The Constitutional Revolution (Early 20th C.): Persian Literature Finds a New Voice

At the turn of the 20th century, Iran stood at a crossroads: centuries‑old traditions met the tides of modernity, and the Persian Constitutional Revolution (1905–1911) upended politics, society—and the very shape of Persian literature. No longer confined to royal courts and mystical retreats, writers and poets seized the moment to speak to a broader public, experimenting with new forms, voices, and ideas. Here’s how a revolution in parliament sparked a revolution in prose and poetry.

From Majles to Majmuʿeh: The Rise of the Public Sphere

The Establishment of the Majles (Parliament): In 1906, under mounting pressure from merchants, clerics, and intellectuals, Moẓaffar‑ad‑Dīn Shah signed the decree for a National Assembly. Suddenly, power was no longer absolute—and debate spilled into coffeehouses, teahouses, and the pages of new newspapers.

New Print Culture: Lithography and typographic presses, once expensive luxuries, became more accessible. Dozens of periodicals—Sur-e Esrāfīl, Qanun, Habl al-Matin, Tarighi-ye Iran—began to appear, blending news, satire, poetry, and essays. Writers no longer addressed a distant monarch; they addressed you, the citizen.

Journalism and Satire: Sharp Pens in Uncertain Times

Mirzā Jahāngīr Khān’s Sur-e Esrāfīl: Named after the herald angel, this weekly paper unleashed biting satire, political cartoons, and stirring editorials—often under pseudonyms to evade censorship. Its iconic caricatures of leaked bribes and bungled bureaucracy galvanized public opinion.

Ali Aḵbar Dehḵodā’s Loghatnāmeh and Charand-o Parand: Dehkhodā paired his monumental dictionary with a satirical column, “Nonsense and Drivel,” lampooning everything from clerical hypocrisy to foreign …