The Role of Poets and Literary Societies in the Celebration of Ferdowsi's Millennium and the 1313 SH Congress

Introduction

Among the actions taken by Pahlavi I was the construction of Ferdowsi's Tomb and the holding of the Ferdowsi Millennium Congress in 1313 SH. The National Heritage Association (established in 1304 SH) put the construction of Ferdowsi's Tomb on its agenda. The construction of Ferdowsi's Tomb provided the groundwork for holding the Ferdowsi Millennium Congress in 1313 SH. The Ferdowsi Millennium Congress was the best opportunity for researchers and poets from Iran and other countries to meet officially.
By examining the documents of the Ferdowsi's Millennium celebration, we run across facts about the role of poets and literary societies on the sidelines of the 1313 Congress. The poets' praises of Ferdowsi and the Shahnameh, alongside the scientific achievements of the Congress, are noteworthy from a media perspective. The aim of this study is to investigate the reasons for the diminished role of poets and literary societies compared to the active participation of political and state agents, who, according to the authors, played an important role in the promotional aspect of the Congress and Ferdowsi's celebrations.
The praise of Ferdowsi and the Shahnameh by poets and writers found an opportunity to emerge during the Constitutional Era and increased significantly around the 1313 Congress. Looking at the vast volume of eulogies during this period, the question arises: what were the reasons that led to the neglect of the role of poets and literary societies in the Congress and the Ferdowsi's Millennium celebration, and why were their eulogies not collected? In this study, after describing and explaining some instances of the studied poets' roles, the abundance of active poets and literary societies within cultural centers has been diagrammed.

Research Background

The topic discussed in articles and sources about Ferdowsi and his commemoration has no prior research. Moein Kargari and colleagues, in their article “The Contribution of Political Elites’ View and Action in the Establishment of Ferdowsi's Tomb”, argue that the necessity of paying attention to national identity and honoring cultural celebrities gradually moved from the level of cultural elites during the Qajar Period to the activism of political elites during the Pahlavi Era. This research does not pay attention to the role and the creation of poets’ motivation in the constructing of Ferdowsi's Tomb and the Ferdowsi Millennium Congress. Ali-Mohammad Tarafdari, in his article “Investigating the Process of and Approaches to the Holding of  the Ferdowsi Millennium Ceremony in 1313 SH in the World”, argues that the commemoration ceremonies for Ferdowsi and the Shahnameh practically served as a platform for presenting an efficient image of the Pahlavi I government, which sometimes had a completely promotional aspect. This research also deals with the 1313 SH Congress from a historical perspective and does not pay attention to the role of poets and literary societies in the commemoration and praise of Ferdowsi.

Research Method

This research relies on the analysis of documents, memoirs, magazines and publications, reports, and proceedings of literary and scientific societies using a library method. The authors, while describing and explaining the references in the poets’ praise letters, have analyzed the role of poets and literary societies in the commemoration of Ferdowsi using an analytical method. The argumentative method of this research is inductive.

Discussion

Poets of the generation before the 1313 Congress, including Eshghi, Bahar, Adib-Nishaburi, and Forouzanfar, wrote poems with the intention of awakening the people and government officials and emphasizing the necessity of building a tomb for Ferdowsi. Apart from the scientific, cultural, and promotional dimensions of the 1313 Congress, this event is noteworthy due to the presence of poets and the reflection of its news in publications. A poem by Dringwater and Jamil Sidqi al-Zahawi in the Congress sessions and the eulogy by Abd al-Wahhab Azzam and other Khorasani poets during the inauguration of the tomb are examples of the media and promotional dimensions of Ferdowsi's commemoration.
The Ferdowsi Millennium celebration was held in cities across Iran and other countries. At the Ferdowsi celebration in Paris, Paul Fort read a poem titled “An Ode in Honor of Ferdowsi”. The qasida “Al-Ferdowsiyya” by Shiblin al-Mullat and “Al-Ferdowsi” by Bishara al-Khuri indicate the Arab poets’ turning to the Shahnameh and praising Ferdowsi during this period.
Next, it is necessary to have a brief overview of the societies that played a role in holding the Congress and commemorating Ferdowsi.
4-1. Ferdowsi Reading Room
In the Ferdowsi Reading Room in the year 1301, Mirzadeh Eshghi spontaneously composed a poem and posed the question: “What should be done for Ferdowsi?”
4-2. National Heritage Association and the First Plan to Collect Special Eulogies for Ferdowsi
In the proceedings of the National Heritage Association (July 3, 1304 SH), it was proposed that Taqizadeh compile a collection containing translations of poems by François Coppée, Heine, Goethe, and compositions by Adib-Pishavari, Bahar, Forouzanfar, and Seyyed Nasrullah Taqavi, and that the proceeds from its sale be used for the cost of Ferdowsi's tomb (Navai, 1380: 107-108). The aforementioned proceedings represent the first unsuccessful attempt to collect eulogies for Ferdowsi.
4-3. Iranian Literary Society
Following the call of the Iranian Literary Society, the following individuals achieved top ranks in praising Ferdowsi:1. Hossein Masroor with the composition of “In Ferdowsi's Tomb” or “Ferdowsinameh” 2. Mirza Abdolhossein Sheikh-ol-Molk 3. Sarvar Mohasses.
Nosratollah Kasemi in the introduction to the epic poem “Four Hundred Years After Ferdowsi" (Tehran 1313) and Asadollah Sani’ian in a poem titled “At the Celebration of Ferdowsi's Millennium” have referred to their literary mission. Gholamreza Rouhani and Abolhassan Varzi are other poets of the Iranian Literary Association. The ode “Ferdowsi’s Celebration” by Vahid Dastgerdi is intended to thank the participants and literary associations.
4-4. Shiraz Literary Association
In the program of Ferdowsi Celebration Week in Shiraz (October 6-12, 1934), we encounter the role of the Fars Literary Association in holding the millennium celebration and eulogies from Sheikh Ali Abivardi, Nasser al-Din Salar Shirazi, Mohammad Hossein Khan Shoa, Ahmad Heshmatzadeh, Hamidi Shirazi, and Azad Moaddel. From Hassan Fasihi and Rouhani Vesal, a chronogram and an ode in praise of Ferdowsi remain.
4-5. Isfahan Literary Association
In the report of Ferdowsi's Millennium Celebration in Isfahan, no eulogy is mentioned, and Hossein Masroor's "Ferdowsinameh" is at the forefront of the eulogistic poems of this period.
4-6. Azerbaijan Literary Association
Mohammad Hossein Shahriar's poem titled "Memory of Ferdowsi Celebration" was first published in Azadi newspaper. In this poem, Shahriar thanked the participants of the Ferdowsi celebration.
4-7. Kerman Literary Association
The eulogy of Seyyed Mohammad Hashemi, director of Bidari newspaper and head of the Kerman Literary Association, indicates the activity of this association during the Ferdowsi celebration.
4-8. Kermanshah Literary Association
The Kermanshah Literary Association, with poets such as Seyyed Mohammad Gheyrat and Mohammad Ali Vahid, remained active for several years after the congress and was dissolved due to changes and transfers of the heads of the Department of Culture and founding members.
4-9. Shahpour School in Mashhad
Shahpour School, on the occasion of holding Ferdowsi's Millennium Celebration in Mashhad, issued a call for poems and articles, and we are unaware of the results of this competition. The formal Shahpour School association was formed from among the researchers of the Khorasan Literary Association.
4-10. Khorasan Literary Association
Abolghasem Habibollahi and Golshan Azadi, members of the Khorasan Literary Association, have eulogies that indicate the activity of the Khorasan Literary Association during the Ferdowsi celebration in Mashhad. Sheikh Ahmad Bahar and Mirza Mohammad Hassan Masoudi and other poete of Mashhad poets have eulogies and chronograms in their divans on the occasion of the inauguration of Ferdowsi's Tomb.
4-11. The Fate of Literary Associations after the 1934 Congress
Due to Reza Khan's pessimism towards the officials and their dismissal and exile, no significant legacy remained from the achievements of Ferdowsi Millennium Congress, and Reza Shah, by instrumentally exploiting the commemoration of Ferdowsi, was pleased with the Pahlavi-praising approach. With the end of the 1934 congress, the collection of articles on Ferdowsi's Millennium was published after nine years due to Reza Shah's anger towards Taghizadeh.
The first plan to collect special eulogies for Ferdowsi remained unfinished with Taghizadeh's departure from Iran. The Iranian Literary Association deviated from its method after the Congress and the results of the Iranian Literary Association's competition were not reflected in publications. The Kermanshah Literary Association was dissolved with the change of heads of the Department of Education, and the competition of the Shahpour School Association in Mashhad remained inconclusive with Bahrami's exile. All these unsuccessful efforts were due to Reza Shah's autocratic behavior and the formal and commissioned activities of the associations.

Conclusion

In the period under discussion, we have found approximately fifty-four poems by fifty-one Iranian and foreign poets. In addition to the scientific and cultural achievements of the 1934 Congress, poets played a significant role. The eulogies of the mentioned poets at the 1934 congress and Ferdowsi's Millennium Celebration in Iranian cities and other countries were the best media in the world of that time. Literary associations, especially the Iranian Literary Association, played an important role in holding Ferdowsi's Millennium Celebration. The literary associations of Shiraz and Mashhad played an active role in holding lectures and poetry readings and achieved the highest rank in terms of the number of poets praising Ferdowsi. The autocratic behavior and pessimism of Reza Shah, and consequently the dismissal and exile of government officials and the dissolution of formal associations, caused the role of poets and the activities of literary associations to remain dim until now.