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{{short description|Iranian poet and scholar 1886-1951}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| name             = Mohammad-Taqi Bahar<br />{{lang|fa|محمدتقی بهار}}
| image            = Mohammad-Taqi_Bahar-Original.jpg
| imagesize        = 220px
| caption          = 
| birth_date       = 10 December 1886
| birth_place      = [[Mashhad]], [[Qajar Iran|Sublime State of Iran]]
| death_date       = {{death date and age|df=y|1951|4|22|1886|12|10}}
| death_place      = [[Tehran]], [[Pahlavi Iran|Imperial State of Iran]]
| occupation       = Poet, politician and journalist
| period           = 
| spouse           = {{marriage|Sodabeh Safdari|1919}}
| children         = 6, including [[Mehrdad Bahar|Mehrdad]]
| parents          = Mohammad Kazem Sabouri
| movement         = [[Persian literature]]
| notableworks     = ''Tārikh-e Sistān''<br />
''Tārikh-e Mokh'tasar-e Ahzāb-e Siāssi''<br />
''Sabk Shenāsi''<br />
''Moj'malal ol-Tavārikh val Qesās''<br />
''Javāme' ol-Hekāyāt'' (Anthology of Stories),
| awards           = 
| influences       = 
| website          = {{URL|bahar-site.fr/}}
}}

'''Mohammad-Taqi Bahar''' ({{langx|fa|محمدتقی بهار}}; also [[Romanization|romanised]] as Mohammad-Taqī Bahār; 10 December 1886 in [[Mashhad]] – 22 April 1951 in [[Tehran]]), widely known as '''Malek osh-Sho'arā''' ({{langx|fa|ملک‌الشعراء}}) and '''Malek osh-Sho'arā Bahār''' ("poet laureate," literally: ''the king of poets''), was a renowned [[Iran]]ian poet, scholar, politician, journalist, historian and Professor of Literature. Although he was a 20th-century poet, his poems are fairly traditional and strongly nationalistic in character. Bahar was father of prominent Iranist, linguist, mythologist and Persian historian [[Mehrdad Bahar]].

== Biography==
Mohammad-Taqí Bahār was born on 10 December 1886 in the Sarshoor District of [[Mashhad]], the capital city of the [[Khorasan Province]], north-eastern [[Qajar Iran|Iran]].{{sfn|Samiʿi|Melvin-Koushki|2013}} His father was Mohammad Kazem Sabouri, the [[Poet Laureate]] of the shrine in Mashhad who held the honorific title of ''Malek o-Sho'arā'' ("King of Poets"), while his mother was a devout woman named Hajjiyeh Sakineh Khanum.{{sfn|Samiʿi|Melvin-Koushki|2013}}{{sfn|Loraine|Matīnī|1988|pages=476–479}} Bahār was of [[Georgians|Georgian]] descent on his maternal side.{{sfn|Samiʿi|Melvin-Koushki|2013}} His mother's forebears were Georgian notables who had been captured by the troops of [[Abbas Mirza]] during the [[Russo-Persian Wars|Russo-Iranian Wars]] and were taken to mainland Iran, where they eventually converted to Islam.{{sfn|Samiʿi|Melvin-Koushki|2013}} Bahār's paternal great-great-grandfather was Hajj Mohammad-Baqer Kashani, who in turn was the son of Hajj Abd ol-Qader Kharabaf of [[Kashan]].{{sfn|Samiʿi|Melvin-Koushki|2013}}

Bahār began his primary education when he was three, with his father, Mohammad Kāzem Sabouri, as his [[tutor]]. In addition to his private schooling, Bahār attended one of the traditional schools, ''Maktab Khāneh'', in Mashhad. To enhance his knowledge of  [[Persian language|Persian]] and Arabic, he further attended the classes of Adib Nai'shābouri, a traditional poet and literary scholar who promoted the style of the poets of Khorasan in the early Islamic era, in the tradition of the so-called ''[[bāzgasht-e adabī]]'' (literary regress).<ref>M.B. Loraine and J. Matíní, ''Bahār, Mohammad-Taqī Malek Al-Šoʿarāʾ'', [[Encyclopaedia Iranica]]: {{cite web |url=http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/unicode/v3f5/v3f5a004.html |title=AHĀR, MOḤAMMADïɨ‵TAQĪ MALEK ALïɨ‵ŠOʿARĀʾ, 20thïɨ‵century poet, scholar, journalist, politician, and historian (1265-1330 Š |access-date=9 June 2008 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022074155/http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/unicode/v3f5/v3f5a004.html |archive-date=22 October 2008 }}.</ref> It has been said that Bahār knew by heart a very good portion of the [[Quran]] at a very early age. According to Bahār himself, at seven he read [[Shahnameh]] and fully grasped the meaning of [[Ferdowsi]]'s Epic poems.

Bahār composed his first poem at age eight, at which time he also chose the name ''Bahār'', meaning Spring, as his pen name (''takhallos'' in Persian). It is known that Bahār chose this pen name after [[Bahār Shirvāni]], a poet and close friend of his father's, after Shirvāni's death. Shirvāni was a renowned poet during [[Naser al-Din Shah Qajar]].

At 14, Bahār was fluent in Arabic, and later he achieved spoken and written fluency in French. At 18, he lost his father and started to work as a [[Muslim]] preacher and clergy. It was during this time that he composed a long [[ode]] (''[[Qasideh]]'' in Persian) and sent it to Mozzafar-al-Din Shah who became so deeply impressed by this ode that he immediately appointed Bahār as his Poet Laureate and by [[Royal Decree]] conferred on him, at the age of 19 (1903), the title of ''Malek o-Sho'arā'' at the shrine of Imam Reza in Mashad.{{sfn|Samiʿi|Melvin-Koushki|2013}}{{sfn|Loraine|Matīnī|1988|pages=476–479}}

At the onset of the [[Constitutional Revolution of Iran]] (1906–1911), Bahār laid down his position of Poet Laureateship and joined the revolutionary movement for establishing the parliamentary system of democracy in Iran. Bahār became an active member of the Mashhad branch of ''Anjoman-e Sa'ādat'' (Society for Prosperity) that campaigned for establishment of Parliament of Iran (''[[Majles of Iran|Majles]]''<ref>''Majles'' is more completely referred to as ''Majles-e Shorā-ye Melli-e Iran'', that is, National Consultative Assembly of Iran.</ref>). He published the semi-covert newspaper ''Khorāsān'',<ref>The first edition of ''Khorāsān'' was published on 19 March 1909.</ref> in collaboration with Hossein Ardebili, ''Nou-bahār'' (New Spring), and ''Tāzeh-bahār'' (Fresh Spring), both in collaboration with his cousin [[Haj Sheikh Ahmad Bahar]] who operated a printing company and who acted as the Senior Editor first in Mashhad and later in [[Tehran]].

Bahār published numerous articles in his newspapers in which he passionately exhorted his readers to stand up and help bring about the establishment of a functioning Parliament.<ref>[[Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar]] aborted democracy in Iran through his coup d'état in June 1908. For some relevant details, see the biographies of [[Mirza Jahangir Khan]] and [[Mohammad-Ali Jamalzadeh]].</ref> He equally forcefully advocated the creation of new and reformed public institutions, a new social and political order and of new forms of expression. After the triumph of the Constitutional Revolution, Bahār was repeatedly elected as a Member of Parliament.

In 1918, when [[Ahmad Shah Qajar]], the seventh and the last ruler of the [[Qajar dynasty]], was in power, Bahār reinvented himself: he ceased all his clerical activities and became an entirely new man. At the same time, he together with the writer and poet [[Said Nafisi|Saeed Nafisi]], the poet and historian [[Rashid Yasemi|Gholam-Reza Rashid Yasemi]] the historian [[Abbas Eqbal Ashtiani|Abbas Eqbāl Ashtiāni]], and his talented friend [[Abdolhossein Teymourtash]] founded The Literary Association of the academy (''Anjoman-e Adabi-ye Dāneshkadeh''). The Magazine of the academy (''Majaleh-ye Dāneshkadeh'') was the monthly publication of this Association, in which, in addition to works of prose and poetry, other very informative and useful articles were published, under such diverse titles as "Literary Revolution", "How other nations view us" and "The Literary History of Iran". In fact, this magazine became Bahār's vehicle for publication of the results of his literary researches and introduction of [[Western Literature]] to Iranians. The magazine also played a key role in developing and strengthening the present-day form of Persian Literature.

[[Image:Bahar tomb.jpg|thumb|220px|right|Bahār's tomb in [[Zahir-od-dowleh cemetery]], Tehran]]

Following establishment of [[Tehran University]] in 1934 (during the reign of [[Reza Shah|Reza Shah Pahlavi]]), Bahār became Professor of Persian Literature at the Faculty of Literature of this university. In the course of his tenure as Professor, he dedicated most of his time to writing and editing books on Persian Literature and History. Notable amongst numerous works written and edited by Bahār are:<ref>For a comprehensive bibliography consult: Works of Bahār ([http://www.bahar-site.fr/asarBahar.htm ''Āsār-e Bahār'']) in [http://www.bahar-site.fr/index.htm Bahār's Official Website].</ref>

* ''Tārikh-e Sistān'' (History of [[Sistan|Sistān]]),
* ''Tārikh-e Mokh'tasar-e Ahzāb-e Siāssi'' (A Concise History of the Political Parties),
* ''Sabk Shenāsi'' (Methodology), which concerns the variety of styles and traditions of Persian prose,
* ''Moj'malal ol-Tavārikh o val Qesās'' (Concise Histories and Tales),
* ''Javāme' ol-Hekāyāt'' (Anthology of Stories),
* Two volumes of verse, consisting of his own poems.

In 1945, during [[Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi]]'s reign, Bahār served for a short period as the Minister of Culture and Education in the Cabinet of the then Prime Minister [[Ahmad Ghavam|Ahmad Qavam]] (also known as Qavam os-Saltaneh). Earlier in the same year he and Ahmad Qavam had created the [[Tiran Democratic Party|''Tiran'' Democratic Party]] (''Hezb-e Demokrāt-e Tirān'').

In the last years of his life, Bahār suffered from [[Tuberculosis]]. He sought medical treatment in [[Leysin]], [[Switzerland]], in a sanatorium, where he stayed between 1947 and 1949. It was not long after his return to Iran that his health quickly deteriorated. He died on 21 April 1951,<ref>1 [[Iranian calendar|Ordibehesht]] 1330 AH, at 8 O'clock in the morning.</ref> at his home in [[Tehran]].<ref>Bahār's home in Tehran was located on Malek o-Sh'sho'arā-ye Bahār Street, Takht-e Jamshid Avenue.</ref> He is entombed in [[Zahir-od-dowleh cemetery]] in [[Darband, Tehran|Darband]], located in [[Shemiran]], northern Tehran.<ref>A close-up of Bahār's gravestone can be viewed here: Dream Land, ''Mohammad-Taqi Bahār'', [https://flickr.com/photos/dreamlandblog/467576008/sizes/o/ flickr].</ref>

== His poems ==
Although Bahār was a 20th-century poet, his poems are quite traditional and decidedly patriotic. Many scholars have strongly emphasised and documented that Bahār's style of writing and the beauty of his poetry, in addition to his deep passion for [[Iran]] and his persistent opposition to [[fanaticism]], have indeed made him one of the greatest cultural icons of modern Iran. Although he worked for some period of time as a clergyman and preacher, his first and foremost passion had always been writing, especially of poetry, as well as carrying out historical researches and teaching.

Through his literary magazine, The Magazine of the academy (''Majaleh-ye Dāneshkadeh''), Bahār had a significant impact on the development of modern [[Persian literature|Persian poetry and literature]]. One may argue that, to varying degrees, almost all the early advocates of modernism in Persian Poetry and Literature found their inspirations in the new developments and changes that had taken place in [[Western literature]]. Nonetheless, such inspirations would not have easily resulted in changes without the efforts and support of such figures as Bahār, whose literary contributions were, and remain consonant with Iranian culture. In Bahār's collection of poems, one finds poems composed in almost every tradition of Persian Poetry. To name a few, he wrote [[Panegyric]] (''Setāyeshi'' or ''Madiheh''), [[Epic poetry|Epic]] (''Hamāsi''), Patriotic (''Mihaní''), [[Heraldic]] and [[Mysticism|Mystic]] (''Ramzi'' or ''Sufi'āneh''), [[Romantic poetry|Romantic]] (''Āasheghāneh''), Ethical (''Akhlāghi''), [[Didactic]] (''Āmuzeshi'' or ''Pandi''), [[Colloquial]] (''Goft-o-gu'í''), and [[Satirical]] (''Tanzi'' or ''Hajvi''). Bahār's Official Website<ref>Ali Mostafavi, editor, Selected poems from the poetical works of Malek o-Sh'sho'arā Bahār (''Gozideh-ye Divān-e Ash'ār-e Malek o-Sh'sho'arā-ye Bahār''), in Persian, 56 pages, Bahār's Official Website: ([http://www.bahar-site.fr/Dievan_malekolshoaraye_bahar.pdf pdf]).</ref> has made a selection of Bahār's poetry available to the general public, which the interested reader may wish to consult.

=== The Chained White Beast ===
"The Chained White Beast" is a poem by Bahar, written in 1922, in which he praises [[Mount Damavand|Damavand]], the highest mountain in Iran, and presents it as a symbol of patriotism. The opportunity had come for the nationalists to take the floor and criticise the regime. Bahar's symbol for provoking patriotic upheavals is a reflection of the growth of the notion of nationalism which had been introduced to Iranians only few decades before. Bahar describes Damavand as a beast, and asks it to rise and wipe out injustice, and let the real Iran flourish.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Sources==
* {{cite encyclopedia | title = BAHĀR, MOḤAMMAD-TAQĪ | last1 = Loraine | first1 = M. B. | last2 = Matīnī | first2 = J. | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/bahar-mohammad-taqi | encyclopedia  = Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. III, Fasc. 5 | pages = 476–479 | year = 1988 }}
* {{Encyclopaedia Islamica|last1=Samiʿi|first1=Ahmad|last2=Melvin-Koushki|first2=Matthew|year=2013|title=Bahār, Muḥammad Taqī|url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-islamica/bahar-muhammad-taqi-COM_00000035?s.num=1&s.f.s2_parent=s.f.book.encyclopaedia-islamica&s.q=bahar}}
* Mohammad-Taqi Bahār's Official Website, in Persian: [http://www.bahar-site.fr/index.htm ''Malek o-Sh'sho'arā Bahār''].
* Manuchehr Saadat Noury, ''First Iranian scholar who challenged the Islamic fundamentalism'', Persian Journal, 4 June 2006: [http://www.iranian.ws/iran_news/publish/printer_15992.shtml].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081006100209/http://www.khawaran.com/Bijanpoor_MalekulshoaraBahar.htm {{lang|fa|ملک‌الشعرا بهار}}; his biography]
* [http://aftab.ir/articles/art_culture/literature_verse/c5c1130748089p1.php his biography]

==Further reading==
* ''A Brief History of Persian Literature'', [http://www.iranchamber.com/literature/articles/history_literature.php Iran Chamber Society].
* ''The Poet's Daughter'', [https://www.amazon.com/The-Poets-Daughter-oShoara-Immortal/dp/193601257X].

==External links==
* ''Malek o-Sh'sho'arā Bahār'', Mohammad-Taqi Bahār's Official Website, in Persian: [http://www.bahar-site.fr].
* '''Note:''' At present this website offers the following biographical section also in French: [http://www.bahar-site.fr/BaharZabanHaiDigar.htm].
* Ali Mostafavi, editor, Selected poems from the poetical works of Malek o-Sh'sho'arā Bahār (''Gozideh-ye Divān-e Ash'ār-e Malek o-Sh'sho'arā-ye Bahār''), in Persian, 56 pages, Bahār's Official Website, [http://www.bahar-site.fr/Dievan_malekolshoaraye_bahar.pdf pdf].
* ''M.T. Bahār'', Iran Yellow Pages, Iranian Poets, [http://www.iranyellowpages.net/en/about_iran/Culture/poets/iranian_poetry07.shtm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041029232054/http://www.iranyellowpages.net/en/about_iran/Culture/poets/iranian_poetry07.shtm |date=29 October 2004 }}.

==See also==
{{portal|Poetry}}
* [[Mehrdad Bahar]], Mohammad-Taqi Bahār's son.
* [[Five-Masters]]
* [[Hasan Taqizadeh|Sayyed Hasan Taqizadeh]]
* [[Teymourtash|Abdolhossein Teymourtash]]
{{List of political prisoners of Iran}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Persian literature}}
{{Persian Constitutional Revolution Persions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bahar, Mohammad Taghi}}
[[Category:Iranian literary scholars]]
[[Category:Iranian essayists]]
[[Category:20th-century Iranian journalists]]
[[Category:20th-century Iranian historians]]
[[Category:Members of the 3rd Iranian Majlis]]
[[Category:Government ministers of Iran]]
[[Category:People from Mashhad]]
[[Category:1887 births]]
[[Category:1951 deaths]]
[[Category:Members of the Academy of Persian Language and Literature]]
[[Category:People of the Persian Constitutional Revolution]]
[[Category:20th-century Iranian poets]]
[[Category:Iranian male poets]]
[[Category:Democrat Party of Iran politicians]]
[[Category:Democrat Party (Persia) politicians]]
[[Category:Revival Party politicians]]
[[Category:Iranian biographers]]
[[Category:20th-century essayists]]
[[Category:Iranian people of Georgian descent]]
[[Category:Members of the 15th Iranian Majlis]]
[[Category:20th-century Iranian politicians]]
[[Category:Male biographers]]
[[Category:Iranian magazine founders]]
[[Category:Political prisoners in Iran]]