Haj Sheikh Ahmad Bahar

Haj Sheikh Ahmad Bahar (1889 Mashad, Iran - 1957 Tehran, Iran) was an Iranian politician, a patriotic poet, prominent journalist writer, publisher and farmer.

He was one of the best students of late Sheikh Abdoljavad Adib Neishaboori in Mashad in the field of Persian and Arabic litratures. He started Journalism with his famous poet and politician cousin Mohammad Taghi Sabouri, later known as Malekoshoaraye Bahar and was editor of his cousin’s newspaper published in Mashad called” Now Bahar” from 1915 to 1917.

Sheikh Ahmad and his cousin were founder members of Democrat Party of Khorasan and contributed to development of democratic values and encouraging people to learn about national interests of Iran.

He was owner and editor of “Bahar” influential news paper published in Mashad during first world war and in Tehran during 2nd world war.He was invited by Ahmad Ghavam Ghavomolsaltaneh the Prime Minister to join Government service in1941 as a Special Secretary to Prime Minister as well as Press Secretary at the office of PM.

He continued the job of Special Secretary to all Prime ministers including Dr.Mohammad Mossadegh. In addition to his old position during Mossadegh’s Premiership and Nationalization of Oil Industry was promoted to be Chief of Staff of PM’s Office too.

Twice elected as member of parliament (Majles) from Mashad but in both occasions The Imperial Court ‘s dictatorial Power of Reza Shah and his Son Mohammad Reza did not allow him to serve. On the occasion of popular and religious rise of people of Khorasan in summer of 1935 Sheikh Ahmad was accused of collaboration with organizers of this demonstration in Gowhar Shad Mosque and shrine of Imam Reza at Mashad and jailed for two Years and exiled from Mashad to Tehran. It is worthwhile to mention 19 member of so called Islamic Revolutionary Council on 1979 were from prosecuted for having role in above mentioned popular riot of Gowharshad Mosque.

Haj Sheikh Ahmad Bahar was a third generation descendant of the Georgian Christian King whose two sons( Zorab & Alexander) were fighting with Russia for continuation of rule of Iran in Georgia and eventually lost the Russo-Persian War (1804-1813) brought to Iran by Abbas Mirza Crown Prince and Commander of Iranian Forces in Georgia.

Abbass Mirza asked The King Fathalishah to keep them honorably and give them job in the Imperial Court. Two brothers became Moslem and changed Names to Sohrab and Afrasiab Khan. Sohrab appointed Cashier of Court called Naghdi. Afrasiab Khan preferred to choose being a Merchant and moved to Mashad to be in the vicinity of Shrine of Imam Reza.

As he moved from Tehran to Mashad his surname along with his immediate family and most relatives in Mashad changed to Tehranian (means those who from Tehan).

Sheikh Ahmad carried this surname until Reza Shah decreed that all citizens must have surname which no body had at that time. So Sheikh Ahmad Tehrani because of good name of his newspaper already known as Sheikh Ahmad Bahar officially chose the new surname of Bahar for the first time in Iran. Poetic name of his cousin Mohammad Taghi Sabouri was Bahar too but officially he was to register surname of Bahar in Tehran because at that time Iranian law would only allow one surname of each type in each city.

A biography of Sheikh Ahmad’s Political life and his poems collected by his 3rd Son Jalil Bahar and Majid Tafreshi jointly called “Shenasnameh” which means “Identity Card” was printed in Tehran.

Sheikh Ahmad is known as one of the masters of writing patriotic and political poetry utilizing Khorasani Dialogue.

He died in Tehran at 1957 and buried in the Ebn-e Babveih graveyard close to graves of Dr. Hossein Fatemi excuted Foreign Minster of Dr. Mossadegh and Matyrs of 30 Tir 1331 Riot (21st July 1952) against Shah and Ahmad Ghavam Ghavomolsaltaneh the Prime Minister.

Sheikh Ahmad had five sons and two daughters as follows: his first son, Habib Bahar, is a lawyer and was also a member of Iran's Majlis (Parliament) from Mashad. His 2nd son are Rashed Bahar , Agricultural Eng and is a Retired World Health Organization Officer. His 3rd Son Dr. Jalil Bahar is a retired Diplomat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Iran)). 4th Son Mohammad Reza Bahar (Retired Colonel of Traffic Police and served his last post as Chief of Metropolitan Traffic Police of Tehran). 5th son Dr. Kamal Bahar Patologist and Imminologist (Tehran). His Daughters are Bahereh Bahar (Social Worker and retired Senior official of Tehran City Municipality, and Dr. Lili Bahar (Dentist in Tehran).