Habib Yaghma’i

Habib Yaghma’i (1901-1984), son of Mirza Asad Allah Muntakhab al-Sadat Khuri. A writer and poet with the nom de plume Habib, a nephew of Iqbal Jandaqi, and grandson of Yaghma-yi Jandaqi from the latter’s daughter. He was born in the village of Khur, capital of the district of Jandaq and Biyabanak. In his youth he departed for Damghan to study literature, Arabic, and modern sciences, where he settled for a period of three years studying at Sa’adat and Nazimiyya High Schools directed by ‘Abd Allah Khan Yasa’i. Then, he departed for Shahrud to further his studies and stayed there for two years. Later, he went to Tehran and studied at Dar al-Shifa’ and Alliance Schools and Teachers’ Training College. He became a member of the Iran Literary Society in 1923 and embarked upon his journalistic career by contributing articles to the Tufan newspaper directed by Farrukhi Yazdi. In 1925, his book titled Sharh-i Hal-i Yaghma va Jughrafiya-yi Jandaq va Biyabanak with an introduction by ‘Abbas Iqbal Ashiyani was published. He agreed to write a catalogue of manuscripts preserved at the Royal Library, at the Gulistan Palace, in 1926; but he went to Semnan in the following year to serve as the director of the Education Administration there where he remained until 1928. He served for a while as the director of the Vital Statistics Administration of Khur. He returned from Semnan to Tehran after two years and taught at schools and the Dar al-Funun Polytechnic. Then, he cooperated with Muhammad Ishaq, an Indian scholar, in the compilation of a two volume book, titled Sukhanvaran-i Iran dar ‘Asr-i Hazir, which was published in Calcutta. He continued his teaching career at Dar al-Funun Polytechnic in 1930 and in the same year completed his romantic and historical novel, Dakhmih-yi Arghavan. He became a member of the Publication Administration of the Education Ministry in 1934. He suffered from neurological complications and his physical conditions worsened in 1935, though at that time he cooperated with Furughi in preparing editions of Divans, treatises, and old manuscripts at the behest of the then Education Minister. He also served as the director of the Education Administration of Kerman for a period of three months, inspector of the Education Ministry under Musaddiq, director of the Publication Administration of the Education Ministry under Mahdi Azar. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Faculty of Letters and Humanities, University of Tehran. He also taught, for a while, figurative devices, rhyme, and some other courses at the College of Higher Studies (Danishsara-yi ‘Ali) and the Higher School of Letters and Foreign Languages (Madrisih-yi ‘Ali-yi Adabiyyat va Zabanha-yi Khariji). His cultural activities include establishment of a public library with two separate reading rooms in Khur and Biyabanak. His works include a short treatise on the works of Avicenna, titled Fihrist-i Musannafat-i Shaykh al-Ra’is and a text book on rhymes for the Education Ministry, titled ‘Ilm-i Qafiyih. He also contributed to a special issue, titled Sa’di Namih, a supplement to the Amuzish va Parvarish journal. His scholarly activities include his cooperation with Muhammad ‘Ali Furughi in preparing an edition of Sa’di’s complete works (to the year 1942), an edition of Asadi Tusi’s Garshasp Namih, and selection of the Shahnamih, though he had to complete it on his own after Furughi’s death. He was also editor-in-chief of the Namih-yi Farhang; the Namih-yi Farhangistan; Amuzish va Parvarish; and Yaghma. His publications include 51 literary and 39 historical and geographical studies; 149 book critiques and reviews; 31 social and critical articles; 24 editorials; and the reports published in Yaghma. His compilations, editions, and translations include: publication of Risalih-yi Sazman-i Amuzish-i ‘Umumi dar Ittihad-i Jamahir-i Shuravi-yi Susyalisti, translated by Sa’id Nafisi; editing of and introduction to Divan-i Manuchihri-yi Damghani; editing and publication of Tafsir-i Tabari (7 vols.); editing of Abu Ishaq Nayshaburi’s Qisas al-Anbiya’; publication of Namih-ha-yi Tabib-i Nadir Shah, translated by ‘Ali Asghar Hariri; editing of Nimunih-yi Nazm va Nathr-i Farsi with an introduction by Iraj Afshar; publication of a travelogue in verse of journeys to Mecca and Medina, titled Madinih-yi Piyghambar ya Shahr-i Payambar; preparation and publication of Sayyid Hasan Taqizadih’s Festschrift; publication of Mujtaba Minovi’s Festschift; publication of selected poetry titled Sarnivisht; editing a collection of articles in the honor of ‘Ali Muhammad ‘Amiri, titled ‘Amiri Namih; editing two volumes of Furughi’s articles, Maqalat-i Furughi, with the collaboration of Iraj Afshar; publication of the first part of Firdawsi va Shahnamih-yi in 196 pages titled Firdawsi dar Shahnamih; publication of a poetical composition in the form of mathnavi including selections of the poetical work, titled Manzumih-yi Nabina’I, including some of his memories and biographical accounts of his personal and social life in London, titled Salamabad; a poetical composition in the form of mathnavi titled Karnamih-yi Kirman; collaboration in editing 30 articles honoring 50 years of studies by Sayyid Muhammad Muhit Tabataba’i; collection and publication of the book Rijal-i ‘Asr-i Mashrutiyyat with the collaboration of Iraj Afshar. Yaghma’I died in 1977 and was buried at a tomb built by himself on Tappih-yi Gachch (lit. Lime Hill) in Khur va Biyabanak.

Sukhanvaran-i Nami-yi Mu’asir-i Iran (2/ 1081-1088); Farhang-i Sukhanvaran (247-248).