‘Ali Athari Kirmani

Athari Kirmani, 'Ali (b. 1926), son of Ahmad. He was born in Kerman. He lost his mother at the of one and his grandmother looked after him like a kind and self-sacrificing mother and did her best to raise him. The father did not assumed the least responsibility, hence the bitterness of 'Ali's childhood and adolescence. He was in grade 12 when his father took him out of school to work as his apprentice and help him with his work. The period of his apprenticeship was the most unpleasant period of his life. After a lapse of fruitless years, he left his father to embark on another career and managed to save some money to depart his hometown for Tehran. He first opened up a bookshop, but it turned into a circle of his friends and admirers rather than a business, hence its premature closure. It was with Parviz Natil Khanlari that he found an employment in Bunyad-i Farhang (Cultural Institute) and worked there for some years. Later, he found employment at the Ministry of Agriculture from which he retired in 1969.

Athari began composing poetry at the age of 14 and it was owing to his faculty that his poetry flourished in time and became popular. He also worked for the radio and vocalists on radio programs performed some of his poems. He is a gifted poet well versed in composing particularly passionate ghazals.

Sukhanvaran-i Nami-yi Mu'asir-i Iran (Contemporary Iranian Poets of Renown; 1, 272-279).