M. Shu'ā'iyān writings, 1955-1979

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Summary

Creators:
Shuʻāʻīyān, M. (Muṣṭafá)
Abstract:
The writings of Iranian leftist, M. Shu'ā'iyān, consisting of manuscripts, typescripts, poetry, and notes, relate to political conditions in Iran, the Jangal movement, and the career of Iranian premier Mohammed Mossadeq. In addition to these materials are articles written by Shu'ā'iyān's comrades and a letter from Mosaddeq.
Extent:
6 manuscript boxes (2.4 Linear Feet)
Language:
Persian
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], M. Shu'a'iyan writings, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The writings of Iranian leftist, M. Shu'ā'iyān, consisting of manuscripts, typescripts, poetry, and notes, relate to political conditions in Iran, the Jangal movement, and the career of Iranian premier Mohammed Mossadeq. In addition to these materials are articles written by Shu'ā'iyān's comrades and a letter from Mosaddeq.

In describing this collection, the solar Hijri calendar date is used to more accurately reflect the original language of the materials, alongside the Gregorian calendar date.

The writings that appear in the Drafts file reflect the early stages of Shu'ā'iyān's major works, including drafts of "Nigāhi beh ravābit-i Shurāvī va nahzat-i inqilābī-yi jangal" (A Review of the Relations Between the Soviet Union and the Revolutionary Movement of the Jungle) and "Pāsukh'hā-yi nasanjīdeh beh qadam'hā-yi sanjīdeh" (Injudicious Replies Against "Judicious Steps"). Although a few items are signed with Shu'ā'iyān's real name, the majority of works are attributed to one of his many pen names, which he used to escape capture by the Iranian secret police, SAVAK. These pen names include: Sorkh, Serteq, Yoldāsh, Rafīq, Doost, Tīmār, and Sarbāz. With the security of anonymity, Shu'ā'iyān's works were copied by individuals and distributed all over Iran.

Shu'ā'iyān had a passion for Iranian history and political theory, likely honed during his time as a social studies teacher in the city of Kashan, the site of the murder of Mirza Taghi Khan (Amir Kabir) in 1852. Both in "Rushanfikr" and the Poetry file, one could see how much Shu'ā'iyān enjoyed theoretical reflection, analysis, and debate. These thoughts and exchanges also highlight how Shu'ā'iyān used his knowledge to escape capture while his comrades, in both the People's Democratic Front, and later the People's Sacrifice Guerrillas, were discovered, jailed, and tortured in great numbers.

Writings by Others includes short articles by Shu'ā'iyān's comrades in the People's Sacrifice Guerrillas. Some of these articles discuss Shu'ā'iyān's work and legacy, even though Shu'ā'iyān's open letters to the Fedāi'i reflect a more tumultuous relationship between the two parties. The highlight of this series is a letter (photocopy) from Mosaddeq to Shu'ā'iyān regarding the political state in Iran and the work, "Nasl-i Javān va Jabhah-i Millī" ("The Young Generation and the National Front").

In describing this collection, the solar Hijri calendar is used to more accurately reflect the original language of the materials, alongside the Gregorian calendar date.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1936
Born, Tehran, Iran
1950-1951
Joins Pan-Iranist Party; quits in 1951
Late 1950s
Joins study circle with former members of the Tudeh Party
1962
Graduates from Tehran Technical Institute with engineering degree; turns down scholarship to work in U.S. to work as an elementary school teacher and, later, principal, in Kashan
1962-1964
Meets Bijan Jazani, founder of the People's Sacrifice Guerrillas of Iran (Sāzmān-i Chirīk'hā-yi Fadā'ī-i Khalq-i Irān)
1966-1968
Transfers to Tehran to teach history and social science at elementary school
1968
Authors, "A Review of the Relations Between the Soviet Union and the Revolutionary Movement of the Jungle;" all copies are destroyed by the secret police before distribution
1971
Quits teaching to pursue life as a revolutionary
1972
Helps create the People's Democratic Front (Jabhah-i Dimukrātīk-i Khalq)
May-June 1973
Joins People's Sacrifice Guerrillas after police raid the Democratic Front bomb-making headquarters
1973-1976
Distributes writings to Fedā'i-i members
4 February 1976
Dies after fight with police in the streets of Tehran; alternate accounts suggest that Shu'a'iyan committed suicide with a cyanide pill after being discovered by police; some works cite his death as occurring in 1975
1976-1980
Shu'a'iyan's surviving works, including his open letters to the People's Sacrifice Guerrillas of Iran, are published, posthumously, in Europe
Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1986.
Arrangement:

The collection is organized into 4 series: Drafts file, Poetry file, Writings by Others, and Miscellany

Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], M. Shu'a'iyan writings, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
Website