Poem for simin behbahani jahangir sedaghatfar february 26, 2005. Simin behbahani was born on july 20, 1927 in teheran, persia as siminbar khalili. A novel about modern iran, 1990, and as a persian requiem, 1991, the first modern persianlanguage novel written by a. The twoway simin behbahani, renowned for her piercing and fierce language, published 19.
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, receiving two nominations for a nobel prize and. She was irans national poet and an icon to iranian literature. Simin behbahani, celebrated poet known as the lioness of. In book after book, in one deeply felt poem after another, behbahani has painted miniature portraits of her country over the decades. The award ceremony will take place on august 29 in pecs, the birthplace of janus pannonius. Simin behbahani started writing poetry at twelve and published her first poem at the age of fourteen.
Shirin ebadi calls for democracy jahanshah javid may 22, 2004. Simin behbahani, nee siminbar khalili, also called simin khalatbari, born july 20, 1927, tehran, irandied august 19, 2014, tehran, 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. Janus pannonius is now buried in the cathedral of pecs. A champion of human rights, behbahani is in iran and has been banned from leaving the country. Simin behbahani iranian writer and poet dead at age 87. Guzeena e ashar e simin behbahani farsi usage public domain mark 1.
Behbahani honored in london photos nima mina february, 2005. Thanal online simin behbahani its time to mow the flowers. Jul 11, 2012 the ageless voice of the revolutionary lady of ghazal. Mar 23, 2008 simin behbahani by molod zehtab nowrooz shadbash to mrs. Poems are listed alphabetically and span all volumes. Her work has attracted the attention and admiration of an evergrowing readership inside and outside iran. Simin behbahani celebrity profile check out the latest simin behbahani photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. The twoway simin behbahani, renowned for her piercing and fierce language, published 19 books of poetry over the course of six decades. Nov 24, 2014 simin behbahani, distinguished persianlanguage poet, passed away on august 19 in tehran. While the conversation starts with a discussion of speros book almost any shit. Born on july 20, 1927, behbahani lived and wrote through much of 20th century iranian history. The 86yearsold persian poet was present at the ceremony on 29 of august in pecs.
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. Her work has been published in iranian studies 20 and the school of oriental and african studies bulletin 2011. 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. Simin behbahani was awarded the janus pannonius award in 20. She was married to manouchehr koshyar and hasan behbahani. The daughter of intellectuals, she studied law at the univ. She is irans national poet and an icon of the iranian intelligentsia and literati who affectionately refer to her as the lioness of. And this book provides part of the proof that she desrves the title. Selected poems by simin behbahani contemporary persian poetry, 6 simin behbahani, michael beard, sara khalili on. These are listed below in chronological order beginning with the most recent.
Janus pannonius grand prize for poetry to charles bernstein and. Simin behbahani, who has died aged 87, was irans most famous female poet, credited with reinventing the ghazal, the lyrical sonnet. 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. She has given voice to the yearnings of the iranian people, chronicled their hopes and disillusionments, documented with pride and precision the heroic resistance and creative subversion of her nation and herself. Dec 01, 1998 as a muslim woman writing in iran, simin behbahani s collections contain some of the seminal work of twentiethcentury persian literature. I first discovered behbahanis work in the book wounded rose in which some of her poems were presented in english along with the works of two of her contemporaries. Her father, abbas khalili, writer and newspaper editor, had tens of publications to his credit. Behbahani, simin article about behbahani, simin by the free. Simin behbahani has expanded the range of traditional persian verse forms and produced some of the most significant works of persian literature in the twentieth century. Poetical works the broken lute sehtare shekasteh, 1951.
Many iranians regard simin behbahani as the queen of persian poetry. June 20, 1927 august 19, 2014 was an iranian writer and poet. Mar 19, 2010 iran halts travel by poet simin behbahani, known as lioness of iran simin behbahani, irans most prominent poet, was about to board a flight to paris when police seized her passport. Click a title or book cover for additional details, or choose from a selection of poems in the side menu. Behbahani contributed to a historic development by adding theatrical subjects and daily events and conversations to poetry using the ghazal style of poetry. Simin behbahani, whose name at birth was simin khalili persian. At 7pm that same day new books with the hungarian translations of. Staff, national iranian american council niac niac is pleased to present a new poem by the lioness of iran, simin behbahani. Since the age of 14, simin behbahani has inspired, revitalised, refreshed and liberated poetry in iran. She used the char pareh style of nima yooshij and subsequently turned to ghazal.
Simin behbahani is a distinguished voice in iranian literature. Simin behbahanis has published a large body of work spanning nearly 20 volumes. Behbahani was a major figure on the iranian literary landscape whose work enjoyed readership not only in iran but also in the wider persianate world. 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. Behbahani, simin, 19272014, iranian poet and political activist, b. Simin behbahani reads poetry at soas, university of london, 6 february 2005, youtube part 1, part. Simin behbahanis awardwinning collection, abandoned shrine, was trans. The award ceremony will be held in pecs, birthplace of the revered poet. Simin behbahani was a prominent iranian contemporary poet, lyricist and activist. She worked from within iran for six decades and wrote over 600 poems. Her first book in hungarian is published by the hungarian pen club and. Simin behbahani, her surname also appears as bihbahani was a prominent iranian.
Simin behbahani khalili was born in 1927 in tehran, iran, of literary parents. Milan and pecs, hungary the birthplace of pannonius, which will include the. 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 simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Farzaneh milani teaches persian language and literature and womens studies at the university of virginia and is the author of veils and words. Her first book in hungarian is published by the hungarian pen. 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. Contemporary persian poet simin behbahani received this years janus pannonius award in the southern hungarian city of pecs on thursday. Iran halts travel by poet simin behbahani, known as lioness. Written over almost a halfcentury, much of her work reflects the traumatic experiences that have shaped recent iranian history.
Simin behbahani 1927 is one of irans most accomplished writers and possibly its greatest living poet. View latest articles, news and information about what happened to simin behbahani, iranian writer and poet, that died on tuesday august 19th 2014at age 87. Banouyeh iran a hearttoheart with poet simin behbahani. Laszlo jankovits book, nobilis ingenio the poetry of. Simin behbahani, the lioness of iran, died on august 19th, aged 87. 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.
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