Reza Shah’s
Resignation and Exile
Retold by Touran Amir Soleimani (Mother of Gholam Reza Pahlavi)
Mokhtar Hadidi
In
1941, Iran witnessed the entrance of. allied forces and
departure of Reza Shah from the county. A ruler who had obtained his
legitimacy from foreigners and had taken the power in his hands
through the suppression of in dependence-oriented movements of people,
had to escape like a criminal. People who had witnessed his powerful
authority could not accept this. But this was god’s practice. the
followings are some part of the memories of a member of Pahlavi
family.
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It was 1320,
except some news on the world war that we heard from radio, we knew
nothing of the current events in Saad Abad fences, nobody dared to
talk to us when in the morning of the same day we got up to say our
prayers, we heard rough voices. At first we thought that they are
exploding stones to build houses and palaces for in the Shah plain
areas but suddenly we saw some airplanes in the sky. My son jerked
from his bed and said it is a Russian airplane. Now everything was
becoming clear and we heard the news of bombardment of some areas,
people’s fright and … it was almost noon that prince Gholamreza said
his majesty has ordered that all ladies , princes and princesses
should leave for Isphahan. Again we were in the hands of adversity. I
was even unable to gather our necessary things and packing our suit
cases. Her majesty. left for Isphahan, princess shams and princess
Ashraf left too. Esmat khanoum and her children did the same.
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We had to do
something. I thought that if I took shahboor to my family or their
villages, there may be some other gossips. If I would sent prince
Gholamreza and I did not go, I could not tolerate his separation. All
had gone except the shah, the crown prince and prince Alireza. I
thought that I should go with my son At First I took Qoran and the
prince took His gun, pistol and some some cloths and a small suitcase.
Our driver and Ghohar taj, mg lady in writing. of course The prince
drove the car, and all during our way to Isphahan was praying and
weeping. It took almost 10 hours that We reached Isphahan. After some
inquiries we found out that the queen is in the house of Dahesh, one
of reputable merchants of Isphahan. Esmat khanoum and his children
were in another place of course we had to go where the queen was. We
had not had anything that day. My son and my people went to bed
without dinner. The queen, her sisters and daughters were gathered in
a hall. When we entered, they were talking about the news. All of them
were sad and worried. Then the host led us to a room specified for
my son and me. My son was so tired and went to sleep.
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We were there
for two days. I forgot to tell that her highness Fouziyeh on 25th of
the same month became queen and with princess Shahnas were with us in
the same place. At that time Shahnaz was one year old. On the third
day, due to the lack of enough space, the place of Mr. Kazerouni, one
of reputable Isphahani merchants and owner of a textile factory was
prepared for us this place neas to zayandeh roud and had a guat Ganden
and excellent ? , we all went thene and evanyhady had a noom, my oun
and me a haned one room Each day came vaniauo news, nonc of which was
optimistic. Princesanem uddoutloh , the one of zellussulfan and
huoland of my maternal aunt, would ? uo to hio houac ouel Wao amaze of
all nawe and would soath aut ? for twenty days, out life ? in thio
way. Ahauld any that the ? ? people had diaappeaned the mathem
queen, hes hignem fougiyel and athen ? would Ait ?the talke wuth
up.and weupassy all oy wo would gathen in a hall and would talk ahuot
? It was 23 rd oy ? shahnivan that His highrn rega shahshah came to
the thnome. All of up wene cnying ? nound the ?. the only gope which
wan ? was that the dyra thy had not collapeed, and at leat Mohammad
reza shah came to the thnone. Then, they sent a man to upper floor to
make a bed for Reza shah. it Was almost p.m that his car rrived. We
were looking from the windows, but mohammad and her highress Fouzieh
were in Front of the front seat, who got off the dunal and
broughtdown the yellowbig swtcase.

All
people bowed to the shah. He bowed too and went up the stairs while
being very upset and depressed . He sat in the hall for a while. All
the others gatherd arouned him. After drinking a cup of tea he said
that he needed rest. They led him to his room in urper floor . then
there was silence. Prince Gholam Reg a came to me and said that his
highness ordered for prince Alireza’s and my accompanying the new
shah. The rest at the children would go with him abroud. I felt a
little bit better, at least my son would be beside me.

At
gor 10 p.m.d the same day some of his things and Coths were brought.
We passed that night in fear and in hope too. It was on 24…. In the
morning that another car came from Tehran carrying then the head of
police and Qavam shirazi.All
of us were surprised at their arrival. Then they asked permission for
audience with Reza shah. Then we heard that they have come to say that
his majesty should transfer his properties, movable or immovable to mohammael reza shah. Of course the new shah should sent monthly salary
to him and the family he took with himself abroad. Her majesty the
quean Fuzieh and princess shahnaz should leave for Tehran. Of course
we did not understand thy subject of falles between shah, head of
police, and Qavam until noon, some people came from Registry office
and His majesty Reza shah transferred all his belongings to Mohmmad
rezd.Then there was a letter fron mohammad reza to his fother , saying that
with regard to present situation and unrest of people, he cannot keep
the brothers and if possible, they go wigh his majesty abroad. When g
heard the news, I felt that I cannot bear it. That night I sat his bed
and looked ot his face and I cried. I thought that my life has gone.When at eleven, he left for Europe, I had the hope that I will see him
again. But now it was as if was exiled was it possible for him to
return to the country? If I chose to go with him , I had to tolerate
all their humilirting attilude. I had no money to live independently
in foreign countries. Moreover, I should pay my delots. If I went,
people would say that I used their money and went away.
Shahpoor was so sad that he could not say a word. He Pretended to be
asleep so that I would go to sleep too.In
short, that night passed much worse than the other nights. In the
morning I got up with swollen eues and heavy tempar. I said my
prayers. I cried my heart out Ghohar Taj. Then it became clear that
the princess shams also intends to go with her father. She pacified me
and told that:“do not wory, I would go too and would take tereidoun.
We won’t let him feel lonely. I know hom you love him I promise that I
will talke care of him”. I fell a little bit calmer But what should I
do when he left here. How can I bear his separation. How showd I pay
my debts. We went to sarenuddowleh’s place in the afternoon. He was
fond of shahpoor. He tried
to sooth me and said. Try to imagine he is going to contincce his
education and his father, sister and brothers avvompany him. He is
young. He has his future in front of him. I hope rest and stability
will be restored in the country and the prince will return to you. Do
not be that much worried. But I could not help crying. Hassan khan,
his son – in – law had come trom Tehran. Hassan loved my son very
much. He said that he hoped the trip would be a short one. My prince
at that time was is years old. He had only two cars, and some game
pistols some of which had been given to him by. Late majaddowleh.He had
given him a hound too within the last twenty days. He had bought two
shares of Ali Abad throu my in sistance. He lcnew
that how much I had delots. He said that he would give his cars to me,
of which I could use one and sell the other. He asked us to write to
him. Hassan said: “you should write something about the cars ond give
to me in case they should take them as court properties”. When we
returned home we saw Ali I zady, a cook and a servant had preprepared
the things of princess shams and fereidoun. Ali Izadi had me prepared
my son’s things. Now her majesty the queen was also sad bevause of
shams and Ali Reza’s departure. I did not sleep that night. I gazed at
shahpoor’s face and wept. The next morning all people woke up earlier
than previous days.It was
eight in the morning that reza shah came from upstairs. I could not
help my self. Iran to him. I had not tallced to him face to face since
shahpoor’s birth. I felt so misevable that I cannot describe it. I
started crying loudly his face had darkened. He cried too and said,
“of course he is my son, and I will take vare of him. Do not be
worried”. I could
not say a word more. He tumbled his head down. and went towards the
door. I was crying and I did not understand how they goton the cars.
It was at 10 a.m. that we heard from radio that mohammad reza shah was
going to swear in the mahlis. Her
majesty the queen, in voluntary said: “now after reza shah, it is not
important for me that my son enthrones or not and fouzieh becomes
queen. Of course she felt jealousy towards the new queen. Only when
one month passed the timw that he had done that in justice to me, all
these things happened of course I did not want him to have such a
fate. But it is not good to hurt the feelings of others.*The
manuscript of the memoirs of touran Amir soleimani, Reza shah’s third
wife is kept in he archive of IICHS.
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