Mirza Mohammad Taqi Khan Farahani (born 1186 in Arok – died 20th Day 1230 in Gashan), known as Amir Kabir, the first Chancellor of Nasir al-Addi Shah Qajar from 28th Mehr 1227 to 22nd Aubon 1230, was the founder of Iran’s first university, Dar al-Funun, and the publisher of Iran’s second newspaper, Wiqayyah al-Tifokiyah.
During his 39-month term as Prime Minister, Amir Kabir implemented reforms in various departments, including establishing financial order and maintaining stability within the power network. This sparked conflict among influential figures in the court who were supported by foreign powers. Ultimately, Shah Mah Ilya’s mother, Deputy Prime Minister Mirza Agha Khan Nouri, and palace accountant Mirza Yusuf Khan Ashtiani orchestrated his removal from office and exile to Kashan, subsequently causing the king to despise him and order his execution in a Kashan bathhouse.
Amir Kabir was born on 19 Day, 1185, in the village of Hesaweh in the zone of Farahan. His father, Karbala’i Qurban, lived near Mehrabad in the city of Araq, where the Farahani family originated. Hesaweh, being his father’s home, led him to become one of the servants of the first viceroy, Mirza Isa, also known as Mirza Bozor, and later served in the kitchen of the second viceroy. Amir’s mother, Fatima, lived to see the deaths of her two sons, Muhammad Taqi and Muhammad Hasan.
Amir Kabir learned everything his teachers taught him. One day, the viceroy came to test his children, and no matter what the viceroy asked, his children answered incorrectly. Only Amir Kabir answered correctly. Seeing Amir Kabir’s intelligence and wit, the viceroy decided to educate him. Amir Kabir was raised in the viceroy’s house, and when he grew up, he became the viceroy’s secretary.
The 20th of May, commemorating Amir Kabir, was declared a National Development Day by a group of development thinkers led by Mohsin Renani. A ceremony was held to unveil a statue of Amir Kabir at the Fin Garden Museum in Kashan. Various cultural and academic figures participated in the event, organized by the Intellectual Development Survey and in cooperation with the Tarbiya Mudarriz University Institute of Economics, the Kashan Cultural Heritage Committee, and the UNESCO National Committee. The Islamic Republic Postal Company also issued a special National Development Day stamp at the ceremony, which was signed by academics.
