Mirza Kuchak Khan
| Mirza Kuchak Khan | |
|---|---|
 |
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| President of Socialist Republic of Gilan | |
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In office June 1920 – 2 December 1921 |
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| Preceded by | Office instituted |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1880 Rasht, Gilan Province, Iran |
| Died | December 2, 1921 (aged 41) Khalkhal, Iran |
| Political party | Moderate Socialists Party (1910s) |
Mīrzā Kūchak Khān (Gilaki: میرزا کوچی خان, Persian: میرزا كوچک خان) (common alternative spellings Kouchek, Koochek, Kuchak, Kuchek, Kouchak, Koochak, Kuçek) (1880 - December 2, 1921) was an early twentieth century revolutionary, a Gilani Nationalist and the president of the Republic Of Gilan. He is considered a national hero in modern Iranian history. He was the founder of a revolutionary movement based in the forests of Gilan in northern Iran that became known as the Nehzat-e Jangal (Forest movement). This uprising started in 1914 and remained active against internal and foreign enemies until 1921 when the movement was completely abandoned after the demise of the hero.
Kuchak Khan was born Younes, son of Mirza "Bozorg" (the Persian equivalent of "Sr"), and was thus nicknamed Mirza "Kuchak" (the Persian equivalent of "Jr"), in the city of Rasht in northern Iran in 1880. He studied theology (as the only available formal education at the time) to become a cleric at Jame Rasht in Rasht and later at Mahmudiyeh schools in Tehran. On the eve of the Iranian constitutional revolution as all the intelligentsia and ordinary people became more involved in politics, Mirza quit his studies to join the movement. Finally in an Imperial decree the Shah of Iran Muzaffar al-Din Shah agreed to a constitutional monarchy in August 1906.
However, the ruling feudalistic society was not ready to give up on its privileges and respect the newly elected Parliament (Majlis). In June 1908 the parliament was shut down during a coup d'état ordered by the new monarch, Mohammad Ali Shah. The Russian Cossack Brigade under the command of Colonel Liakhov serving the Shah bombarded the parliament and arrested pro-democracy leaders, activists, journalists, and members of Parliament. Uprisings all over the country followed in particular in Tabriz, Ardabil and Rasht. During the Tabriz uprising Kuchak Khan tried to join Sattar Khan & Haj Baba Khan-e- Ardabili's forces, but was unable to actively participate due to an illness. He was injured in the Constitutionalist war, and had to travel to Baku and Tbilisi for medical attention.
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