Simin Behbahani facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Simin Behbahani
سیمین بهبهانی |
|
|---|---|
Simin Behbahani in 2007
|
|
| Born |
Siminbar Khalili
20 July 1927 |
| Died | 19 August 2014 (aged 87) |
| Burial place | Behesht-e Zahra |
| Nationality | Iranian |
| Other names | Simin Bihbahani, Simin Khalili |
| Education | University of Tehran |
| Occupation | Poet, lyricist, writer |
| Spouse(s) |
Hassan Behbahani
(m. 1946; div. 1970)Manouchehr Koshyar
(m. 1971; died 1984) |
| Parents |
|
Simin Behbahani (born Siminbar Khalili on July 20, 1927, died August 19, 2014) was a very important Iranian poet, songwriter, and activist. People often called her "the lioness of Iran" because she was so brave and strong. She was famous for her poems written in a special style called ghazal. A ghazal is a type of poem with rhyming lines and a repeating part, often about love or sadness.
Simin Behbahani helped change modern Persian poetry. She was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature twice and won many awards for her writing around the world.
Early Life
Simin Behbahani was born in Tehran, Iran. Her birth name was Siminbar Khalili. Her father, Abbas Khalili, was a poet and worked as a diplomat. He also published a newspaper called Aghdam. Her mother, Fahr-Ozma Arghun, was also a poet and taught French.
Simin's mother was a very modern woman for her time. She was part of groups that worked for women's rights, like the Association of Patriotic Women. She also edited a newspaper called Future of Iran for a while.
Career as a Poet
Simin Behbahani started writing poems when she was just twelve years old. Her first poem was published when she was fourteen. At first, she used a style called "Char Pareh." Later, she became famous for her ghazal poems.
She made the traditional ghazal style new and exciting. She wrote about everyday life, conversations, and even dramatic stories in her poems. This helped expand what Persian poetry could be. Her work is considered some of the most important in Persian literature from the 20th century.
Simin Behbahani was the President of the Iranian Writers' Association. This group supports writers in Iran. She was recognized globally for her work. In 2013, she won a major award called the Janus Pannonius Grand Prize for Poetry.
In 2010, when she was 82 years old and almost blind, she was stopped from leaving Iran. She was going to Paris, but police held her for a night and took her passport. This surprised many people because she was so respected.
Personal Life
Simin Behbahani was married twice. Her first marriage was to Hassan Behbahani. They later separated. She had three children from this marriage: one daughter and two sons. Her second marriage was to Manuchehr Koushyar. This marriage ended when he passed away in 1984.
Death
Simin Behbahani became very ill and was hospitalized on August 6, 2014. She was in a coma for several days. She passed away on August 19, 2014, in Tehran at the age of 87. Thousands of people attended her funeral in Tehran. She was buried in Behesht-e Zahra.
Works
Simin Behbahani published many books of poetry throughout her life. Some of her well-known works include:
- The Broken Lute (1951)
- Footprint (1954)
- Marble (1961)
- Resurrection (1971)
- A Line of Speed and Fire (1980)
- Paper Dress (1992)
- A Window of Freedom (1995)
Some of her poems have been translated into English, allowing more people around the world to read her beautiful words.
Awards and Honours
Simin Behbahani received many awards for her poetry and her work as an activist:
- 1998 – Human Rights Watch Hellman-Hammet Grant
- 1999 – Carl von Ossietzky Medal
- 2006 – Norwegian Authors' Union Freedom of Expression Prize
- 2009 – mtvU Poet Laureate
- 2013 – Janus Pannonius Poetry Prize
See Also
In Spanish: Simin Behbahani para niños
- Mina Assadi
- Parvin E'tesami
- Forough Farrokhzad
- Leila Kasra
