Gholam-Hossein Farnoud

Gholam-Hossein Farnoud Zhendeh (Turkish (Az) or Azerbaijani-Turkish: Qulamhüseyin Fərnud Jende; تورکجه، فارسی: غلامحسین فرنود ژنده ; February 24,1941 in Tabriz - March 15, 2020 in Tabriz) was a prominent South Azerbaijani or Iranian-Azerbaijani publicist, author, critic, translator, University lecturer and social/cultural activist.

In 1964, he was appointed managing editor of "Nagsha va Andisheha" (Persian: نقش ها و اندیشه ها), which was published in the Mahd Azadi newspaper (Persian: روزنامه مهد آزادی) and was the catalyst for the rapt attention of his close friends Samad Behrangi', Rahim Raisnia, and Abdol-Hossein Nahidiazar. After a year, with request of chief editor of newspaper Seyyed Javad Peyman from Gholam-Hossein Farnoud, they decided to publish the "Adineh" with inviting more authors. As result, the several articles by famous South Azerbaijani authors Samad Behrangi, Gholam-Hossein Saedi, Reza Baraheni, Alireza Nabdel, Maftun Amini, Hassan Ruzpeykar, Behruz Dehgani, Rahim Raisnia and some other Azerbaijani and Iranian authors were published weekly over two years in 8 pages. Adineh has important role in aggregation of South Azerbaijani and other Iranian mostly left-wings believed intellectuals against Pahlavi regime until it was confiscated by Savak in 1967. [1] [2]

Besides, Gholam-Hossein Farnoud primarily worked as an editor, publisher and university lecturer. The majority of his works were published under the pseudonyms "Ali Siyahpoosh", "Taher Danesh", and "Abolfazl Atrak". His last book as author is entitled "Dar Basateh Nokteh Danan" (Persian: در بساط نکته دانان) [3][4], and it is sort of a compilation of his different articles on world literature, cinema, poetry, theater, painting, caricature, philosophy and history, all of which are gathered in this book in a creative way.During the early hours of 15 March 2020, his brother Reza Farnoud discovered him dead at his home in Tabriz, South-Azerbaijan/Iran. [5]

Biography

Early life

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Gholam-Hossein Farnoud Zhendeh was born on 24 February 1941 in Tabriz, the capital city of South Azerbaijan or Azerbaijan of Iran. His father Asadollah Farnoud was a constable during the Pahlavi dynasty and his mother was a housewife with no formal education. As the oldest son of the family, he lived with his three brothers, Ali Farnoud, Reza Farnoud, Hassan Farnoud, and his sister Ashraf Farnoud. Although his mother was an uneducated individual, he stressed that she had a strong influence on his development during childhood.'

Having completed his primary education at Sa'di, Roshdiye, Sasan, and Hemam Tabriz elementary schools, he completed his secondary education at Khaghani, Ferdowsi, Mansoor (presently Taleghani) middle schools, and Daneshsarayeh Tabriz (Also known as University of Azerbaijan) (1958-1960).

He began teaching elementary school at Mamaqan, and later at Azarshahr Onsori Elementary School, before joining Sa'di High School to teach Arabic, jurisprudence, and social sciences. Upon entering the university in 1961, he studied bachelor of English Language and Literature and graduated in 1965. [1]

The birth of Adineh (1965-1967)

In 1964, he was appointed managing editor of "Nagshha va Andisheha" (Persian: نقش ها و اندیشه ها), which was published in the Mahd Azadi newspaper (Persian: روزنامه مهد آزادی) . Nagsha va Andisheha became the catalyst for the rapt attention of his closest friendsSamad Behrangi

, Rahim Raisnia, and Abdol-Hossein Nahidiazar, and others over a year, which led to the request of chief editor of newspaper Seyyed Javad Peyman from Gholam-Hossein Farnoud for the expansion of writers and articles for publication in weekly eight pages in Mahdeh Azadi newspaper. One day after that, he discussed the matter first with Samad Behrangi and later with Ebrahim Azimpur and other friends, all of whom agreed. This title was chosen with the suggestion of Behruz Dehghani, and they all agreed on the title and the day of publication on each Saturday. The first leading article was written by Gholam-Hossein Farnoud and the following leading articles were authored by other authors at random, each accompanied by the name of the chef editor. Number 17 was the last publication of Adineh, which was confiscated by Savak in 1967.[2]

Death of Samad Behrangi and years of imprisonment (1968-1974)

A few years after the confiscation of the Adineh, he published a selection of prose and stories under the title The Stroy of Mother (Persian: سرگذشت مادر) and a translation from poets and the Life ofT.S. Eliot

. Additionally, he collaborated with his friends Behruz Dehghani and Mehdi Amini in translating "Can Science Save Us?" (Persian: آیا علم می تواند ما را نجات دهد؟). Later in his career he was editor and Managing Director of Ibn Sina Press, where he published two books, "Do Mobarez" (Persian: دو مبارز) and "Balvayeh Tabriz" (Persian: بلوای تبریز), and several selections from the works ofObayd Zakaniwith an introduction byAnatoly Lunacharsky. Aside from that, he was also a supervisor of Samad Behrangi's book "Investigations into the Educational Problems of Iran" (Persian: کندوکاو در مسائل تربیتی ایران) and his storybook for children "Olduz and the Crows" (Persian: اولدوز و کلاغها). Arranging some shows at Mamaqan schools to provide books to schools as well as translating and publishing "Racism: An Ideological Weapon of Imperialism" (Persian: نژادپرستی و جهانخواری) by Fedor Mikhaĭlovich Leonidov with the approval and encouragement of Samad Behrangi were some of his other activities. [1]

On 30 August 1968, Samad Behrangi drowned inAraz River.

Aside from the strong effect of his death on his close friends, it also had a significant effect on South Azerbaijan and Iran's societies, serving as a powerful catalyst for the anti-Pahlavi revolution. After a year, Gholam-Hossein Farnoud qualified for the entrance examination to theSocial SciencesPhD program at theUniversity of Istanbul. During the two years he worked on his thesis, he was arrested on the way to Istanbul alongside friends Behruz Dehgani, Kazem Saadati, Ashraf Dehgani, Alireza Nabdel, etc. [1]. Kazem Saadati committed suicide before being arrested by the police to inform his friends [6][7]. Behruz Dehghani died of torture inside the jail [8]. Alireza Nabdel repeatedly attempted suicide in jail, but finally, he was executed by Pahlavi regime [9][10].Ashraf Dehganisuccessfully escaped from jail and migrated to Germany [11].