Mirza Mohammad Ali (Persian: میرزا محمد علی), better known as Hajj Sayyah (Persian: حاج سياح "the traveler", 1836–1925), was an Iranian American world traveler and political activist.
Hajj Sayyah
He was the first Iranian to obtain American citizenship. According to a decree issued by the District Court of the 12th Judicial District of the State of California, he was naturalized on May 26, 1875.
Hajj Sayyah was born in 1836 in the town of Mahallat, Sublime State of Iran.[1] His studies exposed him at a young age to modern and democratic ideas that were then spreading throughout parts of the world. The stark difference that he observed between the treatment suffered by most Persia under their autocratic rulers and those ideas he studied inspired him to see the rest of the world.
Journeyedit
At the age of 23, Hajj Sayyah embarked on a remarkable journey around the globe, and which would last for nearly 18 years. He began his travels by wandering throughout Central Asia and Europe for more than six years. Often, he traveled alone and in poverty.[2]
The motivation for his travels was his thirst for knowledge and spiritual strength. He wanted to learn as much as he could about the world and how other people lived to bring those ideas back to Persia. As a result of his observations throughout his travels, he concluded that human beings are supposed to live in reasonably-humane societies and, to enjoy basic human rights.
Hajj Sayyah came to the United States through New York City. During his ten-year stay in the country, he met with many prominent personalities such as US President Ulysses Grant on more than one occasion. His travels across the United States eventually took him to San Francisco, where he spent several months.
In the course of studying Hajj Sayyahʼs life, Dr. Ali Ferdowsi recently discovered through State Department documents that Hajj Sayyah had become a US citizen on May 26, 1875, the first Iranian to do so.[3]
Political activistedit
Upon returning to Persia in July 1877, Hajj Sayyah became politically active and was imprisoned for having instigated a clandestine letter writing campaign to the monarch and clergy regarding the unbearable living conditions in Persia. After his release, fearing further persecution he sought the protection of the US legation in Tehran. That move puzzled many Persians, who wondered why he felt that the US government would protect him.
Hajj Sayyah went on to play a major role in the Persian Constitutional Revolution of 1906 in Persia, and he remained active until his death in 1925, at the age of 89.[4]
Referencesedit
^Mehrbanoo Nasser Deyhim in: An Iranian in Nineteenth Century Europe, The Travel Diaries of Hâj Sayyâh 1859-1877. Translated by Mehrbanoo Nasser Deyhim, Foreword by Peter Avery. Bethesda Maryland, IBEX Publishers 1998. p.15.
^An Iranian in Nineteenth Century Europe, The Travel Diaries of Hâj Sayyâh 1859-1877. Bethesda Maryland, IBEX Publishers 1998.
^Mehrbanoo Nasser Deyhim in: An Iranian in Nineteenth Century Europe, p.17.
Further readingedit
Tornesello, Natalia L. (2021). "Hâjj Sayyâh in 19th Century Iran: A Voyage in Search of an Identity". Annali Sezione Orientale. 81 (1–2): 81–98. doi:10.1163/24685631-12340112. S2CID 239105677.
May 08, 2024
hajj, sayyah, mirza, mohammad, persian, میرزا, محمد, علی, better, known, persian, حاج, سياح, traveler, 1836, 1925, iranian, american, world, traveler, political, activist, first, iranian, obtain, american, citizenship, according, decree, issued, district, cour. Mirza Mohammad Ali Persian میرزا محمد علی better known as Hajj Sayyah Persian حاج سياح the traveler 1836 1925 was an Iranian American world traveler and political activist Hajj Sayyah He was the first Iranian to obtain American citizenship According to a decree issued by the District Court of the 12th Judicial District of the State of California he was naturalized on May 26 1875 Contents 1 Early life 2 Journey 3 Political activist 4 References 5 Further readingEarly life editHajj Sayyah was born in 1836 in the town of Mahallat Sublime State of Iran 1 His studies exposed him at a young age to modern and democratic ideas that were then spreading throughout parts of the world The stark difference that he observed between the treatment suffered by most Persia under their autocratic rulers and those ideas he studied inspired him to see the rest of the world Journey editAt the age of 23 Hajj Sayyah embarked on a remarkable journey around the globe and which would last for nearly 18 years He began his travels by wandering throughout Central Asia and Europe for more than six years Often he traveled alone and in poverty 2 The motivation for his travels was his thirst for knowledge and spiritual strength He wanted to learn as much as he could about the world and how other people lived to bring those ideas back to Persia As a result of his observations throughout his travels he concluded that human beings are supposed to live in reasonably humane societies and to enjoy basic human rights Hajj Sayyah came to the United States through New York City During his ten year stay in the country he met with many prominent personalities such as US President Ulysses Grant on more than one occasion His travels across the United States eventually took him to San Francisco where he spent several months In the course of studying Hajj Sayyahʼs life Dr Ali Ferdowsi recently discovered through State Department documents that Hajj Sayyah had become a US citizen on May 26 1875 the first Iranian to do so 3 Political activist editUpon returning to Persia in July 1877 Hajj Sayyah became politically active and was imprisoned for having instigated a clandestine letter writing campaign to the monarch and clergy regarding the unbearable living conditions in Persia After his release fearing further persecution he sought the protection of the US legation in Tehran That move puzzled many Persians who wondered why he felt that the US government would protect him Hajj Sayyah went on to play a major role in the Persian Constitutional Revolution of 1906 in Persia and he remained active until his death in 1925 at the age of 89 4 References edit Mehrbanoo Nasser Deyhim in An Iranian in Nineteenth Century Europe The Travel Diaries of Haj Sayyah 1859 1877 Translated by Mehrbanoo Nasser Deyhim Foreword by Peter Avery Bethesda Maryland IBEX Publishers 1998 p 15 An Iranian in Nineteenth Century Europe The Travel Diaries of Haj Sayyah 1859 1877 Bethesda Maryland IBEX Publishers 1998 ḤAJJ SAYYAḤ Encyclopaedia Iranica www iranicaonline org Retrieved 2013 11 06 Mehrbanoo Nasser Deyhim in An Iranian in Nineteenth Century Europe p 17 Further reading editTornesello Natalia L 2021 Hajj Sayyah in 19th Century Iran A Voyage in Search of an Identity Annali Sezione Orientale 81 1 2 81 98 doi 10 1163 24685631 12340112 S2CID 239105677 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hajj Sayyah amp oldid 1166498698, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
