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Reza Shah and the Lurs: the Impact of the Modern State on Luristan

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Reza Shah and the Lurs: the Impact of the Modern State on Luristan REZA SHAH AND THE LURS: THE IMPACT OF THE MODERN STATE ON LURISTAN SEKANDAR AMANOLAHI (Shiraz University) Introduction This paper deals with the consequences of the modern state on the Lurs of Luristan during the rule of Reza Shah (1925-1941), the founder of the Pahlavi dynasty (1925-1979). The Lurs (in New Persian pronunciation 'Lor'), including those of Luristan, Bakhtiyari, Kuh Giluyeh, Mamasani and many other smaller sections, are one of the several Iranian groups collectively comprising the majority of the population of modern Iran. The Lurs speak Luri, a southwestern Iranian dialect, which is the closest to modern Persian, the national language of contemporary Iran. The Lurs in general have been dealt with elsewhere;' hence we are presently concerned with the Lurs of Luristan, who for many years fought Reza Shah's forces. The Lurs formed their local dynasty of Atabakan-e Luristan (1184-1597 AD), during the Seljuk era; this was subsequently replaced by another Luri dynasty known as the Vali dynasty (1597-1928 AD). Reza Shah terminated the latter in 1928, and hence the Luri dynasties ended after 744 years. The establishment of the modern state by Reza Shah demanded changes in traditional relationships between the state and the Lurs, a circumstance that led to bloody confrontation and the subsequent subjugation of the latter. This paper examines, first, the roots of the confrontation between the state and the Lurs, second, the policy of Reza Shah towards the Lurs, particularly the military campaigns against them, and third, the overall consequences of the state policies in Luristan. THE ROOTS OFDISPUTES The disputes between the Lurs and the state are rooted in the relationships between the Lurs and the traditional state under the ' S. Amanolahi,Qoum-e Lor: Pazuhesrdar bareyePeyvastegf-e Qouj22.T va Parakandegf- e joyrafhlI-yelorha dar Iran (The Lur: Research on the Ethnic Affiliationand the CTeographicalDistribution of the Lursin Iran) (Tehran, 1991).). 194 Qajars on the one hand, and the nature of the modern state on the other. 1. The Consequences of Qajar rule in Luristan Prior to the Qajars (1794-1924) the whole of Luristan, including Pishkuh (modern Luristan; literally "before the mountain") and Poshtkuh (currently Ilam province; "behind the mountain"), was under the rule of the semi-autonomous Vali dynasty. However, when Aqa Mohammad Khan, the founder of the Qajar dynasty, overcame the Lur dynasty of Zand (1750-1794) and took control of Iran, he decided to weaken the power of the Vali dynasty of Luristan. Aqa Muhammad Khan, who had spent several years of his life in Karim Khan's court as a hostage in Shiraz, was an ardent antagonist of the Lurs. Apparently, he viewed the Vali of Luristan as potentially dangerous; therefore, he separated Poshtkuh from Luristan and limited Vali rule to that region only. From that time onwards, the province of Luristan was ruled by a governor-general appointed and re-appointed annually by the king. Most of the governor- generals were Qajar princes or other personalities; there was never a native Lur from Luristan. The provincial administrative apparatus consisted of the governor-general, deputy governor (naylb ol-hoki7meli), a special deputy governor a clerk a quartermaster (karpar daz), a small-armed force, and a number of attendants. With few exceptions, the governors never had sufficient armed forces at their disposal to maintain law and order and, more important, to collect taxes. Hence, they utilised the system of pishkari, comprising a reciprocal pattern between the governor and a tribal khan, who was appointed as the special deputy governor (pishkar). The pishkar was rewarded not only by a monthly salary, but by other favours also. Furthermore, the position of pishkarl'cnhanced the power and the prestige as well as the income of the incumbents. In return for such privileges, the pishkar was obliged to make an available contingent of mounted men and foot soldiers from his tribe to assist the governor's forces to collect revenue and to establish law and order. Furthermore, he was required to remain in Khorramabad and advise the governor on various political affairs. The pishkar, in addition to the mounted and non-mounted armed force from his tribe, obtained the support of other tribal khans through alliance In short, .
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