Shahriar: Iran’s Timeless Cultural Icon Who Spoke to Every Heart

Every year on September 18, Iranians honor Seyed Mohammad-Hossein Behjat Tabrizi, better known as Shahriar, one of modern Iran’s most celebrated poets. The day is officially marked as the National Day of Persian Poetry and Literature, commemorating both his life and his enduring contributions to Persian letters.

From Tabriz to National Fame

Born on January 2, 1906, near Tabriz, Shahriar began writing poetry in high school and quickly gained recognition. Initially publishing under his birth name, Behjat, he later adopted Shahriar as his literary identity. His debut collection, Divan-e Shahriar (1931), won praise for its elegant style and inventive imagery, earning prefaces from literary figures like Mohammad Taqi Bahar, Saeid Nafisi, and Pejman Bakhtiari.

Shahriar mastered various forms—lyrics, quatrains, odes, and elegies—but his ghazals, inspired by Hafez, became his hallmark. He combined classical elegance with accessible language, ensuring his poetry resonated deeply with ordinary Iranians.

The Iconic “Heydar Babaya Salam”

His most famous work, Heydar Babaya Salam, written in Azari, captures nostalgic memories of his childhood village. Named after the mountain where he grew up, it has been translated into over 30 languages and adapted for stage performances, cementing Shahriar’s reputation as a bridge between local heritage and universal poetic themes.

A Poet of Love and Longing

While often celebrated for spiritual and mystical verse, Shahriar’s love poems reveal an equally powerful voice. In one ghazal, he writes:

“You came, my life for you—but why now, when it is too late?”

The poem mixes passion and sorrow, reflecting devotion, heartbreak, and the fleeting nature of life. His conversational tone and emotional depth allowed readers to connect intimately with his verse, showing a side of Shahriar beyond nationalism and mysticism.

Honored as a National Treasure

Shahriar passed away on September 18, 1988, in Tehran and was laid to rest at the Maqbaratoshoara (Mausoleum of Poets) in Tabriz. His legacy was formally recognized in 2006 when Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei called him “one of the eternal personalities of Persian poetry” and praised his contribution to Iran’s literary heritage, emphasizing that even though Shahriar’s mother tongue was Azari, his poetry belongs to all of Persian literature.

Timeless Relevance

Shahriar’s poetry remains a cornerstone of Iranian culture, celebrated for its blend of spiritual depth, national identity, and heartfelt human emotion. From mystical reflections to passionate love, his words continue to be studied, recited, and translated, proving that centuries may pass, but true poetry never fades from the heart.