Surush Isfahani

Biography

Surush Isfahani, Mirza Muhammad ‘Ali (1813-1868), son of Qanbar ‘Ali Isfahani Qarani. A poet with the nom de plume Surush, and the appellations Khan and Shams al-Shu’ara’. He was born in Isfahan where he received his education. A talented poet in his early youth, he was patronized and educated by Hajj Sayyid Muhammad Baqir Rashti, distinguished and erudite authority. Surush went to Gulpayigan, Tehran, and after a while, went to Tabriz and was well-received Prince Muhsin Mirza, with the nom de plume Dara, who granted Surush the title of Shams al-Shu’ara’. He resided in Tabriz for 14 years and after the death of the Qajar Muhammad Shah in 1264, he accompanied Nasir al-Din Shah to Tehran. Bahman Mirza, the fourth son of ‘Abbas Mirza, the governor of Azerbaijan, and Fath’ali Shah’s regent, requested two distinguished scholars of his time to render Alf Layla wa Layla [the Arabian Nights] from Arabic into Persian in prose and verse. Mulla ‘Abd al-Latif Tasuji, Muzaffar al-Mulk’s father, rendered the prose text into exquisitely elegant Persian prose and Surush most exquisitely substituted the Arabic poetry incorporated in the original text with Persian poetical compositions. He inserted the poetry of distinguished Persian poets into the Persian translation and at times translated the Arabic poetry into elegant Persian verse. Thus, he made an invaluable treasury of most elegant and appealing Persian poetical compositions that far excelled the Arabic original verses which are at times quite colloquial and unworthy. Surush studied and impressed others by his poetical talent in his prime of life. He resided in Qum and Kashan for a while and earned his living by his poetical compositions early in his life. Coincident with Nasir al-Din Shah’s accession to the throne, he departed Tabriz for Tehran and was appointed the title Shams al-Shu’ara and became the poet laureate of the court, eulogizing Nasir al-Din Shah and Qajar princes. He died at the age of 57 and was buried in Qum. His works include Shams al-Manaqib, eulogies composed for the Prophet and the Pure Imams; Rawzat al-Anwar, about the incident at Karbala’; Urdibihishtnamih; Saqinamih; Ilahinamih; and his Diwan, Zinat al-Mada’ih. In his poetical compositions, he followed the models of Anwari, Farrukhi, and Mu’izzi. His renown is indebted to some of his well-known compositions, like one in eulogy of Nasir al-Din Shah and another devoted to killing the Khan of Khiwa.  

Az Saba ta Nima (1/ 86-93); Saramadan-i Farhang va Tarikh-i Iran dar Dawra-yi Islami (1/ 452-453).