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Draft:Ra'is Ali Delvari

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Template:جعبه اطلاعات شخصیت

Ra'is Ali Delvari, was one of the prominent figures of resistance and struggle against British colonialism in the contemporary history of Iran and one of the leaders of popular uprisings against British occupying forces in southern Iran during World War I, who attained Martyrdom in jihad and struggle against Colonialism on 12 Shahrivar 1294 SH. The day of his martyrdom, 12 Shahrivar, was named "National Day of Struggle Against Colonialism" upon approval by the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution in 1389 SH.


Biography

Ra'is Ali Delvari was born in 1261 SH, in the village of Delvar, part of Tangestan.


Joining the Constitutional Movement

With the start of the Constitutional Movement, Ra'is Ali, while not yet 24 years old, became one of the pioneers of constitutionalism in southern Iran and began close cooperation with revolutionary circles and constitutionalist elements in Bushehr, Tangestan, and Dashti. His youth coincided with the extensive presence of British colonialism in the Persian Gulf. He played a key role in the Southern Uprising. The uprising of the people of Tangestan under his leadership lasted a total of seven years, and during this period, the brave men of Tangestan pursued two main objectives: protecting Bushehr, Dashtestan, and Tangestan as their region of residence, and preventing the movement of foreign forces into the borders of Iran and defending the independence of the homeland.


Constitutionalist Struggles

Ra'is Ali, along with other constitutionalists, removed Bushehr from the rule of Mohammad Ali Shah's tyranny of the Qajar era, and in 1287 SH, at the request of Mulla Ali Tangestani and Sayyid Murtaza Mujtahid Ahrami, who opposed Mohammad Ali Shah's tyranny, he occupied Bushehr and controlled the city for about 9 months.


World War I

At the beginning of World War I in 1914 AD, by violating neutrality by Russian forces from the north and England forces from the south, they exposed Iran to invasion, and British warships anchored opposite Bushehr, and occupying forces gradually intended to occupy Bushehr and surrounding coastal areas on 8 August 1915 AD, equivalent to 17 Mordad 1294 SH. One day after the occupation of Bushehr, fourteen of its residents protested against the occupiers, but, since they were not people of armed combat, they were arrested and exiled to Hindustan. Following Ra'is Ali's inquiry from scholars, the jihad decree of Najaf marjas including Mirza al-Shirazi II was communicated to him by Sheikh Mohammad Hossein Borazjani along with the Sheikh's own decree. Ra'is Ali, along with his friend Khalu Hossein Bardakhuni Dashti, in early month of Ramadan 1333 AH, at the mansion of Haj Sayyid Mohammad Reza Kazruni, after discussions with him, declared his readiness to defend Bushehr and prevent the advance of British forces.

Battle of Delvar

British forces, simultaneous with the attack on Bushehr, intended to occupy the Delvar region. Delvar was a place where British soldiers had previously infringed upon several times, but had tasted defeat in this region. Ra'is Ali Delvari, Sheikh Hossein Khan Chahkutahi, and Zayer Khedr Khan Ahrami were aware of these events and rose to defend the homeland. The uprising of the brave men of Tangestan against the occupiers began, and the invading British forces, numbering close to five thousand, were trapped in the ambush of Tangestani fighters, and a large number of British forces were killed in this attack. Ra'is Ali's successful guerrilla operations encouraged other Tangestani fighters to join him. Until the summer of 1915 AD, he led successful operations against the British Navy. The British were forced to send auxiliary forces from Iraq and India to Bushehr and heavily bombed Delvar.

Battle of Bushehr

File:Ra'is Ali Delvari 1.jpg

When British officials made a final decision regarding the occupation of Bushehr and advancing towards Shiraz, in order to appease Ra'is Ali, they dispatched two of Heydar Khan Hayat Davoudi's followers to Delvar to secure his agreement to the landing of British forces on the coast of the Persian Gulf and movement towards Shiraz. Heydar Khan's representatives, during their meeting with Ra'is Ali, noted that if he refrains from uprising against the occupying forces, British officials will pay him forty thousand pounds. Ra'is Ali responded: "How can I remain neutral while the independence of Iran is in serious danger?" After the return of Heydar Khan's representatives, a threatening letter was written to Ra'is Ali by British officials stating: "If you rise and act against the British government, we will wage war; in this case, we will destroy your houses and cut down your palm trees." Ra'is Ali wrote in response to British officials: "Our home is the mountain, and their destruction and demolition are beyond the power and possibility of the British Empire. Obviously, if that government takes action to war with us, we will resist to the last extent possible."

Martyrdom

The war between the bravemen of Tangestan led by Rais Ali Delvari alongside three hundred riflemen from Borazjan led by Ghazanfar al-Saltaneh Borazjani on one hand, and the forces of Britain and their allied landlords on the other hand, continued repeatedly and sporadically until Shahrivar 1294 SH, and the English could not gain superiority over Rais Ali and his companions. Rais Ali was shot from behind by an infiltrator named Gholamhossein Tangaki during a night raid on British forces in a place called "Tangak-e Safar" and was martyred at the age of 33. The time of the aforementioned night raid and the martyrdom of Rais Ali Delvari is reported in all sources as the night of 23 Shawwal 1333 AH, corresponding to 3 September 1915 CE, which could correspond to 12 Shahrivar in the Solar Hijri calendar of that time[1].


Social Impacts of the Uprising

  • Strengthening the spirit of resistance against colonialism: Rais Ali Delvari, with his courage and perseverance in the struggle against the occupying forces of England, was able to provide a model of resistance and struggle for the independence and freedom of Iran. This model had a significant impact in other regions of Iran, especially in the south of the country, and caused the people of these regions to also resist foreign domination.
  • Inciting and strengthening popular movements: The martyrdom of Rais Ali Delvari and his struggles against the English caused a wave of awareness and anger among the people of Iran. This awareness, along with the aroused feelings of the people, led to the formation and strengthening of popular movements against foreign forces and internal despotic governments.
  • Creating unity and solidarity among fighters: The struggles of Rais Ali Delvari showed that one can stand against great powers with unity and solidarity. This lesson caused that in subsequent uprisings, such as the Jangal Movement led by Mirza Kuchik Khan and the Nationalization of the Oil Industry Movement, the importance of unity among fighters was considered more than ever.
  • Impact on national identity and the awakening of Iranians: The story of Rais Ali Delvari gradually became part of the national identity of Iranians and found a special place in redefining national identity and the awakening of the people against foreign domination and preserving the country's independence.


Impacts of His Uprising on Anti-Colonial Movements

The influence of Rais Ali Delvari on thoughts and subsequent anti-colonial movements in Iran and even beyond its borders was very deep and widespread. He was known as a symbol of the struggle for freedom and independence by leading the resistance against English colonial forces in southern Iran, and had important effects on other fighters and anti-colonial movements across the country. Some of these direct and indirect impacts are as follows:

  • The Jangal Movement led by Mirza Kuchik Khan Jangli: Rais Ali Delvari, by creating a successful example of popular resistance against foreign occupiers, inspired other movements such as the Jangal Movement. Mirza Kuchik Khan Jangli, who was one of the prominent leaders of resistance against foreign forces (Russia and Britain) and internal despotic governments, was influenced by the spirit of independence-seeking and struggles of Rais Ali Delvari. Mirza Kuchik Khan, like Rais Ali, believed in unity among local forces to counter foreign influence.
  • The Nationalization of the Oil Industry Movement: The struggles of Rais Ali Delvari against English colonialism, along with other popular struggles, provided a ground for the growth and development of nationalist and anti-colonial ideas in Iran. This spirit of struggle and independence-seeking later reached its peak in the Nationalization of the Oil Industry Movement. Dr. Mosaddegh and his companions, who sought to end English influence and exploitation in Iran, were in a way continuators of the path of fighters like Rais Ali Delvari.
  • Local and Tribal Movements: Rais Ali also had a significant impact on local and tribal movements. The spirit he created among the people of Bushehr and Tangestan to fight occupiers inspired other tribal and local leaders to resist foreign domination. Examples of these resistances can be observed in southern Iran and other regions against foreign influence.
  • Anti-colonial Spirit in Islamic Movements: In subsequent decades, Islamic movements and Iranian revolutionaries were also influenced by the struggles and independence-seeking spirit of Rais Ali Delvari. Relying on historical models of resistance, including the struggles of Rais Ali Delvari, these movements opposed any foreign influence and colonialism[2].


Commemoration

His body was initially buried near the shrine of an Imamzadeh in the village of "Kaleh Band". However, according to Rais Ali's own will, after transferring his body, he was buried near the shrine of Ali ibn Abi Talib (Peace Be Upon Him) in Wadi al-Salam. The congress of the eightieth year of his death was held in 1373 SH in Bushehr. Every year, his commemoration is held in Bushehr Province and his birthplace "Delvar" on the anniversary of his death.


National Day of Struggle Against Colonialism

In Iran, with the approval of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution in 1389 SH, the anniversary of the martyrdom of Rais Ali Delvari, corresponding to the 12th of Shahrivar, has been named "National Day of Struggle Against Colonialism" .


See Also


Footnotes

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References

  1. ↑ Rais Ali Delvari, Tabnak Website.
  2. ↑ Rais Ali Delvari, Symbol of Iranian Resistance Culture, Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies Website.
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