A Political and Intellectual Life | Compiled & edited by Nasser Mohajer
Bagher Momeni (A Political and Intellectual Life)
Vol.1
The first volume contains narratives of personal, political and intellectual life of Bagher Momeni, from the perspective of his relatives, friends and comrades. This volume begins with the selected notes from his older brother and younger sister. Then his former comrades discuss his involvement with and activism in the Tudeh Party from 1941 to 1943. His publicized arrest and detention from 1956 to 1959 are also narrated. His life following the end of his imprisonment, which was jump-started by leaving the Tudeh Party of Iran and turning his attention to historical research, translation of historical texts, literary critique, and cultural work in the final years of the 1960s, is recounted. His political activities during the short window of relative openness, from 1961 to 1964, described by his comrades, are included. We also read the story of the rise and fall of the publication Contemporary Voice (Sedaye Moaser) in addition to the written narratives of the publication’s creators. His travel to France, achievement of a doctorate degree in history, return to Iran, collaboration with several long-time and new comrades at the threshold of the Iranian Revolution, establishment of the weekly publication of Contemporary Voice, and the publication of the theoretical periodical, Thoughts (Andisheh) are recounted. His founding of the Freedom of Labor (Azadi-e Kar) group and finally his forced escape from Iran and adventures during his life in exile are also described.
ISBN: 978-0-9980861-8-7
Bagher Momeni (A Political and Intellectual Life)
Vol. 2
The second volume contains the writings of Bagher Momeni, from his first notes dated 1942 to selected political articles that he wrote for the publications of the Tudeh Party up to the August 19, 1953 coup d’état. His accomplishments after the coup are also recounted in numerous works, including poetry, historical inquiries, translations, historical explorations, literary critiques, Islamic studies, and explorations in exile and biographies of friends – published for the first time. This volume contains a deliberate study of Bagher Momeni’s most important work, from his research work to literary critiques and political-social analysis by experts in the field. The newspaper Bistoon-e Kermanshah, which was his first printed press work, is also studied. Thoughts and the weekly Contemporary Voice publications, both cofounded by Bagher Momeni, found their way in the printed press of the country shortly after the Iranian Revolution and are also examined. This volume starts with Momeni’s views on social, political, and cultural issues of his time and ends with his bibliography.
ISBN: 978-0-9980861-8-7
This two-volume work is a homage to the intense social, intellectual and political endeavours of Bagher Momeni, one of 20th century Iran’s foremost public thinker and activist. The product of the decade-long efforts of the editor, Nasser Mohajer, who engaged in collecting a broad range of testimonies from collaborators of Momeni spanning the different eras of his presence on Iran’s public scene, these two volumes enable the reader to also gain a vivid impression of the wondrous world of the Iranian Left from the 1940s to the present day.
The first volume contains narratives concerned with the personal, political and intellectual life of Bagher Momeni from the perspective of his relatives, friends and comrades. This volume begins with the selected notes from his older brother and younger sister. Then his former comrades discuss his involvement with and activism in the Tudeh Party from 1941 to 1953, including his incarceration between 1956 and 1959. The narrative then takes the reader through Momeni’s activities in the 1960s: from his departure from the Tudeh Party to the start of his historical research, literary criticism and cultural activities within the remit of the Seda-ye Moaser (Contemporary Voice) publishing initiative. The first volume concludes its biographical perspective by noting Momeni’s activities during the Revolution period (1977-79), and his role in several publications produced following the fall of the Shah, such as the Seda-ye Moaser weekly, Andisheh or Thought, and finally his founding of the Azadi-ye Kar, or Freedom of Labour, group before his forced exile from Iran in 1983.
The second volume contains selected writings of Momeni; from his first notes dated 1942 to political articles that he wrote for publications of the Tudeh Party until the August 19 1953 coup d’état. It starts with Momeni’s views on social, political, and cultural issues of his time and ends with a complete bibliography of his remarkable output.
His accomplishments after the coup are also referred to in numerous works, including poetry, historical investigations, translations, literary critiques, Islamic studies, inquiries produced during his exile and biographies of friends, all of which are published for the first time in the present collection. This volume also contains focused studies, conducted by specialists of various fields, of Momeni’s most important intellectual outputs. These studies span his historical and sociological research work through to his literary critiques. The newspaper Bistoon-e Kermanshah, which marked his first involvement with the printed press, is also studied, as well as the aforementioned periodicals published by Momeni after the Revolution of 1979.
This two-volume work finally includes an extended interview by the editor with Momeni, featuring his reflections on 75 years of activism, research and concern for the evolution of Iran’s society and politics, which fittingly bring this unique collection to a close.