Gholamreza Takhti
Encyclopedia
Gholamreza Takhti is the most famous wrestler
in Iran
ian history. He was most famous for his chivalrous behavior and sportsmanship, and he continues to symbolize the essence of sport to the Iran
ian people.
, Iran
(Persia) on August 27, 1930.They were poor, leaving Takhti with only 9 years of schooling. Yet he was recognized as a natural athlete and was taken into the Poolad gymnasium for further training
.
Takhti was among the most famous practitioners of Varzesh-e Bastani, the famous Persian "Sport of the Heroes." The sport included club swinging and juggling followed by submission wrestling
known as Koshti Pahlavani. Varzesh-e Pahlavani was one of the formative influences of American catch wrestling
.
in western Iran, killing 45,000. Takhti was deeply touched by the suffering. Already one of Iran's biggest stars, he began to walk one of the main avenues of Tehran, asking for assistance for the victims. He inspired other champions to follow in his footseps, and thousands gave to alleviate the suffering.
Another example of his character comes from a match in Moscow
. After defeating the then-world champion Anatoli Albul, Takhti saw the sorrow on the face of Albul's mother. Takhti went to her and said, "I'm sorry about the result, but your son is a great wrestler." She smiled and kissed him.
In another instance, he had a match with Russian
wrestler Alexander Medved
who had an injured right knee. When Takhti found out that he was injured, he never attacked that leg. Instead, he tried to attack the other leg. He lost the match, but showed that he valued honorable behavior more than reaching victory.
Alexander Medved
, out of respect, has visited Takhti's grave many times in Iran over the years.
ian government officially proclaimed his death a suicide
. However, some claim that he was murdered because of his political activities against the Pahlavi
regime, accusing SAVAK
, the Iran
ian intelligence agency
at that time. As a national hero his funeral, organized by Hossein Towfigh, editor in chief of the late Towfigh magazine, drew hundreds of thousands of mourners. Towfigh magazine issued a special edition of their popular weekly magazine where they caricatured Takhti with angel wings flying high above the throngs of Iranian mourners at his own funeral with a caption that read "Don't cry for me, cry for your own plight." This was a direct reference not only to the plight of the Iranian people under the dictatorial regime of the Shah, but also showed Takhti's democratic beliefs, one of the reasons cited for his mysterious death. Towfigh magazine was shut down by the Shah for several months after printing this cartoon.
He is buried at Ebn-e Babooyeh
cemetery in Southern part of Tehran
, near Shahr-e Ray, where he is commemorated every year by his fans, even now many years after his death. He was survived by his wife and son, Babak Takhti, an author and translator. The movie Takhtihttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0260413/, begun by Ali Hatami
and finished by Behrooz Afkhami
, examined some of the theories about Takhti's death.
Amateur wrestling
Amateur wrestling is the most widespread form of sport wrestling. There are two international wrestling styles performed in the Olympic Games under the supervision of FILA : Greco-Roman and freestyle. Freestyle is possibly derived from the English Lancashire style...
in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian history. He was most famous for his chivalrous behavior and sportsmanship, and he continues to symbolize the essence of sport to the Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian people.
Early life
Takhti was born 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...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
(Persia) on August 27, 1930.They were poor, leaving Takhti with only 9 years of schooling. Yet he was recognized as a natural athlete and was taken into the Poolad gymnasium for further training
.
Takhti was among the most famous practitioners of Varzesh-e Bastani, the famous Persian "Sport of the Heroes." The sport included club swinging and juggling followed by submission wrestling
Submission wrestling
Submission wrestling or Combat wrestling in Japan, is a formula of competition and a general term describing the aspect of martial arts and combat sports that focus on clinch and ground fighting with the aim of obtaining a submission using submission holds...
known as Koshti Pahlavani. Varzesh-e Pahlavani was one of the formative influences of American catch wrestling
Catch wrestling
Catch wrestling is a style of folk wrestling that was developed and popularised in the late 19th century by the wrestlers of traveling carnivals who incorporated submission holds, or "hooks", into their wrestling to increase their effectiveness against their opponents...
.
Character
In 1962, a terrible earthquake occurred in Bou'in-Zahra1962 Bou'in-Zahra earthquake
The 1962 Bou'in-Zahra earthquake occurred on September 1, 1962, in the area of Bou'in-Zahra, Qazvin Province, Iran. 12,225 fatalities resulted from the massive, magnitude 7.1 earthquake....
in western Iran, killing 45,000. Takhti was deeply touched by the suffering. Already one of Iran's biggest stars, he began to walk one of the main avenues of Tehran, asking for assistance for the victims. He inspired other champions to follow in his footseps, and thousands gave to alleviate the suffering.
Another example of his character comes from a match in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. After defeating the then-world champion Anatoli Albul, Takhti saw the sorrow on the face of Albul's mother. Takhti went to her and said, "I'm sorry about the result, but your son is a great wrestler." She smiled and kissed him.
In another instance, he had a match with Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
wrestler Alexander Medved
Alexander Medved
Alexander Vasiliyevich Medved is a famous Soviet/Russian Belarussian wrestler. He is considered by most to be the best freestyle wrestler of all time. He was the first person ever to win three gold medals in freestyle wrestling. FILA recognizes Medved as The Greatest Wrestler of the 20th Century...
who had an injured right knee. When Takhti found out that he was injured, he never attacked that leg. Instead, he tried to attack the other leg. He lost the match, but showed that he valued honorable behavior more than reaching victory.
Alexander Medved
Alexander Medved
Alexander Vasiliyevich Medved is a famous Soviet/Russian Belarussian wrestler. He is considered by most to be the best freestyle wrestler of all time. He was the first person ever to win three gold medals in freestyle wrestling. FILA recognizes Medved as The Greatest Wrestler of the 20th Century...
, out of respect, has visited Takhti's grave many times in Iran over the years.
Death
Takhti was found dead in his hotel room on January 7, 1968. The IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian government officially proclaimed his death a suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. However, some claim that he was murdered because of his political activities against the Pahlavi
Pahlavi dynasty
The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi (reg. 1925–1941) and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty ...
regime, accusing SAVAK
SAVAK
SAVAK was the secret police, domestic security and intelligence service established by Iran's Mohammad Reza Shah on the recommendation of the British Government and with the help of the United States' Central Intelligence Agency SAVAK (Persian: ساواک, short for سازمان اطلاعات و امنیت کشور...
, the Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian intelligence agency
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
at that time. As a national hero his funeral, organized by Hossein Towfigh, editor in chief of the late Towfigh magazine, drew hundreds of thousands of mourners. Towfigh magazine issued a special edition of their popular weekly magazine where they caricatured Takhti with angel wings flying high above the throngs of Iranian mourners at his own funeral with a caption that read "Don't cry for me, cry for your own plight." This was a direct reference not only to the plight of the Iranian people under the dictatorial regime of the Shah, but also showed Takhti's democratic beliefs, one of the reasons cited for his mysterious death. Towfigh magazine was shut down by the Shah for several months after printing this cartoon.
He is buried at Ebn-e Babooyeh
Ebn-e Babooyeh
Ebn-e Babooyeh cemetery, Ibn-e Baabevey, or Ibn Babviyeh is located in Iran in the town of Rey ....
cemetery in Southern part of Tehran
Tehran
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...
, near Shahr-e Ray, where he is commemorated every year by his fans, even now many years after his death. He was survived by his wife and son, Babak Takhti, an author and translator. The movie Takhtihttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0260413/, begun by Ali Hatami
Ali Hatami
Ali Hatami was an Iranian film director, screenwriter, art Director and costume designer.-Background:Graduated in cinema from Faculty of Dramatic Arts, his debut was Hasan Kachal , the first Iranian musical film...
and finished by Behrooz Afkhami
Behrooz Afkhami
Behrooz Afkhami is an Iranian film Director and Screen Writer. Known for a distinct style that utilizes Point of View camera techniques to portray stories of classical human drama.-Career and Life:...
, examined some of the theories about Takhti's death.
External links
- A poem by Siavash Kasrai about Takhti
- Mohtāj Rasouli, In Memory of Jahān Pahlavān Takhti, in Persian, Jadid Online, 7 January 2008, http://www.jadidonline.com/story/07012008/almf/takhti_annivversary.
Shokā Sahrāi, an audio slideshow, Jadid Online, 7 January 2008, http://www.jadidonline.com/images/stories/flash_multimedia/Takhti_anniversary_test/takhti_high.html (3 min 47 sec).
Some reminiscences of Gholamreza Takhti by his friends, in Persian, Jadid Online, 7 January 2008, http://www.jadidonline.com/story/07012008/akmf/takhti_memories. - Bahār Navā'i, Takhti at British MuseumBritish MuseumThe British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
(Takhti dar Muzeh-ye Britāniā), in Persian, Jadid Online, 2 March 2009, http://www.jadidonline.com/story/02032009/frnk/takhti_british_museum.
An audio slideshow, Jadid Online, 2 March 2009, http://www.jadidonline.com/images/stories/flash_multimedia/Takhti_british_museum_test/takht_high.html (3 min 57 sec).