An Enduring Love by Farah Pahlavi
>> Saturday 16 February 2013
One fine afternoon, a friend asked what I do. I replied - reading the biography of Farah Pahlavi, the exile Queen of the late King of Iran. Oh the free-hair princess of the so called islamic country, she asked. I returned a short reply - is here new?
Farah Diba was born in an upper-class family in Tehran and was the only child. Her father died when she was young, and later lived and brought up by close relative family. She studied architecture in Paris and met the King of Iran, Mohamad Reza Pahlavi during a university visit.
She was 21 years old when married the king whom previous marriage was without an heir. The marriage was blessed with 4 children, the eldest son the crown Prince Reza, Princess Farahnaz, Prince Ali-Reza and Princess Leila. Later at the end of the chapter, Princess Leila the youngest daughter was found dead in her bedroom due to over-dosed tranquilizers. 10 years later, Ali-Reza has committed suicide after a long depression, and feel ill-fated to be exiled and away from own country, besides losing his close sister, Princess Leila.
The king has introduced new policies to modernize (and turned secular) Iran, but has conflicted with the traditional and islamic values. 1979, the Iran revolution lead by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini has successfully overthrown the Pahlavi dynasty and put the imperial family into events of exile to Panama, Mexico and Egypt. Due to political reasons (and arrest and death threats) no country but Egypt has offered the imperial family a permenant stay. President Anwar Sadat has also given the best attention to the king's health, who at the time, was diagnosed with deteriorating cancer. The king was dead in 1980, and President Anuar sadat has granted asylum to the King's family. Sadly, in 1981, President Anwar Sadat was assinated.
Farah is now residing in the United States.
(and my next reading is the Biography of Ayatollah Khomeini )
Farah Diba was born in an upper-class family in Tehran and was the only child. Her father died when she was young, and later lived and brought up by close relative family. She studied architecture in Paris and met the King of Iran, Mohamad Reza Pahlavi during a university visit.
She was 21 years old when married the king whom previous marriage was without an heir. The marriage was blessed with 4 children, the eldest son the crown Prince Reza, Princess Farahnaz, Prince Ali-Reza and Princess Leila. Later at the end of the chapter, Princess Leila the youngest daughter was found dead in her bedroom due to over-dosed tranquilizers. 10 years later, Ali-Reza has committed suicide after a long depression, and feel ill-fated to be exiled and away from own country, besides losing his close sister, Princess Leila.
The king has introduced new policies to modernize (and turned secular) Iran, but has conflicted with the traditional and islamic values. 1979, the Iran revolution lead by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini has successfully overthrown the Pahlavi dynasty and put the imperial family into events of exile to Panama, Mexico and Egypt. Due to political reasons (and arrest and death threats) no country but Egypt has offered the imperial family a permenant stay. President Anwar Sadat has also given the best attention to the king's health, who at the time, was diagnosed with deteriorating cancer. The king was dead in 1980, and President Anuar sadat has granted asylum to the King's family. Sadly, in 1981, President Anwar Sadat was assinated.
Farah is now residing in the United States.
(and my next reading is the Biography of Ayatollah Khomeini )
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