Biography
Early Years:
 Amir Kabir was born
to Karbalaee Ghorban, who was a cook for Gha'em-Magham
Farahani, a chancellor in the court of Persia. Through
working in the court, despite humble beginnings, the
young Mirza
Taqi learned to read and write at an early age. As a
child he was curious, talented and ambitious.
He first decided to join the courts to assist as a
scribe. Given his gifted nature, he moved up the ladder
of the system very quickly. In
1829, he was sent on a trip to
St. Petersburg, where he was first introduced to Russian
and world politics. His travels and interactions allowed
for him to visualize a modern Iran iwth much needed fundamental
reforms. A few years later, he became the minister
in Azerbaijan, and during a tenure
in the Ottoman Empire. he studied progress
and modernization. Mirza Taqi returned to Iran in where
he was appointed
by Mohammad Shah-e Qajar to the court of the
crown prince, Naser o-Din, in Azerbaijan.
Amir Kabir - the Great Prince:
When Mohammad Shah
Qajar died in 1848, Mirza Taqi's duties included a smooth
transition for the crown prince. A great politician and
statesman, Mirza Taqi succeded in his duties and was
promptly appointed the position of Chief
Minister in the Qajar court. The Shah also gave
him the
hand of his sister in marriage and honored Mirza
Taqi with the title of Amir Kabir - the Great Prince.
 When the reins were handed to Amir Kabir,
the state of affairs was in ruins. The country lacked
a sound plan and any internal structure to support the
people. The country was also in financial trouble, nearing
bankruptcy due to the mismanagement of funds from the
previous administration. The central government
was weak,
and the country's many provinces
were
almost
autonomous.
The new Chief Minister set to work right away and initiated
a series of progressive reforms and plans over the
next two and a half years in virtually all areas.
One of the first places for reform was
the treasury. Amir Kabir tightened the government purse
and slashed
all spending. He created proper accountst that distinguished
between private and public funds. He appointed trusted
people to key roles and minimized redundancies in government
posts.
Foreign interference in Iran's domestic affairs was controlled,
and foreign trade was supported and encouraged. A series
of public projects were undertaken, such as the bazaar
in Tehran. New schools, colleges, libraries and facilities
were proposed, among them the new Dar ol-Fonun (The
Skills House), introducing modern science and research.
Amir Kabir established the newspaper "Vaqay-e
Etefaqieh", which meant "The Happened Events". Amir
Kabir improved foreign relations with many countries.
He established embassies around
thw roll to better represent Iran in foreign settings.
Through this reforms, Amir Kabir remained
an honest, hard working, and strict leader who believed
in providing for the people and bettering them through
education and modernization. Even though the Shah's courts
were very corrupt and ill-managed, Amir Kabir fought
very hard to correct thes problems. The Shah's relatives,
courtiers, and flatterers, who were there to take advatnage
of him regarded Amir Kabir as a threat and formed alliances
against him. The queen
mother was among on the of the people who wanted to rid
the courts of Amir Kabir. She plotted against him and
convinced the Shah that Amir Kabir was after the Shah's
throne. A weak and paranoid individual, the Shah believed
his mother and in October of 1851 sent Amir Kabir into
exile to the city of Kashan.
A year later, Amir Kabir was murdered
on the
Shah's orders. To this day, Amir Kabir is known as
one of the greatest men in Iran's history, being regarded
as the first great thinker and visionary.
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Famous Iranians
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