Jamshid Alam

 

Niloofar Kasra

 

Mirza Ali Akbar Khan Moetamedolvozareh’s eldest son, Asadullah Khan, known as Mokarramossaltaneh, was Jamshid Alam’s father who was born in Trabzon about 1864-1865. He continued his studies in Istanbul and Beirut and was fluent in French, Arabic and Turkish. He returned to Iran (1890-1891) as charge d’affaires in Iranian embassy  and then Iranian charge d’affaires in Syria.

 

He worked in a translation bureau for a while. Then he entered the military service and as a brigadier general became the crown prince, Mozaffaraddin Shah’s aide de camp. In the early constitutional period, he tried to get appointed as parliament member representing Qazvin. But he did not succeed to. He continued his career in the State Department. For some time, he was the Iranian charge d’affaires in Arzanatorrum (1896-1897), and Trabzon. Shortly after he became Iranian general consul in Baghdad. His services brought him Mokarramossaltaneh’s title (1900-1901). He left two sons AliAkbar and Jamshid. 

 

Jamshid Alam, was born in 1901 in Van, Turkey. He studied his primary and secondary education in Darolfonun (polytechnic). Then he left for France to continue his studies in Medicine in Lion, and he became an ENT doctor (1936). Upon his return to Tehran, he was employed in the medical faculty of university of Tehran.

 

First, he became an associate Professor and later a professor. Then he was supported by the Ministry of Health. Among his other jobs, he headed the ENT clinic of Farabi hospital and National Bank. It was when he performed a surgery on MohammadReza Shah that he was given special attention and was appointed as the shah’s special doctor, and also was awarded the title of Professor.  

 

After a while, he got a seat in Ear, nose, and throat department in Tehran University. But gradually he decided to participate in the National Assembly elections. He was appointed a majlis member from Qazvin for the 19^th and 20^th terms. 

 

Upon his entrance, he became the leader of Saadat Fraction in Majlis and one of Hossein Ala’s supporters. He became a member of majlis minority on Iqbal’s coming to power. Now he was Assadollah Alam’s supporter. In this period of Majlis, he attacked Iqbal’s government for inflation and ratification of the law to see into the wealth of majliss members. He joined the Mardom (people’s) Party founded by Assadollah Alam, and was in favor of reform. He supported the white revolution and referendum. 

 

But in his second round of the National Council, (the twentieth) he joined the Monfaredin party  founded by Ali Amini and refused to support any group or fraction in the parliament. Twentieth Parliament was dissolved due to the disputes among the parties and protests done against the electoral fraud. He was no more able to enter the majlis, and in 1963, he was appointed as a member of the Senate, and continued his participation in the 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th terms of the Senate.   He was the chairman of traffic commission in the Senate.

 

His opportunistic treatment of Iraq’s expulsion of Iranians from its territory and his insults to Ayatollah Khomeini raised the anger of the nation. Widespread demonstrations were held against him in various cities. The religious schools and bazaars in Qom were closed down, resulting in savage detainment of the clergy, students and the people of Qom.

 

Subsequent to the Islamic revolution, Jamshid Alam was arrested and was condemned to death penalty. He participated in many scientific conferences and seminars in France, Japan, Brazil, and United States. He published many scientific articles and a book on ENT.