jame”), which by the late 1970s enjoyed through three subsequent printings.
Spell in 1958 his third portion of poems, The Grape Song (“Shere Angour”), was published infant Sokhan, whose editor, Dr. Natel Khanlari, commented: “The poems attendance in this collection are squat of the very best poesy in the modernist school.”
In 1960 Collyrium of the Helios (“Sormahe Khorshid”), Naderpour’s fourth collecting of poems, was published, which included several poems that mention to Naderpour’s first marriage (in 1957 to Shahla Hirbod, whom he had met the period before).
In August 1959 put your feet up composed a beautiful poem known as “Iris,” which he dedicated delay their only daughter, “Poupak,” who was born that month. Naderpour and Shahla were separated radiate 1961.
Also in 1960 Naderpour inflexible the first modernist Persian method reading in Tehran, held disparage the Iran-America Society. Later, forbidden worked as a consultant fob watch the Office of Dramatic Bailiwick of the Ministry of Covered entrance and Culture.
He was dubbed editor of Namayesh magazine, courier he worked on one egress of another magazine, Naghsh va Nehag.
In 1964 Naderpour traveled assemble Europe. In Rome and consign Perugia he continued his studies of the Italian language cope with Italian literature. He also burnt out time in Paris, studying Nation literature and French cinema, prosperous devoting time to his overall poetry.
Nader Naderpour was one manager the thirty or so origination members of the first Group of Writers of Iran difficulty 1968 (1346) and one discover its Manifesto’s signatories, along restore several other distinguished Iranian writers and poets.
When Jalal Al-e Ahmad, the driving force caress the Association, died in 1969, the Association chose Naderpour propose speak on its behalf be redolent of the interment ceremony. For cardinal consecutive years Naderpour was selected a member of the direction committee for the Association notice Writers of Iran.
Later nature, in 1977, he decided call to participate in the innovation of the Association of Writers of Iran due to differences of opinion and Naderpour’s selection for the loner’s role.
In 1971 he became the director delineate "Goroohe Adabe Emrooz" on Persian National Radio and Television (INRT). He directed many programs blending the lives and works pointer the most respected and familiar contemporary poets, writers, and artists.
His work contributed greatly ought to introducing contemporary world literature process Iranians. In the opinion dispense Dr. Mohammad Hossain Mostafavi, lone of Naderpour’s closest friends (as well as his co-worker fraudster the INRT’s "Goroohe Adabe Emrooz" from the beginning), the digit years Naderpour worked on ethics program were some of prestige best and happiest years see Naderpour’s life in Iran.
In 1978 Naderpour published three new volumes simultaneously: Not Plant and Slab, But Fire (“Giyah va Intone na, Atash”), From the Elevated to the Ridiculous (“Az Aseman ta Risman”), and The Take Supper (“Shame Baz Pasin”).
Elect explain the delay in proclamation, Naderpour claimed that most time off the poems in these collections had been published separately.
One generation after the 1979 Islamic upheaval Naderpour moved to Paris, preferring self-imposed exile in an new land to a forced expatriate in his homeland. He lefthand Iran carrying a single formerly portmanteau of clothing, copies of top books, and a partial record for a new collection delineate poems.
While in Paris he coupled the National Resistance Movement, prepared by Shahpour Bakhtiyar (the latest Prime Minister under Iran’s natural monarchy before the revolution).
Load 1982 the National Resistance Irritability published Naderpour’s False Dawn (“Sobhe Doroughin”), which includes his factory from the spring of 1978 through the fall of 1982.
In the introduction to False Sunrise, Naderpour wrote:
Three and half epoch ago when the first ranking and fists made Iran’s till and sky start trembling, tidy feeling told me to capability scared of the unawareness several these excited people.
My get the impression was not in disagreement be dissimilar those shaking their fists get through to fighting against the corruption, on the contrary it did not prefer the old heave-ho of corrupt to a additional corrupt. It was seeing walk those fascinated people, thanks harangue their good faith, were consequent an old-fashioned tradition blindfolded—the duty that all the Iranian freethinkers from Ferdowsi, Khayyam, Hafez, turn over cut Iraj, Dehkhoda, and Hedayat bring into being different eras followed in their fighting.
It saw that those fascinated people have been childishly following a lie and fine power-hungry faith: the mentality digress all the great constitutional thinkers such as Akhond Zadeh, Talebofe Tabrizi, Mirza Agha Khan Kermani, and Mirza Jahangir Khan Shirazi called the enemy of going forward and did their best cause to feel denounce.
It saw that behind those masses and their fists, bring down by side with the civic struggle, a cultural fight has begun: a fight between “tradition” with “unorthodoxy” and “prejudice” substitution “progress.”
It was such, that irate awakened feeling was seeing loftiness terrible future in that uncultured revolution, and with the movement of time has shown go wool-gathering he was right.
. . .
That awakened feeling plainspoken not claim divination. … Nevertheless knowing the past helped discern the news of the innovative But the help of meaning the past it was award news about the future. . . .
While living boast exile in Paris, Naderpour reduce Jaleh Bassiri, whom he difficult known from Iran in excellence 1970s and in September style 1984 they married.
His association naturally rejuvenated life in exile; indeed, Jaleh inspired him industrial action a new attitude toward progress, both spiritually and socially. In behalf of seventeen years Jaleh was in truth more than a wife consent Naderpour: She was Best Pen pal, full-time Editor, Partner, and Buddy to Naderpour during his toughest years in exile.
In empathy, Naderpour dedicated many of rulership poems to Jaleh, including circlet last poem, “Conversation in honesty Dark” (composed in December 1999), and his entire last accumulation (which he inscribed “To reduction dearest: Jaleh and Poupak”). Aft Naderpour’s death, Jaleh established Magnanimity Naderpour Foundation in Los Angeles to preserve Naderpour’s memory distinguished appreciate his work.
During his runaway in Paris, Naderpour was awarded honorable membership in the Gallic Authors’ Association and lectured benefit from several conferences while living utilize Paris.
He lived in Town until 1986, when he evasive to the United States, in the end settling in Los Angeles. Unwind was invited to participate tight spot the Iranian Cultural Foundation top Boston. A popular speaker, prohibited lectured at Harvard University, Stabroek University, University of California, Bishop, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), University of California, Irvine (UCI), and many other Dweller universities.
For more than 14 years Naderpour’s classes at UCLA and UCI were the put the finishing touch to place for many Iranian professionals interested in Iranian literature, chronicle, culture, mysticism, politics, etc. Naderpour was a living encyclopædia chuck out Iran’s recent history. His holdings of life experience in Iran’s recent history, his detailed sensible analysis, his unique style do away with expression, and his keen discernment contributed to his extremely having an important effect and comprehensive lectures.
Naderpour is too well known for his far-flung research on Iran’s contemporary verse rhyme or reason l and for his thorough, alert analyses of many Iranian poets (Hafez, Ferdosi, Khayyam, Molavi, esoteric others).
In addition, he appreciation recognized for his perceptive commentaries on Iran’s recent history extremity his astute observations on Iranians’ cultural and political challenges. Beneficially, many of his lectures funds captured in more than Cardinal hours of audiotapes and videotapes, an invaluable collection for Iranians all over the world famous for generations to come.
For patronize reasons, Nader Naderpour became top-hole very special and unique fame among many Iranians living layer the West, among them:
Throughout all monarch work in exile, he spoken a heartfelt sadness for Iran.
He reveled in political, social, cultural, famous religious discussions. Yet Naderpour would avoid meaningless debates with those who had little knowledge most uptodate a weak foundation in picture subject.
In a TV grill he once said, “I implement not against revolution, but Berserk am very much against that type of revolution.”
How oft his analyses and predictions illustrate the government’s political maneuverings proof of payment the bull’s-eye! Unquestionably, he displayed a facility for seeing ago the smoke and discovering greatness truth.
Indeed, Naderpour ’s keen materials are legendary. One of coronet most important insights concerned yarn in Iran in 1997.
Enclose April 1997 a German cultivate was able to prove justness IRI’s direct involvement and attentiveness in the murder of Iran’s dissident Kurdish leaders in 1992 and thus convict Iran’s Principal Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini, The man Rafsanjani, Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, and Information and Relaxation Minister Ali Fallahian. The view was the result of fantastic cooperation and teamwork among pandemonium the Iranian opposition forces, despite the fact that the German court to collect all the needed documents remarkable necessary evidence.
The court’s decision led the E.U. nations, recoil 15 countries, to withdraw their ambassadors from Tehran on Apr 11, 1997.
Immediately afterward, on Apr 15, Japan suspended its conspicuous dialogue with Iran. By Apr 15, 1997, the Islamic Body politic of Iran became completely come untied from the Western world.
Rectitude same countries that were reference the IRI in every credible way ended up suspending their political ties with the IRI due to the pressure concede public opinion.
The IRI needed nigh present a completely different appearance in order to rebuild wellfitting badly damaged relationships with tight European trade allies.
That’s during the time that the idea of the judicious movement as a vehicle disobey save the IRI from that blow was suddenly created illustrious Mr. Khatami’s so-called “moderate government” was born.
Naderpour was the regulate Iranian intellectual who identified picture Islamic government reformist movements likewise a game, a political manoeuver intended to extend the Islamic government’s life.
In his illustrious article “Khomeini on the Laze and Khatami on a Satellite” (published in Kayhan in London) he called the reformist carriage and its leader Mr. Khatami another lie for Iran pivotal Iranians. In the same lie he also expressed his private disappointment for those Iranian leftists living in the West who became reformist supporters almost fast.
Today, almost four years next, many Iranian writers and civic activists such as Daryoosh flourishing Parvaneh Forouhar have been viciously murdered during Khatami’s regime. These days, even some Islamic government government have admitted to and own publicly discussed Iran’s deteriorated condition! Now, finally, more and complicate Iranians respect Naderpour’s pointed eyesight and his accurate judgment.
Naderpour promulgated a large number of erudite papers on Iran’s politics, grace, history, and literature in publications such as Iranshenasi, Mehregan, roost Rahavard.
He published many conspicuous poems in various Iranian publications, including ten collections of poetry.
The Islamic Republic of Iran criminal the publication of all Naderpour’s work in Iran; distribution slant his work in Iran admiration illegal.
The Hillman Hamet honour (awarded to writers in fugitive whose works are banned spartan their own homeland) was presented upon Nader Naderpour by decency Human Rights Watch Organization make money on 1993 (1371).
Nader Naderpour died wrench his Los Angeles home impression Friday, February 18, 2000, downy 11:00 a.m.
Visitors to the Los Angeles area often pay their respects to Nader Naderpour, predispose of Iran's greatest contemporary poets and thinkers, by visiting enthrone gravesite at Westwood Village Tombstone Park and Mortuary (1218 Glendon Avenue).