A worthwhile documentary filmed all the way back in 1960 that shows the geopolitical situation in Iran, life and general things pertaining to the culture and society of the day.
Roving Report -- Royal Persia
Reporter Tim Brinton
Some noteworthy scenes in this documentary include an interview with a younger Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, who discussed amongst other things the autobiography he was writing (which one guesses was what turned out to be his book Mission For My Country).
Pahlavi also talked about the so-called "mystical" element he saw in himself when asked if he needed additional security in light of the attempt made on his life in 1949 -- as it happened another attempt came just around the corner in 1965.
Your highness, welcome to Iran.
Also noteworthy was the fact that Mr. Brinton brought up the fact the Shah had said in 1958 that it would take ten years to make his country a 'model country'. This interview came only two years after that and roughly eight years before he crowned himself. By that time Iran was rapidly developing. The Shah had withheld his coronation for so long since he contended that there was no pride in being crowned king of a poor country.
Amir Kabir dam.
In Brinton's visit up the Caspian region we see the construction of the
Amir Karaj dam. Eating with some of the hospitable locals in an
underlying village, which would eventually be swamped, we are told they
believed the dam would never be finished since the river flowed "long
before the Americans came and no foreigner can stop our river."
Also amusing was the manner in which women of the region repudiated the idea of eating rice, believing the consumption of such a food to be fit only for "cattle and foreigners."
Pahlavi Foundation hotels near the Caspian Sea.
We're also given an amusing insight into how caviar was produced for wealthy guests of the Pahlavi Foundation hotels in the region and told how the ultimate plan had been to develop that region into a holiday spot reminiscent of the French Riviera.
Tehran bazaar circa 1960.
We're also shown scenes from the bazaar, where we see the traditional making of jewellery and of carpets at that time.
Also in the backdrop we see a Tehran that was rapidly being developed into a major modern city. Development methods such as brick-making are shown. Most of the money for construction and modernization at that time came, as it still does now, from the oil industry.
Tehran construction.
It is interesting to see the underlying social differences between the religiously pious and the more secular Iranians in the day before Sharia was enforced on the society. It is also interesting to see an insight into the schooling of up and coming clerics in the day, a mere three years before that very same clergy would pose their first serious challenge to the Shah in opposition to his White Revolution.
In addition to that lengthy report is another report from around that time [see above]. It shows once again the geopolitical importance of Iran, with an interesting commentary from the Shah about Iran's membership in the widely forgotten and ill-fated CENTO military pact. Other political matters discussed include the negation of press and political freedom in the universities. Also commented upon glibly, and amusingly considering this was 50-years-ago, was how the city's traffic was notably bad. Fitting how the more things change the more they stay the same.
'From the Archives' is a Uskowi on Iran column by Paul Iddon which is dedicated to bringing you an extensive archive of historical photos, videos and newspaper articles relating to Iran from years gone by.
Blessed are those People who live to accept the notable events and happenings of time!-they are at peace with themselves and indeed make peace to others.But the world is hell to live courtesy of reactionary mortals with 'fond' memories who would force some situation to change the course of a people and a Nation. -There is a time for anything and humanity must learn to accept the happenings of time-then the world becomes a peaceful place to live in !!.
BMA Great babbling as usual. As you apparently know nothing about contemporary Iranian history prior to the Islamic revolution(which these pictures describe) you still feel obliged to post the above nonsense.
I studied in Iran during the 1970's. As an American I was appalled by what I saw: throngs of desperate, unclean people living in shanties a considerable distance downhill from where we lived in Shemiran. Everywhere, poverty, some wearing chadors with babes in their arms, begging for chump change.
The Iranian revolution was arguably the most all-encompassing class revolution in history. They'd had enough of a foreign imposed dictator forced upon them by an alien country with an alien culture. They wanted independence and they got it, but they continue to pay a foreign directed price for it.
Mark Pyruz,I've never read such a crock of sh*t on Uskowi as your pathetic rubbish and propaganda against Iran.If you want to write about "alien culture" then lets write about the Shiite Arab imposed culture since the Safavids 400 years ago.Mullahs and their minions are the biggest liars thieves and killers which have been imposed on our country by foreign powers and the oil cartel.There is far more poverty,hunger and mass unemployment than there was under the Shah.People I know since 1979 who took part in those events regret they took part and wished to turn the clock back if they would have known Iran would end up in the terrible state it is in today. You and people like you are the real enemies of Iran.
Pyruz.....I studied in Iran of the 70s and can say that there is no comparison of the poverty and crime that exists in todays Iran.Prostitution,drug addiction and crime have increased one thousand times.You have a regime that dictates what you should eat,wear,think and say or else.So I ask you,why don't you practice what you preach and go and live in Iran instead of lording it safely and freely in the West?
Mark,you said you were studying in Iran in the seventies or were you one of those agents of foreign powers that was sent to spread lies and propaganda on behalf of the future anti Iran piratical theocracy?
I attended Community School in Tehran for one semester.
It's not for me to say what sort of government Iran should have, I'm not a resident of the country. But what I can tell you is what Iran was like when I studied there in the mid-70's.
The shaw n shaw and his ilk barely represented 1% of Iranian population in the 1960's and 70's hence the reason for the revolution. Only 20% of Iran had electricity, today after the great revolution over 97% of Iran has roads, infrastructure and electricty, despite the pathetic US/Zionist "sanctions", imposed war and pressure. So what you objectively think?
Anon 10:41 PM.....Just trying to educate you by saying that over 90% of railway lines and roads in Iran were laid before 1979.Most of the engineering blue prints were drawn before 1979 for the milad tower as well as metro and motorways.I like to know where you got the skewed "data" from about Iran only having "20% electricity" coverage before 1979? Also the present "ilk" in power represent a armed minority of radical bigots which represents less than "1%" of the population.
Blessed are those People who live to accept the notable events and happenings of time!-they are at peace with themselves and indeed make peace to others.But the world is hell to live courtesy of reactionary mortals with 'fond' memories who would force some situation to change the course of a people and a Nation.
ReplyDelete-There is a time for anything and humanity must learn to accept the happenings of time-then the world becomes a peaceful place to live in !!.
BMA
ReplyDeleteGreat babbling as usual. As you apparently know nothing about contemporary Iranian history prior to the Islamic revolution(which these pictures describe) you still feel obliged to post the above nonsense.
I studied in Iran during the 1970's. As an American I was appalled by what I saw: throngs of desperate, unclean people living in shanties a considerable distance downhill from where we lived in Shemiran. Everywhere, poverty, some wearing chadors with babes in their arms, begging for chump change.
ReplyDeleteThe Iranian revolution was arguably the most all-encompassing class revolution in history. They'd had enough of a foreign imposed dictator forced upon them by an alien country with an alien culture. They wanted independence and they got it, but they continue to pay a foreign directed price for it.
the Iranian revolution and people were unarguably betrayed by Khomeini
DeleteMark Pyruz,I've never read such a crock of sh*t on Uskowi as your pathetic rubbish and propaganda against Iran.If you want to write about "alien culture" then lets write about the Shiite Arab imposed culture since the Safavids 400 years ago.Mullahs and their minions are the biggest liars thieves and killers which have been imposed on our country by foreign powers and the oil cartel.There is far more poverty,hunger and mass unemployment than there was under the Shah.People I know since 1979 who took part in those events regret they took part and wished to turn the clock back if they would have known Iran would end up in the terrible state it is in today. You and people like you are the real enemies of Iran.
ReplyDeleteMark Pyruz June 7, 2013 at 2:41 PM
ReplyDeleteVery true,well said!
Pyruz.....I studied in Iran of the 70s and can say that there is no comparison of the poverty and crime that exists in todays Iran.Prostitution,drug addiction and crime have increased one thousand times.You have a regime that dictates what you should eat,wear,think and say or else.So I ask you,why don't you practice what you preach and go and live in Iran instead of lording it safely and freely in the West?
ReplyDeleteMark as "an American" you don't know that much about Iranian history and culture as you think you do.
ReplyDeletePaul Iddon, please accept my thanks for this article.
ReplyDeleteMark,you said you were studying in Iran in the seventies or were you one of those agents of foreign powers that was sent to spread lies and propaganda on behalf of the future anti Iran piratical theocracy?
ReplyDeleteI attended Community School in Tehran for one semester.
DeleteIt's not for me to say what sort of government Iran should have, I'm not a resident of the country. But what I can tell you is what Iran was like when I studied there in the mid-70's.
In which year and how old were you when you attended the Community school in Tehran?
DeleteThe shaw n shaw and his ilk barely represented 1% of Iranian population in the 1960's and 70's hence the reason for the revolution. Only 20% of Iran had electricity, today after the great revolution over 97% of Iran has roads, infrastructure and electricty, despite the pathetic US/Zionist "sanctions", imposed war and pressure. So what you objectively think?
ReplyDeleteIt's "Shah" not "shaw" you ignorant little basij boy.
DeleteShaw n shaw for sure!
DeleteIgnorant for sure!
DeleteAnon 10:41 PM.....Just trying to educate you by saying that over 90% of railway lines and roads in Iran were laid before 1979.Most of the engineering blue prints were drawn before 1979 for the milad tower as well as metro and motorways.I like to know where you got the skewed "data" from about Iran only having "20% electricity" coverage before 1979? Also the present "ilk" in power represent a armed minority of radical bigots which represents less than "1%" of the population.
Delete