Editing Parvin E'tesami

{{Short description|Iranian 20th-century Persian poet}}
{{Expand Persian|topic=bio|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Parvin E'tesami
| image              = Etesami.jpg
| caption            = 
| native_name        = پروین اعتصامی
| native_name_lang   = fa
| birth_name         = Rakhshandeh E'tesami
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1907|03|17|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Tabriz]], [[Qajar Iran|Sublime State of Iran]]
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|1941|4|4|1907|3|17|df=y}}
| death_place        = [[Qom]], [[Pahlavi Iran|Imperial State of Iran]]
| resting_place  = [[Fatima Masumeh Shrine]]
| education          = 
| occupation         = Poet
| alma_mater         = [[Iran Bethel School]]
| spouse             = Fazlollah E'tesami (1934–1935, separation)
| father             = [[Yussef E'tesami]]
| relatives          = [[Abolhassan E'tesami]] (uncle)
}}
'''Rakhshandeh E'tesami''' ({{langx|fa|رخشنده اعتصامی}}, ''Raḵšanda Eʿteṣāmī''; 17 March 1907<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=hkfSDwAAQBAJ&dq=%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%DB%8C%D9%86+%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C+%DB%B2%DB%B5+%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%81%D9%86%D8%AF+%DB%B1%DB%B2%DB%B8%DB%B5&pg=PT212 Profile of Parvin E'tesami]</ref> – 4 April 1941), better known as '''Parvin E'tesami''' ({{langx|fa|پروین اعتصامی}}), was a 20th-century Iranian [[Persian language|Persian]] [[poet]].<ref name=iranica>{{cite book |publisher=Encyclopædia Iranica |title=Parvin Etesami |author= Heshmat Moayyad |access-date= April 4, 2010 |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/etesami-parvin}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=C. Kramarae and D. Splender |title=Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women: Global Women's Issues |publisher=Routledge |year=2000 |isbn= 0-415-92091-4 |page= 1273}}</ref>

==Life==
[[File:Parvin etesami.jpg|left|thumb|Sketch of Parvin E'tesami]]
Parvin E'tesami was born on 17 March 1907<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_uELAAAAIAAJ&q=%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%DB%8C%D9%86+%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C+%DB%B2%DB%B5+%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%81%D9%86%D8%AF+%DB%B1%DB%B2%DB%B8%DB%B5 | title=كارواني از شعر: گنجينهاي از اثار ارزنده هزار و صد ساله شعر ايران | date=1985 }}</ref> in [[Tabriz]] to Mirza [[Yussef E'tesami]] Ashtiani (E'tesam-al-Molk). Her paternal grandfather was Mirza Ebrahim Khan Mostawfi Etesam-al-Molk.<ref name="bio">{{Cite web|title=Persian Language & Literature: Parvin Etesami|url=https://www.iranchamber.com/literature/petesami/parvin_etesami.php|access-date=2021-04-09|website=Iran Chamber Society}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web|author=Moayyad|first=Heshmat|date=December 15, 1998|title=Etesami, Mirza Yusuf Khan Ashtiani, Etesam-al-Molk|url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/etesami-mirza-yusof-khan-astiani-etesam-al-molk|access-date=April 8, 2021|website=iranicaonline.org|publisher=Encyclopedia Iranica, Vol. VIII, Fasc. 6|page=666}}</ref> Her grandfather Mirza Ebrahim Khan Mostawfi Etesam-al-Molk was originally from [[Ashtian|Ashtiyan]], but moved to [[Tabriz]] and was appointed financial controller of the province of [[Azerbaijan (Iran)|Azerbaijan]] by the [[Qajar dynasty|Qajar]] administration.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.payvand.com/cgi-bin/khayam.cgi?opt=pm&year=1285&month=esfand&day= |title= Khayam Persian Calendar Program |publisher= Payvand News |access-date= 2023-04-03 |archive-date= 2023-04-15 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230415160027/http://www.payvand.com/cgi-bin/khayam.cgi?opt=pm&year=1285&month=esfand&day= |url-status= dead }}</ref>

E'tesami had four brothers, her mother died in 1973. Her family moved to [[Tehran]] early in her life, and in addition to formal schooling, she obtained a solid understanding of Arabic and classical [[Persian literature]] from her father.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Bashiri|first=Iraj|date=February 2001|title=Parvin E'tesami's Life|url=https://www.angelfire.com/rnb/bashiri/Poets/Parvin.html#Parvin|access-date=2021-04-09|website=Bashiri Working Papers on Central Asia and Iran}}</ref> At the age of 8 she started writing poems.<ref name=":3" />

She studied at the [[Iran Bethel School]] in Tehran, an American high school for girls where she graduated in 1924.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Moayyad|first=Heshmat|date=December 15, 1998|title=EʿTEṢĀMĪ, PARVĪN|url=https://iranicaonline.org/articles/etesami-parvin|access-date=2021-04-08|website=iranicaonline.org|publisher=Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. VIII, Fasc. 6|pages=666–669}}</ref> Afterwards, she taught for a while at that school.<ref name=":1" /> For her graduation she wrote the poem, ''[[A Twig of a Wish]]'' (1924) about the struggles facing Iranian women, their lack of opportunities, and the need for their education.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2021-03-16|title=Persian poet Parvin E'tesami commemorated|url=http://www.iranart.news/Section-culture-5/57134-persian-poet-parvin-tesami-commemorated|access-date=2021-04-09|website=Iran Art|publisher=Iran Daily|language=en}}</ref>

In 1926, she received an invitation to become the tutor of the Queen of the new [[Pahlavi dynasty|Pahlavi court]], but she refused.<ref name=":2" />

On July 10, 1934, she was married to a cousin of her father, Fazlollah E'tesami, and they moved to the city of [[Kermanshah]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2021-03-15|title=Parvin Etesami; Shining jewel in Persian literature's history|url=https://en.mehrnews.com/news/170936/Parvin-Etesami-Shining-jewel-in-Persian-literature-s-history|access-date=2021-04-10|website=Mehr News Agency|language=en}}</ref> The marriage lasted for only ten weeks and they separated due to differences of interests and personality and she returned to [[Tehran]].<ref name=":4" />

She was a member of the [[Kanoun-e-Banovan]] and supported the [[Kashf-e hijab]] reform against compulsory hijab (veiling).<ref>{{cite web|url= https://iranicaonline.org/articles/feminist-movements-iii |title= FEMINIST MOVEMENTS iii. IN THE PAHLAVI PERIOD, Hamideh Sedghi |publisher= Encyclopedia Iranica|access-date= 2012-12-30 }}</ref>

In 1936, E'tesami was awarded by [[Reza Shah|Reza Shah Pahlavi]] the third-degree Iran Medal of Art and Culture, but she declined.<ref name=":2" />

In 1938–39 she worked for several months at the library of ''Danesh-Saraay-e 'Aali'', (currently known as [[Tarbiat Moallem University]]) of Tehran.

Her father died in 1938, and she died three years later of typhoid fever.<ref name="Iranica" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-06-28|title=Audio version of Parvin Etesami's divan released in Armenian|url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/403796/Audio-version-of-Parvin-Etesami-s-divan-released-in-Armenian|access-date=2021-04-10|website=Tehran Times|language=en}}</ref> She was buried near her father in [[Qom]], near the [[Fatima Masumeh Shrine]].

Parvin E'tesami's house became an Iranian national heritage site on 19 October 2006.

=== Marriage ===
Parvin E'tesami married her father's cousin, Fazlollah E'tesami Ashtiani, on 10 July 1934, and four months after their engagement and marriage, they moved to[[Kermanshah]].<ref name=":5">بهمن، مهناز (۱۳۸۹). پروین اعتصامی (چهره‌های درخشان). تهران: انتشارات مدرسه. ص. ۲۰ شابک ۹۷۸-۹۶۴-۳۸۵-۲۰۷-۸. </ref> At the time of their marriage her husband was the head of the [[gendarmerie]] in Kermanshah. After living with her husband for nearly two months, Parvin returned to her father's house, and nine months later, on 5 August 1935, they [[Divorce|separated]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=فخری |first=‌اذر |date=6 September 2024 |title=دیباچه: سالشمار پروین اعتصامی |url=https://www.noormags.ir/view/fa/articlepage/379172/%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%A8%D8%A7%DA%86%D9%87-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C |journal=کتاب ماه ادبیات |language=fa |volume=112-114 |issue=10 |pages=2–5}}</ref> Abolfath E'tesami, Parvin's brother, cited the reason for the separation as mentality and ethical differences between the two, stating that her husband's military mindset was incompatible with Parvin's gentle and free-spirited nature.<ref name=":5" />   

Parvin never spoke about this unsuccessful marriage until the end of her life, and only composed a poem on the subject, the first three verses of which begin with these lines (translated from Persian):<ref name=":5" /><blockquote>Oh flower, in the company of the garden, what did you see?

Other than reproach and the bitterness of thorns, what did you see?

You went to the meadow but a cage became your fate,

Oh captive bird, besides the cage what did you see?

Oh radiant candle, with all this light,

Other than a petty buyer in the market, what did you see?</blockquote>

== Work ==

[[File:Parvin Grave.jpg|thumb|E'tesami's grave in [[Qom]]]]
E'tesami was around seven or eight years old when her poetic ability was revealed. Through her father's encouragement, she versified some literary pieces that were translated from Western sources, by him.  From 1921 to 1922, some of her earliest known poems were published in the [[Persian language|Persian]] magazine ''Bahar'' (Spring). The first edition of her [[Diwan (poetry)|Divan]] (book of poetry) consisted of 156 poems and appeared in 1935. The poet and scholar [[Mohammad Taqi Bahar]] wrote an introduction to her work. The second edition of her book, edited by her brother Abu'l Fatha E'tesami, appeared shortly after she died in 1941. It consisted of 209 different compositions in [[Mathnawi]], [[Qasida]], [[Ghazal]], and [[Qet'a]] (another form of Persian poetry), and [[stanza]]ic forms. It totaled 5606 [[distich]]es.<ref>{{Cite book |title= Parvin E'tesami: Life & Poetry |last= Smith |first= Paul |authorlink= Parvin E'tesami |year= 2014 |publisher= CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform|isbn= 978-1-505-67223-7 |pages= 412 }}</ref>

The poems "Gem and Stone", "Oh Bird", "Orphan's Tears", "Desired Child", "Our Lightning is the Oppression of Richness", "Effort and Action", and "Sorrow of Poverty" are among the most well-known poems she penned at a young age.

In her short life, she achieved great fame amongst Iranians. E'tesami's poetry follows the classical Persian tradition in its form and substance. She remained unaffected by or perhaps ignored the modernistic trends in [[Persian literature|Persian poetry]]. In the arrangement of her poetry book, there are approximately 42 untitled Qasidas and Qet'as. These works follow the didactic and philosophical styles of [[Sanai]] and [[Nasir Khusraw|Naser Khusraw]]. Several other Qasidas, particularly in the description of [[nature]], show influences from the poet [[Manuchehri]]. There are also some [[Ghazal]]s in her Divan.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://women.ncr-iran.org/2022/03/15/parvin-etesami-unmatched-cultural-treasure-of-iran/ |title= Parvin E'tesami, Unmatched Cultural Treasure of Iran |date= 15 March 2022 |publisher= Women NCRI }}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The NCRI is not a reliable source.|date=March 2024}}

According to Professor Heshmat Moayyad, her ''Safar-e ashk'' (Journey of a tear) counts among the finest [[lyrics]] ever written in [[Persian language|Persian]].

Another form of poetry, the ''monazara'' (debate), claims the largest portions of E'tesami's Divan. She composed approximately sixty-five poems in the style of monazara and seventy-five anecdotes, fables, and [[allegory|allegories]]. According to Moayyad: "Parvin wrote about men and women of different social backgrounds, a wide-ranging array of animals, birds, flowers, trees, cosmic and natural elements, objects of daily life, [[abstract concepts]], all personified and symbolizing her wealth of ideas. Through these figures, she holds up a mirror to others showing them the abuses of society and their failure in moral commitment. Likewise, in these debates she eloquently expresses her basic thoughts about life and death, [[social justice]], [[ethics]], education, and the supreme importance of knowledge".<ref name=iranica/><ref>{{cite journal |last= Sandler |first= Rivanne |date= 1985 |title= A Nightingale's Lament. Selections from the Poems and Fables of Parvin E'tesami (1907-1941). Translated from the Persian by Heshmat Moayyad and A. Margaret Madelung |url= https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/iranian-studies/article/abs/nightingales-lament-selections-from-the-poems-and-fables-of-parvin-etesami-19071941-translated-from-the-persian-by-heshmat-moayyad-and-a-margaret-madelung-lexington-kentucky-mazda-1985-cloth-edition-1795-paperback-edition-1195/CDBACA88036E35C5BA770BFD96BDC39A |journal= Iranian Studies |volume= 18 |issue= 2–4 |pages= 437–448 |doi= 10.1080/S0021086200007817 |s2cid= 245691954 |access-date= 2023-06-06|url-access= subscription }}</ref>

Parvin E'tesami began writing poetry from a young age; her first published works appeared in the Iranian magazine ''Bahrain'' the early 1920s, when she was just a teenager. Throughout her life, E`tesami's work was a marriage of the traditional and modern; while her poetic style eschewed the new [[modernist]] styles and adhered closely to the forms and structures of classical Persian poetry.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Allen|first=Roger M.A.|date=July 20, 1998|title=Islamic arts - The modern period|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Islamic-arts|access-date=2021-04-09|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|quote=The lyrics of Parvīn Eʿteṣāmī (died 1940) are regarded as near classics, despite a trace of sentimentality in their sympathetic treatment of the poor.}}</ref>

==Parvin Etisami Literary Award==
[[File: Parvin E'tesami handnote.jpg|thumb|Parvin E'tesami's handwriting, the poem she composed for her tombstone]]Parvin Etisami Literary Award was started in 2003 by the cultural assistant of the [[Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance]], in the Office of Cultural Assemblies and Activities. It is held in different categories of poetry, fiction, dramatic literature, research literature, children's and adolescent poetry, and children's and adults' stories.
==Death==
On 4 April 1941,<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hkfSDwAAQBAJ&dq=%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%DB%8C%D9%86+%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C+%DB%B1%DB%B5+%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF%DB%8C%D9%86+%DB%B1%DB%B3%DB%B2%DB%B0&pg=PT219 | title=Encyclopedia of Persian Literature: دانشنامه ادبیات ایران | isbn=9786226518017 | last1=Motie | first1=Hossein | last2=مطیع | first2=حسین | date=22 June 2018 | publisher=Booktab Publication }}</ref> Parvin Etesami died. On 19 October 2006, her home was designated as a national historic site in Iran.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://en.irna.ir/news/84705180/Persian-poet-Parvin-E-tesami-allowed-to-publish-poems-after-marriage |title= Persian Poet, Parvin E'tesami |date= 4 April 2022 |publisher= [[Islamic Republic News Agency]] |access-date= 2023-06-06 }}</ref>

Parvin E'tesami contracted typhoid in March 1941. Her brother, Abolfath E'tesami, was preparing her collected works for a second printing. However, Parvin’s deteriorating condition led to her being bedridden at home on 24 March 1941.<ref name=":6">بهمن، مهناز (۱۳۸۹). پروین اعتصامی (چهره‌های درخشان). تهران: انتشارات مدرسه. ص. ۲۵ شابک ۹۷۸-۹۶۴-۳۸۵-۲۰۷-۸.</ref> It is said that negligence by her doctor in treating her illness led to her death. As her condition worsened significantly on the night of 3 April 1941, <ref name=":6" /> her family sent a carriage to fetch the doctor, but he did not come. Ultimately, Parvin E'tesami died on 4 April 1941 at the age of 34 in Tehran and was buried in the family mausoleum at [[Fatima Masumeh Shrine]] in [[Qom]]. She died in her mother's arms. After her death, a poem was found that she wrote for her own tombstone. The poem was inscribed on her tombstone.<ref name=":6" /> Some couplets of the poem are translated from Persian below:<ref>{{Cite web |title=گنجور » پروین اعتصامی » دیوان اشعار » مثنویات، تمثیلات و مقطعات » شمارهٔ ۱۶۶ - این قطعه را برای سنگ مزار خودم سروده‌ام |url=https://ganjoor.net/parvin/divanp/mtm/sh166 |access-date=2024-09-06 |website=ganjoor.net}}</ref><blockquote>This dark earth is now her pillow,

the star of the literary sky, Parvin [The Pleiades].

Though she saw nothing but bitterness from life,

Her words are sweet, as sweet as you desire.

The one who owned all those words,

Is now asking for a ''Fatiha'' and a ''Yasin'' [prayers for the dead].

The dust in the eyes is deeply tormenting,

The stone on the chest feels so heavy.

Whoever you are, wherever you come from,

This is the final destination of existence.

A person, no matter how wealthy,

When they reach this point, are but beggars.

Blessed is the one who, in this world of torment,

Becomes the cause of someone else's solace.</blockquote>

==See also==
{{portal|Poetry}}
* [[Forough Farrokhzad]]
* [[Simin Behbahani]]
* [[Mina Assadi]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{EI3|last=Ahmed|first=Amr Taher|title=Iʿtiṣāmī, Parvīn|year=2017|url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-3/itisami-parvin-COM_32635}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Fomeshi |first1=Behnam M. |title='The Female Rumi' and Feminine Mysticism: 'God's Weaver' by Parvin Iʿtisami |journal=British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies |date=2021 |volume=50 |issue=2 |pages=340–350 |doi=10.1080/13530194.2021.1971513|s2cid=239191317 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/5481783 }}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title = Arts: Poets and Poetry: Iran: Modern | first1 = Heidi | last1 = Ghomi | authorlink = | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures | editor = Suad Joseph | editor-link = Suad Joseph | publisher = Brill Online | url = https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopedia-of-women-and-islamic-cultures/*-EWICCOM_0293f | year = 2009}}
* {{Cite book |title= A THOUSAND YEARS OF GREAT FEMALE PERSIAN CLASSICAL POETS: From Rabi'a Balkh to Parvin E'tesami |last1= Khatun |first1= Jahan |last2= Mahsati |first2= Rabe`eh Balkhi |authorlink= Parvin E'tesami |year= 2020 |publisher= Independently Published|isbn= 978-1-705-37023-0 |pages= 400 }}
* {{cite journal |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= 2017 |title= Intertextual Approach towards Ethical Teachings of Parvin E'tesami and Mowlavi. |url= |journal= Literary Arts |volume= 9 |issue= 4 |pages= 9–56 |issn= 2008-8027 |access-date=}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Parvin E'tesami}}
* [http://rira.ir/rira/php/?page=view&mod=classicpoems&obj=poet&id=6 Poetry of Parvin E'tesami] {{in lang|fa}}
* [https://www.iranchamber.com/literature/petesami/parvin_etesami.php Parvin E'tesami's biography, Iran Chamber Society]

{{Persian literature}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:E'tesami, Parvin}}
[[Category:20th-century Iranian poets]]
[[Category:1907 births]]
[[Category:1941 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Iranian women writers]]
[[Category:Poets from Tabriz]]
[[Category:Iranian women poets]]
[[Category:Deaths from typhoid fever]]
[[Category:Burials at Fatima Masumeh Shrine]]