Jungle Movement of Gilan

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Jungle Movement
Part of Consequences of
Gilan, Persia
Caused by
MethodsWidespread unrest,[1] Civil war
Resulted inEstablishment of Persian Socialist Soviet Republic
Parties

Jungle revolutionaries Supported by:

Soviet Russia (1920)
Lead figures

Russian Empire Gen. Nikolai Baratov (1915)
Russian Empire Col. Lazar Bicherakhov (1918)
British Empire Maj. Gen. Lionel Dunsterville (1918)

Hassan Vosugh al-Dowleh
(1918–20)

The Jangal (Jungle) Movement, in Gilan, was a rebellion against the monarchist rule of the central government of Sublime State of Iran, which lasted from 1915 to 1921.

History of the movement

In 1915,

peasantry, working class, and poor population within Iran.[5] Even so, Hooshang Amirahmadi describes the movement's leaders as "merchants and landlords" and Mirza as part of the "democratic wing" of the Iranian bourgeoisie.[6]

In years that followed, the movement's guerrillas, Jangalis, fought against foreign invaders. While they were described as "small landowners in Gilan" that advocated armed insurgency, they were strong enough to resist the advances of the

Tudeh Party. Even so, there were undoubtedly differences since Mirza supported land reforms but not land redistribution.[11]

Near the end of 1917, the Jangalis organized a "Unity of Islam" committee, since they were affiliated with the Union of Islam movement, which was "bourgeois-nationalist" with democratic elements, with members on the committee mainly comprising landlords and merchants.

nationalist position displayed in their newspaper, Jangal, launched in 1917.[13][14] In years that followed, it was clear that the movement was gaining strength as disorder and insecurity swept the country.[15]

By 1920, the Jangalis, who were broadly

bourgeois democratic and anti-British/anti-imperialist government in Gilan, while Mirza began secret negotiations with the central government to eliminate communists, leading to a coup in the Gilan government and later peace between the two forces.[17]

After this, the Jangalis were a key part of maintaining Socialist Soviet Republic of Gilan, showing that Marxists and Muslims could work together in a common cause. John Foran describes this collaboration:[18]

The Communist Party of Iran, led by Haydar Khan Amoughlu, and the Jungle Movement, led by Mirza Kuchak Khan, had formed an alliance to build a soviet socialist republic. In addition, they sent a letter to Lenin asking for assistance in 'freeing us and all of the oppressed from the chain of Iranian and British oppressors.' They also sent a letter to Tehran proclaiming the monarch government illegitimate.

This Soviet republic would last close to two years before its leaders were killed and imprisoned.

socialist organizing in the country, with one group of students organizing against the Shah in the 1960s called the "Jangal Group."[22][23][24]

Further analysis

Initially, when commencing the movement, Mirza and his allies formed a union called Ettehad-e-Islam (The Islamic Union). Although in the beginning, they were in conformity over the aims of the movement, eventually the movement began witnessing considerable friction as some members had diverging tendencies toward Ahmad Shah Qajar while others such as Mirza specifically called for an Iranian "Republic."[25]

Not only did Mirza specifically use the term "Republic of Iran," as can be seen in his letters, but he had also declared his interest in a "Republic" before the advent of the

Marxist
ideology, being a devout man of faith, even though many of his allies until the end were members of the Communist Party.

The British did not take Mirza's successes lightly, and sent intelligence agent

Edward Noel to assassinate Mirza.[29] Noel was arrested before he could take any such action. Colonel Stokes and General Lionel Dunsterville (whose troops were lightly referred to as Dunsterforce) were further agitated by Mirza
's refusal to let British forces pass through Gilan on their way up north, while Mirza had approved and guaranteed Russian troops returning north safe passage. British forces attacked Rasht as a result, and even bombed Mirza's residence using airplanes. An ultimatum was issued to Mirza by the British to surrender.

The Russians joined the British and sent in 20,000 troops to capture Mirza. Many prominent members of the movement such as Haj Ahmad Kasmai, and Dr

Talequani Heshmat surrendered, with 270 troops, and the latter was executed by the Qajar government despite the immunity that he was granted.[30]

In 1922, the Soviets came to an agreement with the Iranian government to withdraw their troops, especially those assisting the

Reza Khan and Mirza, along with his German companion, froze to death as they tried to escape Khan's men.[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Dailami, Pezhmann (April 10, 2012) [December 15, 2008]. "Jangali Movement". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica. Fasc. 5. Vol. XIV. New York City: Bibliotheca Persica Press. pp. 534–544. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  2. ^ According to page 92 of Javadzadeh 2011 Jangal means "jungle or forest" and referred to where the members of the movement came from. He also notes that members of the group were called Jangaliha and describes them as Muslims fighting for land reform in Iran's northern Gilan province.
  3. ^ Katouzian 1981, p. 75.
  4. ^ Amirahmadi 2012, p. xiv.
  5. ^ Asgharzadeh 2007, p. 86.
  6. ^ a b Amirahmadi 2012, p. 228.
  7. ^ Javadzadeh 2011, pp. 93, 113.
  8. ^ Katouzian 1981, p. 76.
  9. ^ Kaveh Farrokh, Iran at War: 1500-1988 (USA: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2011), 400.
  10. ^ Katouzian 2006, p. 141.
  11. ^ Eric J. Hooglund, Land and Revolution in Iran, 1960–1980 (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1982), 38.
  12. ^ Katouzian 2006, p. 73.
  13. ^ Amirahmadi 2012, pp. 119, 228.
  14. ISBN 9780691004976
    .
  15. ^ Amirahmadi 2012, pp. 230–231.
  16. ^ Asgharzadeh 2007, p. 18.
  17. ^ a b c Amirahmadi 2012, p. 229.
  18. ^ Javadzadeh 2011, pp. 93–94.
  19. ^ Javadzadeh 2011, pp. 91, 181.
  20. ^ Katouzian 1981, p. 77.
  21. ^ Katouzian 2006, pp. 188–189.
  22. ^ Javadzadeh 2011, pp. 96, 177.
  23. ^ Behrooz, Maziar (2004). "The Iranian Revolution and the Legacy of the Guerrilla Movement". In Cronin, Stephanie (ed.). Reformers and Revolutionaries in Modern Iran: New Perspectives on the Iranian Left. London: Routledge. p. 197.
  24. ^ A Century of Revolution: Social Movements in Iran, edited by John Foran notes a non-English language book by Mustafa Shu'a'iyan titled Nigahi beh Ravabit-i Shuravi va Nahzat-i Inqilabi-i Jangal that focuses on the relationship between the USSR and the Jangal movement.
  25. ^ See Tarikh-i Enghelab-i Jangal by Muhammad Ali Gilak, Rasht, 1992.
  26. ISBN 964-5799-64-3
    , p59.
  27. ^ The letters were printed in Sardar-i Jangal by Ibrahim Fakhra'i, 1963, p282.
  28. ^ Masa'il-i Inghilab-i Iran by Irandust, 1927, Vol 5, p132.
  29. ^ Fakhrai, p13.
  30. ^ Shabani, Reza (2005). The Book of Iran: A Selection of the History of Iran. Translated by Farrokhpey, Mahmoud (first ed.). Alhoda: Organization for Islamic Culture and Communications. p. 265.

Bibliography

Other reading
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