Kioumars Saberi Foumani
Encyclopedia
Kioumars Saberi Foumani also known with his pen name
Gol-Agha , was an Iran
ian satirist, writer, and teacher.
, a city in Gilan Province
. His father, originally from Rasht
, worked for the Ministry of Economy and Finance. He was transferred to Souma'eh Sara in 1938 and then to Fuman
in 1942 where he died a few months later.
His mother, who was the daughter of a respected cleric and one of the few educated women in the city, taught the Quran after the death of her husband. His brother, who was 14 years older, had to leave school at the age of 15 to work to help with the family expenses.
Education for Saberi was hard because of his family's poverty and he had to start working in a tailor shop after finishing his elementary education. He also worked in his brother’s bicycle repair shop during elementary school and high school.
He started high school education at his mother’s insistence. At the age of 16, he gained entry to Sari
's Keshavarzi teacher's college that only accepted one student from Fuman each year. He continued his college education and graduated in 1959. He worked as a teacher during 1959-1961.
At the age of 20, he took his high school exams and received his high school diploma. He continued his education at the University of Tehran
while working as a teacher. He achieved his bachelor of science
degree in political science
in 1965.
He spent most of the 1970s reading and teaching and in 1978 he obtained his master's degree
in comparative literature
from the University of Tehran
.
Saberi got married in 1966 and he had a daughter and a son. His son died in a car accident in 1985 but this sad incident did not stop him from reaching his goal, which was to make people smile.
Kioumars Saberi Foumani died on April 30, 2004.
in Towfigh magazine. Towfigh magazine was Iran's most respected pro democracy political satire magazine, with the highest circulation in Iranian history. Its editor in chief was Hossein Towfigh who, along with his brothers Hassan and Abbas, turned Towfigh magazine into the most influential journal in Iranian history. Saberi became one of the many staff writers of Towfigh magazine.
After the Iranian Revolution
, he became the cultural advisor for Mohammad Ali Rajai
. One of his other political posts was as the counselor to the minister of Housing and Urban Development of Iran.
form when he was 14 and he named it "Orphan" . His first published writing was another poem called "Orphan" which was published in Omid Iran magazine. His writings before the Iranian Revolution
were mainly published in Towfigh magazine.
His pen names in Towfigh magazine included Mirza-Gol , Abdolfanoos ,Rish-Sefid , Lode , Gardan-Shekasteye-Fumani .
Following the Revolution, Saberi worked in different political positions before deciding to leave politics. He was in charge of Roshde-Adabe-Farsi magazine and sometimes he wrote for Ettelaat newspaper. He started a column called Do-Kalame-Harfe-Hesab in Ettelaat newspaper in 1984 that was a starting point for political satire
s after the revolution. He continued writing for this column for six years until he started his own magazine called Gol-Agha in 1990. His courageous and powerful writings were appreciated by many famous authors such as Mohammad Ali Jamalzadeh
. Saberi received first prize in press exhibition of 1992 and 1994 and second prize in 1993. He stopped writing for Ettelaat in 1993.
The main characters in his writings are Gol-Agha , Shagholam , Mamasadegh , Kamine , Mash-Rajab and Ghazanfar .
Saberi stopped publishing Gol-Agha in 2003 due to low circulation numbers caused by popular disinterest in his magazine as a result of a shift in the magazine's original pro democratic bias to a later obvious pro governmental bias.
Kioumars Saberi Foumani was one of the most influential Iranian satirists of his time. His publications include:
1- The command from Ali
to Malik ibn Ashter
(1978)
2- Analyzing the story of Zahhak
and Kaveh the Blacksmith.
3- The correspondence between Shahid Rajai
and Banisadr.
4- The first interpellation
in the Islamic republic of Iran.
5- Visiting the Soviet Union
.
6- Collection of Do-Kalame-Harfe-Hesab. (Volume 1, 2, 3, 4)
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
Gol-Agha , was an Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian satirist, writer, and teacher.
Education and Personal Life
Saberi was born during the Second World War in Souma'eh Sara, a city in Gilan Province
Gilan Province
Gilan Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It lies along the Caspian Sea, just west of the province of Mazandaran, east of the province of Ardabil, north of the provinces of Zanjan and Qazvin....
. His father, originally from Rasht
Rasht
Rasht is a city in and the capital of Gilan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 551,161, in 159,983 families.Rasht is the largest city on Iran's Caspian Sea coast. It is a major trade center between Caucasia, Russia and Iran using the port of Bandar-e Anzali...
, worked for the Ministry of Economy and Finance. He was transferred to Souma'eh Sara in 1938 and then to Fuman
Fuman
Fuman Temple name : Xingzu...
in 1942 where he died a few months later.
His mother, who was the daughter of a respected cleric and one of the few educated women in the city, taught the Quran after the death of her husband. His brother, who was 14 years older, had to leave school at the age of 15 to work to help with the family expenses.
Education for Saberi was hard because of his family's poverty and he had to start working in a tailor shop after finishing his elementary education. He also worked in his brother’s bicycle repair shop during elementary school and high school.
He started high school education at his mother’s insistence. At the age of 16, he gained entry to Sari
Sari
A sari or sareeThe name of the garment in various regional languages include: , , , , , , , , , , , , , is a strip of unstitched cloth, worn by females, ranging from four to nine metres in length that is draped over the body in various styles. It is popular in India, Bangladesh, Nepal,...
's Keshavarzi teacher's college that only accepted one student from Fuman each year. He continued his college education and graduated in 1959. He worked as a teacher during 1959-1961.
At the age of 20, he took his high school exams and received his high school diploma. He continued his education at the University of Tehran
University of Tehran
The University of Tehran , also known as Tehran University and UT, is Iran's oldest university. Located in Tehran, the university is among the most prestigious in the country, and is consistently selected as the first choice of many applicants in the annual nationwide entrance exam for top Iranian...
while working as a teacher. He achieved his bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
in 1965.
He spent most of the 1970s reading and teaching and in 1978 he obtained his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in comparative literature
Comparative literature
Comparative literature is an academic field dealing with the literature of two or more different linguistic, cultural or national groups...
from the University of Tehran
University of Tehran
The University of Tehran , also known as Tehran University and UT, is Iran's oldest university. Located in Tehran, the university is among the most prestigious in the country, and is consistently selected as the first choice of many applicants in the annual nationwide entrance exam for top Iranian...
.
Saberi got married in 1966 and he had a daughter and a son. His son died in a car accident in 1985 but this sad incident did not stop him from reaching his goal, which was to make people smile.
Kioumars Saberi Foumani died on April 30, 2004.
Political Involvement
During his first year at university, Saberi was arrested for participating in student demonstrations and started to write political satirePolitical satire
Political satire is a significant part of satire that specializes in gaining entertainment from politics; it has also been used with subversive intent where political speech and dissent are forbidden by a regime, as a method of advancing political arguments where such arguments are expressly...
in Towfigh magazine. Towfigh magazine was Iran's most respected pro democracy political satire magazine, with the highest circulation in Iranian history. Its editor in chief was Hossein Towfigh who, along with his brothers Hassan and Abbas, turned Towfigh magazine into the most influential journal in Iranian history. Saberi became one of the many staff writers of Towfigh magazine.
After the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
, he became the cultural advisor for Mohammad Ali Rajai
Mohammad Ali Rajai
Mohammad Ali Rajai was the second elected President of Iran from 2 to 30 August 1981, after serving as Prime Minister under Abolhassan Banisadr. He was also Minister of Foreign Affairs from 11 March 1981 to 15 August 1981, while he was Prime Minister...
. One of his other political posts was as the counselor to the minister of Housing and Urban Development of Iran.
Writings
Saberi composed his first poem of the GhazalGhazal
The ghazal is a poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets and a refrain, with each line sharing the same meter. A ghazal may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love in spite of that pain. The form is ancient, originating in 6th century...
form when he was 14 and he named it "Orphan" . His first published writing was another poem called "Orphan" which was published in Omid Iran magazine. His writings before the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
were mainly published in Towfigh magazine.
His pen names in Towfigh magazine included Mirza-Gol , Abdolfanoos ,Rish-Sefid , Lode , Gardan-Shekasteye-Fumani .
Following the Revolution, Saberi worked in different political positions before deciding to leave politics. He was in charge of Roshde-Adabe-Farsi magazine and sometimes he wrote for Ettelaat newspaper. He started a column called Do-Kalame-Harfe-Hesab in Ettelaat newspaper in 1984 that was a starting point for political satire
Political satire
Political satire is a significant part of satire that specializes in gaining entertainment from politics; it has also been used with subversive intent where political speech and dissent are forbidden by a regime, as a method of advancing political arguments where such arguments are expressly...
s after the revolution. He continued writing for this column for six years until he started his own magazine called Gol-Agha in 1990. His courageous and powerful writings were appreciated by many famous authors such as Mohammad Ali Jamalzadeh
Mohammad Ali Jamalzadeh
Mohammad-Ali Jamālzādeh Esfahani , was one of the most prominent writers of Iran in the 20th century, best known for his unique style of humour...
. Saberi received first prize in press exhibition of 1992 and 1994 and second prize in 1993. He stopped writing for Ettelaat in 1993.
The main characters in his writings are Gol-Agha , Shagholam , Mamasadegh , Kamine , Mash-Rajab and Ghazanfar .
Saberi stopped publishing Gol-Agha in 2003 due to low circulation numbers caused by popular disinterest in his magazine as a result of a shift in the magazine's original pro democratic bias to a later obvious pro governmental bias.
Kioumars Saberi Foumani was one of the most influential Iranian satirists of his time. His publications include:
1- The command from Ali
Ali
' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...
to Malik ibn Ashter
Malik ibn Ashter
Malik Al-Ashtar was one of the most loyal companions of Ali Ibn Abi Talib, the cousin of Muhammad. Al-Ashtar became a Muslim during Muhammad's time and rose to prominence during the caliphates of Uthman and Ali. During the caliphate of Ali he fought in the Battle of Jamal and Siffin during the...
(1978)
2- Analyzing the story of Zahhak
Zahhak
Zahhāk or Zohhāk is an evil figure in Iranian mythology, evident in ancient Iranian folklore as Aži Dahāka, the name by which he also appears in the texts of the Avesta...
and Kaveh the Blacksmith.
3- The correspondence between Shahid Rajai
Mohammad Ali Rajai
Mohammad Ali Rajai was the second elected President of Iran from 2 to 30 August 1981, after serving as Prime Minister under Abolhassan Banisadr. He was also Minister of Foreign Affairs from 11 March 1981 to 15 August 1981, while he was Prime Minister...
and Banisadr.
4- The first interpellation
Interpellation (politics)
Interpellation is the formal right of a parliament to submit formal questions to the government. In many parliaments, each individual member of parliament has the right to formally submit questions to a member of government. The respective minister or secretary is then required to respond and to...
in the Islamic republic of Iran.
5- Visiting the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
6- Collection of Do-Kalame-Harfe-Hesab. (Volume 1, 2, 3, 4)
See also
- Iraj MirzaIraj MirzaPrince Iraj Mirza , son of prince Gholam Hossein Mirza, was a famous Iranian poet. He was a modern poet and his works are associated with the criticism of traditions. He had translations from the French language....
- Seyyed Ebrahim NabaviEbrahim NabaviSeyyed Ebrahim Nabavi is a prolific Iranian satirist, writer, diarist, and researcher. , he is the most widely known and active Iranian satirist, currently living in Belgium...
- Persian literaturePersian literaturePersian literature spans two-and-a-half millennia, though much of the pre-Islamic material has been lost. Its sources have been within historical Persia including present-day Iran as well as regions of Central Asia where the Persian language has historically been the national language...