Professor Hafez Farmanfarmaian, Iranian Historian Residing in the U.S., Passes Away

Professor Hafez Farmanfarmaian, an Iranian historian residing in the United States, passed away on Saturday, July 4, in Austin, Texas. This academic figure had taught for many years at the University of Tehran before the establishment of the Islamic Republic and was the director of its publishing house. He also had a background in teaching at major universities in the U.S., with his last position being a senior professor of history and Middle Eastern studies at the University of Texas. Hafez Farmanfarmaian was a pioneer in academic research on the Qajar period and its transformations, believing that this era marked the beginning of modern Iran in cultural and social spheres. Manoochehr Eskandari Qajar, who has managed the annual gathering of the Qajar family in recent years and is a relative of Mr. Farmanfarmaian, briefly describes his character: 'He was the first person who initiated the study of the Qajar era both in Iran and abroad, here [in the U.S.], and he was the first to say that we should view this period with a broader perspective. During his time at various universities, including his last academic work at the University of Texas in Austin, he had many students and sought to impart his unique perspective on Iranian history and historiography to them, including his very famous student, Elson Daniel, with whom he collaborated on various travelogues in recent years.' Mr. Eskandari Qajar added: 'He was truly our great master. Personally, it is very hard for me to think that he is no longer [with us] and that I can no longer sit and listen to his talks.' Mohammad Tavakoli Tarighi, a professor at the University of Toronto in Canada and editor of the journal 'Irannameh,' who first published the news of Mr. Farmanfarmaian's passing on the journal's website, considers him a pioneer in re-evaluating the developments in Iranian history during the Qajar period. Mr. Tavakoli Tarighi states: 'He was one of the pioneers of Qajar history in Iran, and his articles and writings about this period are among the best, meaning he was a pioneer in rethinking the Qajar period, which has been recognized as a time of decline, misery, and ignorance after the Constitutional Revolution. In his works, he presents a new image that can be called the beginning of Iran's modernization; that is, instead of the Qajar period being a time of darkness and decline, it was the beginning of Iran's modernization, with various aspects that he addressed in his writings and paved the way for the kind of work I have done.' The editor of 'Irannameh' concluded his interview with Radio Farda by adding: 'The point I made relates to an article written about rethinking the Qajar period, which is one of the most unique writings about this era.' Professor Farmanfarmaian was born in 1924 in Iran. His father, Abdolhossein Mirza Farmanfarma, a Qajar prince, sent him to the United States in 1944, and five years later he obtained his bachelor's degree, followed by a master's degree in history from Stanford University a year later. He received his PhD from Georgetown University in 1953. Some of his historical works include 'The Politics and Reforms of Shah Abbas I,' 'Iran's Foreign Policy: A Historical Analysis from 559 BC to 1971 AD,' and 'The Travelogue of Mirza Mohammad Hossein Farahani.' Hafez Farmanfarmaian was severely injured in a car accident on his way from Austin Airport to his residence, from which he did not recover, and he passed away on July 4 at the age of 91.