Dec 01, 1998 as a muslim woman writing in iran, simin behbahani s collections contain some of the seminal work of twentiethcentury persian literature. She was an icon of modern persian poetry, iranian intelligentsia and literati. Schematization of womens issues and atypical psychic and psychological situation are significant issues that are manifested in simin behbahani s poetries. Behbahani reconciled ghazal with modernity and reinvented the literary form, which traditionally had been reserved for men, says farzaneh milani, who has translated some of behbahanis poems into english and written the first collection of articles about her poetry. A career in poetry what i would like to do tonight is move us to a higher level of appreciation of simin behbahanis poetry by helping us begin an initial and doubtless tentative evaluation of her career in poetry.
Aug 19, 2014 simin behbahani, one of irans most prominent literary figures and a vocal human rights defender who was targeted with censorship and smear campaigns by iranian authorities, has died in tehran. Prior to her birth, khalilis father, an editor and writer, was temporarily exiled. Indeed, if emily dickinson so much identified with her community that she occasionally signed her letters amherst, then simin behbahani can sign her poems iran. A career in poetry what i would like to do tonight is move us to a higher level of appreciation of simin behbahani s poetry by helping us begin an initial and doubtless tentative evaluation of her career in poetry. Written over almost a halfcentury, much of her work reflects the traumatic experiences that have shaped recent iranian history. She worked from within iran for six decades and wrote over 600 poems. The poem banu, our lady is an expression of outrage by simin behbahani, author of over a dozen books of poetry in persian and recipient of the human rights watchhellmanhammet grant, for her struggle for freedom of expression in iran. Staff, national iranian american council niac niac is pleased to present a new poem by the lioness of iran, simin behbahani. Simins mother raised her to love literature and, when simin was 14, sent a poem simin had written to a literary journal, which published it. Her mother, fakhr ozma arghoon fakhr adel khalatbari, was a noted feminist, teacher, writer, newspaper editor, and a poet. Parvin started composing poetry when persian literature was on the. Iranian poet simin behbahani, who has died aged 87. A champion of human rights, behbahani is in iran and has been banned from leaving the country.
And she says neda is the voice of the people of iran. Thousands of iranians, including prominent intellectuals, artists, and rights activists, have attended a funeral ceremony in tehran for celebrated poet and. Niloufar will read simin behbahanis poetry in translation. Romantic nature in the poetry of simin behbahani with a study of the collection of poems a line of speed and fire kobra nodehi1 and masoomeh pichack2 1 department of persian literature, gorgan branch, islamic azad university, gorgan, iran. In doing so, i wish to place particular emphasis on an aspect of. Simin behbahani began writing poetry at the age of fourteen and published her first poem at same age. Forough farrokhzad, and simin behbahani, and simin daneshvar, all of these women. Simin behbahani, 87 poetry defined lioness of iran by emily langer simin behbahani, a towering figure in persian literature who became known as the lioness of iran for poetry in which she elegantly and courageously laid bare the suffering of the destitute, the marginalized and the oppressed, died aug. Simin behbahanis has published a large body of work spanning nearly 20 volumes. Simin behbahani, one of irans most prominent literary figures and a vocal human rights defender who was targeted with censorship and smear campaigns by. Simin behbahani, one of irans most prominent poets, was born to a cultured family and raised amongst the literary elite. Simin behbahani, born in 1927, in tehran, of literary parents her father, abbas khalili, was a.
Simin behbahani, who has died aged 87, was irans most famous female poet, credited with reinventing the ghazal, the lyrical sonnet associated with the classical persian poets. One of the chief illustrations of romantic movement is naturalism which could be studied in the poems of simin behbahani. Poems are listed alphabetically and span all volumes. Social ideas in poetry of four female contemporary poet parvin etesami, corough fari tahereh safarzadeh and simin behbahani mohsen izadyar1i fatemeh azizmohammadi2 1department of persian literature, arak branch, islamic azad university, arak, iran. Simin behbahani, her surname also appears as bihbahani was a prominent iranian contemporary poet, lyricist and activist. Click a title or book cover for additional details, or choose from a selection of poems in the side menu. The invaders attacked the students, beating many and throwing some out of the windows.
Ghazal was defined as a poem that a man wrote for a woman. In this contemporary poets thought, womens issues have been expressed in a way that can reveal some kinds of feminist attitudes and trends. Booklet since the age of 14, simin behbahani has inspired, revitalised, refreshed and liberated poetry in iran. The twoway simin behbahani, renowned for her piercing and fierce language, published 19 books of poetry over the course of six decades. Born on july 20, 1927, behbahani lived and wrote through much of 20th century iranian history. She was irans national poet and an icon to iranian literature. Simin behbahanis initial engagement with poetry coincided with a tumultuous period in the countrys literary history, marked by the emergence of an increasing number of poets who, following in the footsteps of nima yushij, did not adhere to the metrics and regularity of rhyme visible and audible in classical persian poetry.
When she was 14 her mother sent one of her poems to mohammad taqi bahar. Fadiyeh poem for simin behbahani jahangir sedaghatfar february 26, 2005. Aug 28, 2014 simin behbahani, who has died aged 87, was irans most famous female poet, credited with reinventing the ghazal, the lyrical sonnet associated with the classical persian poets. Aug 22, 2014 thousands of iranians, including prominent intellectuals, artists, and rights activists, have attended a funeral ceremony in tehran for celebrated poet and womens rights advocate simin behbahani. Therefore, simin behbahanis feminism wants a temperate moderate style for social reformation of. President obama reading a poesy of simin behbahani and. Simin behbahani khalili was born in 1927 in tehran, iran, of literary parents. Honoring dissident poet simin behbahani june 6, 2006. Social ideas in poetry of four female contemporary poet. Simin behbahani, life and poetry the translation project.
Famed iranian poet simin behbahani, who wrote of the joys of love, demanded equal rights for women and spoke out about the challenges facing those living in her homeland, died on thursday aged 87. Behbahani expanded the poetic genre, known in iran as ghazal a type. Behbahani, simin, 19272014, iranian poet and political activist, b. In her later life she was forced to put poems online that could not be published on paper. These are listed below in chronological order beginning with the most recent. Thanal online simin behbahani its time to mow the flowers. Diyaare roshanam dar shabe tireh new poem january 22, 2006. Aug 22, 2014 simins mother raised her to love literature and, when simin was 14, sent a poem simin had written to a literary journal, which published it.
Behbahani published her first poem when she was only 14 years old, and in the years that followed, she gradually developed her own style of writing as she became a renowned poet. Sunday may 14th, dwinelle hall, university of california. Simin behbahani, whose name at birth was simin khalili persian. The first annual bita prize for persian arts was awarded to ms. Jul 11, 2012 poetry simin behbahani s poems paint one of the most nuanced narratives of modern iranian society. She used the char pareh style of nima, a renowned poet of persian history, and subsequently, turns to ghazal, a free flowing, and poetry style similar to the western sonnet. Nominated for the nobel prize in literature, simin behbahani was nicknamed the lioness of iran for what admirers saw as courage in the face of censorship. Simin behbahani simin behbahani born july 20, 1927, tehran, iran is one of the most prominent figures of the modern persian literature and one of the most outstanding amongst the contemporary persian poets. June 20, 1927 august 19, 2014 was an iranian writer and poet. On this day a celebration that serves as a bridge from the past to the future i would like to close with a quote from the poet simin behbahani a woman who has been banned from traveling beyond iran, even though her words have moved the world. The description of components and elements of nature could be seen in abundance in her poems. Poet simin behbahani was loved by many ordinary iranians but drew the disapproval of the authorities, whom she challenged throughout her life, reports bbc persians golnoosh golshani. She is irans national poet and an icon of the iranian intelligentsia and literati who affectionately refer to her as the lioness of. Her poems offer apertures into the daily life of the iranian people, revealing its subtleties.
Simin behbahani simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. These lines are from the poem its time to mow the flowers written by the late simin behbahani, who was considered by many to be irans most influential poet. The twoway poet simin behbahani urges iranians to keep up their fight for freedom. Simin behbahani 1927 is one of irans most accomplished writers and possibly its greatest living poet. She joined iran radio council of poetry along with other notable iranian poets in 1969. Simin behbahani, the lioness of iran, died on august 19th, aged 87.
Behbahanis poetry by helping us begin an initial and doubtless tentative. Aug 25, 2014 these lines are from the poem its time to mow the flowers written by the late simin behbahani, who was considered by many to be irans most influential poet. In book after book, in one deeply felt poem after another, behbahani has painted miniature portraits of her country over the decades. Behbahani, simin article about behbahani, simin by the free. Romantic nature in the poetry of simin behbahani with a. Often called the greatest iranian poet of the modern age, behbahanis soulful, penetrating sonnets ghazals have made her one of the worlds most recognisable names in contemporary literature. Official site, in english and persian, for iranian poet, simin behbahani, including a biography, bibliography, sample poems, photos and videos. Simin behbahani iran, they say, is the land of poetry, and gazal, a poem of ten to fifteen lines with special rhythmic, metric and alliterative requirements, has been the pillar of the countrys rich poetic tradition. Her work has been published in iranian studies 20 and the school of oriental and african studies bulletin 2011. President obama read a poesy of simin behbahani in its nowrooz greeting and. Pdf women issues from the point of view of simin behbahani, an. Romantic nature in the poetry of simin behbahani with a study of the collection of. The daughter of intellectuals, she studied law at the univ.
Some of behbahanis poems are known by heart even by those. Simin behbahani, iranian poet who earned the sobriquet the lioness of iran for eloquently challenging national authorities and expressing her steadfast opposition to oppression and violence in more than 600 poems. Her father, abbas khalili, writer and newspaper editor, had tens of publications to his credit. In doing so, i wish to place particular emphasis on an aspect of her art that, i. Simin behbahani, fehreste owzane bisabeqa ya kamsabeqa dar in ketab.
Women issues from the point of view of simin behbahani, an. Simin behbahani s has published a large body of work spanning nearly 20 volumes. Simin behbahani was born on july 20, 1927 in teheran, persia as siminbar khalili. Kaafaram agar modaaraa konam recited in front of evin prison june 12, 2005. On this day a celebration that serves as a bridge from the past to the future i would like to close with a quote from the poet simin behbahani a woman who has been banned from traveling. Simin behbahani, adrienne rich and the global life of the political ghazal marie ostby is a ph. President obama reading a poesy of simin behbahani and appreciation of the poet. Aug 19, 2014 poet simin behbahani was loved by many ordinary iranians but drew the disapproval of the authorities, whom she challenged throughout her life, reports bbc persians golnoosh golshani. Simin behbahani was a prominent iranian contemporary poet, lyricist and activist.
Many of her poems were turned into love songs by iranian singers, but behbahani is best known for writing about the daily events in iran. She was married to manouchehr koshyar and hasan behbahani. In simins poetry, gypsy is the symbol of a free soul who. Information and registration forms can be found on this pdf requiring the adobe reader for viewing. Poetical works the broken lute sehtare shekasteh, 1951. Selected poems middle east literature in translation simin behbahani, farzaneh milani, kaveh safa on. Pdf click to increase image size click to decrease image size.