Farhang Mehr
Encyclopedia
Farhang Mehr is a Zoroastrian scholar and former politician.
. His father, Mehraban Mehr, was from the province of Kerman
, and at the age of 14 migrated to Tehran for greater economic and social opportunities. He went on to become Chief Accountant in the Majlis Showraye Melli
parliament, predecessor of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Iran). His mother, Paridokht, was a granddaughter of Khajeh Barkhordar, a Zoroastrian Yazd
i immigrant to Tehran, who served as one of the farm-managers of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar. Farhang was raised as a devout Zororastrian and a patriotic Iranian.
, University of London
, and a Ph.D. from University of Southampton
. In 1975 he was awarded LL.D. (honoris causa) by the University of Pennsylvania
.
as head of the Department of International Contracts and Industrial Relations. In this period, he also served as advisor to the Minister of Commerce. Subsequently, at the invitation of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Mehr moved to that ministry where he consecutively held the following positions: Director General of Oil and International Relations, Governor for Iran in OPEC, Director General of Economic Affairs and Monopolies, Deputy Minister in charge of finance (revenue and treasury) and economic affairs.
, and Pakistan
. The building of the famous Shah Abbas Hotel
in Isfahan was during Dr. Mehr’s presidency in Bimeh-yeh Iran. During this time, he continued to serve as Iranian Governor for OPEC. In addition to his governmental positions, Dr Mehr was also teaching at Iran’s Military Academy, Tehran University, National University of Iran, College of Accounting and College of Insurance. He served on the board of trustees of several universities and colleges.
. During his presidency, the university became internationally known for its academic excellence and for instituting innovative policies that were later adopted by other developing countries. In 1973, the International Health Organization (WHO) chose Pahlavi University as the center for giving on the job training courses to the faculties of the medical schools the South Mediterranean countries. In recognition of his valuable services Dr. Mehr was the first and only non-Muslim Iranian decorated with First rank Homayoun Medallion and Second rank Taj Medalion.
, Farhang Mehr immigrated to the United States
. There he joined Boston University
as Professor of International Relations. He retired in 1997 as Professor Emeritus.
On his return to Iran in 1957 Dr Mehr again assumed an active role in the Zoroastrian community and was elected Chairman of Tehran Zoroastrian Anjuman, a position he held until the Islamic Revolution of 1979. He was a founder of the “Ancient Iranian Cultural Society”. Dr. Mehr has attended all World Zoroastrian Congress es since their inception in 1960 in Iran. He is a founder of the World Zoroastrian Organization (WZO).
Background
Mehr was born to a Zoroastrian family in TehranTehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
. His father, Mehraban Mehr, was from the province of Kerman
Kerman
- Geological characteristics :For the Iranian paleontologists, Kerman has always been considered a fossil paradise. Finding new dinosaur footprints in 2005 has now revealed new hopes for paleontologists to better understand the history of this area.- Economy :...
, and at the age of 14 migrated to Tehran for greater economic and social opportunities. He went on to become Chief Accountant in the Majlis Showraye Melli
Iranian Constitutional Revolution
The Persian Constitutional Revolution or Iranian Constitutional Revolution took place between 1905 and 1907...
parliament, predecessor of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Iran). His mother, Paridokht, was a granddaughter of Khajeh Barkhordar, a Zoroastrian Yazd
Yazd
Yazd is the capital of Yazd Province in Iran, and a centre of Zoroastrian culture. The city is located some 175 miles southeast of Isfahan. At the 2006 census, the population was 423,006, in 114,716 families....
i immigrant to Tehran, who served as one of the farm-managers of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar. Farhang was raised as a devout Zororastrian and a patriotic Iranian.
Education
Upon graduating from the Polytechnic with a degree in mechanical engineering, he joined Tehran University and obtained a bachelor degree from the School of Law, Economics and Political Science. Then he went to England, where he received an L.L.M. from London School of EconomicsLondon School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, and a Ph.D. from University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
. In 1975 he was awarded LL.D. (honoris causa) by the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
.
Early career
Returning to Tehran in 1957, Dr. Mehr joined the National Iranian Oil CompanyNational Iranian Oil Company
The National Iranian Oil Company , a government-owned corporation under the direction of the Ministry of Petroleum of Iran, is an oil and natural gas producer and distributor headquartered in Tehran. It was established in 1948...
as head of the Department of International Contracts and Industrial Relations. In this period, he also served as advisor to the Minister of Commerce. Subsequently, at the invitation of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Mehr moved to that ministry where he consecutively held the following positions: Director General of Oil and International Relations, Governor for Iran in OPEC, Director General of Economic Affairs and Monopolies, Deputy Minister in charge of finance (revenue and treasury) and economic affairs.
Higher civil service
He was then nominated by the prime minister to serve as the Minister of Finance. However, he could not become a minister under Iran’s constitutional law which preserved the ministerial posts for Muslims only. Thus, he became General Deputy Minister. During the premiership of Amir Abbas Hoveyda, Mehr served as Acting Minister for several months. Mehr then resigned to register his opposition to the relevant discriminatory provision in the constitutional law. Prime Minister Hoveyda responded by offering Dr. Mehr the position of Deputy Prime Minister with all the privileges of a minister except the title. To continue to demonstrate his opposition to the laws affecting non-Muslims, after a few months of serving in that position Mehr resigned with publicity.Private enterprise
He then assumed the position of Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the largest insurance company in Iran, “Bimeh-ye Iran.” In this position he created a new regulatory agency for insurance, called the Central Insurance Company. He also initiated the insurance pools within the framework of the Regional Corporation for Development (RCD), as well as the College of Insurance for training of insurance staff among Iran, TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. The building of the famous Shah Abbas Hotel
Abbasi Hotel
The Abbasi Hotel is a hotel located in Isfahan, Iran. This complex was built at the time of king Sultan Husayn of Safavid about 300 years ago. It was built as a caravansary to provide lodging for passengers...
in Isfahan was during Dr. Mehr’s presidency in Bimeh-yeh Iran. During this time, he continued to serve as Iranian Governor for OPEC. In addition to his governmental positions, Dr Mehr was also teaching at Iran’s Military Academy, Tehran University, National University of Iran, College of Accounting and College of Insurance. He served on the board of trustees of several universities and colleges.
Pahlavi University
Farhang Mehr’s last position in Iran, prior to the Islamic Revolution of 1979, was president of Pahlavi University in ShirazShiraz, Iran
Shiraz is the sixth most populous city in Iran and is the capital of Fars Province, the city's 2009 population was 1,455,073. Shiraz is located in the southwest of Iran on the Roodkhaneye Khoshk seasonal river...
. During his presidency, the university became internationally known for its academic excellence and for instituting innovative policies that were later adopted by other developing countries. In 1973, the International Health Organization (WHO) chose Pahlavi University as the center for giving on the job training courses to the faculties of the medical schools the South Mediterranean countries. In recognition of his valuable services Dr. Mehr was the first and only non-Muslim Iranian decorated with First rank Homayoun Medallion and Second rank Taj Medalion.
Exile
In 1981, two years after the establishment of the Revolutionary Islamic Republic of IranIranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
, Farhang Mehr immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. There he joined Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
as Professor of International Relations. He retired in 1997 as Professor Emeritus.
Zoroastrian activism
Mehr has been very active in the Zoroastrian Communities world-wide. In his youth he, organized Sazeman Javanan Zarathushty, with the goal of fostering unity and awareness amongst Zoroastrian youth, particularly in their struggle to obtain more rights in Iran. In 1949, Mehr was elected to Tehran Anjuman Zarathushtrian as its youngest member. Having left for England in 1950, he joined the Zoroastrian Association of Europe in London and continued to regularly contribute articles to the Zororastrian monthly journal “Hukht”, published in Tehran.On his return to Iran in 1957 Dr Mehr again assumed an active role in the Zoroastrian community and was elected Chairman of Tehran Zoroastrian Anjuman, a position he held until the Islamic Revolution of 1979. He was a founder of the “Ancient Iranian Cultural Society”. Dr. Mehr has attended all World Zoroastrian Congress es since their inception in 1960 in Iran. He is a founder of the World Zoroastrian Organization (WZO).