EQDĀM

 

EQDĀM, name of two separate series of a Persian newspaper published and edited in Tehran by the journalist, poet, novelist, and translator, ʿAbbās Ḵalīlī (b. Najaf, 1311/1893, d. Tehran, 1350 Š./1971, q.v.). Ḵalīlī, a member of a prominent clerical family in Iraq, fled to Persia reportedly after being sentenced to death by the British for his anti-British activities. In Tehran, however, he worked as translator for the pro-British daily Raʿd. Eqdām was published as follows:

1. Firstly, as a newspaper covering news and social issues, initially published three times a week and later daily from 1300 Š./1921 nearly to the end of 1310 Š./1932. Islamic in orientation, it supported the regime brought to power by the 1921 coup. It was suspended once in Bahman 1301 Š./January-February 1923, apparently as part of Reżā Khan’s political crackdown, and was replaced for four issues by Bīdārī (q.v.). Its format was four five-column pages, 41 x 54 cm.

2. Then, as a thrice-weekly newspaper published from 21 Day 1320 Š./11 January 1942 to winter 1327 Š./1949. It was initially independent, and from the beginning of 1321 Š./1942 supported Sayyed Żīāʾ-al-Dīn Ṭabāṭabāʾī, only to oppose him strongly the following year. Later it came to support an obscure party called as Ḥezb-e yārān (various issues of 1321-22 Š./1942-43). From 1945 onward, it supported the Nationalists and later Moḥammad Moṣaddeq. Each issue contained a strong editorial written by Ḵalīlī. Eqdām’s attacks on the Allies and some of the governments of the time led to several suspensions, during which it would be replaced by another newspaper. Ḵalīlī was also arrested several times on occasion in connection with the suspensions. A few months after the newspaper ceased publication, Ḵalīlī was sent as ambassador to Ethiopia.

Usually, its format was four five-column pages, 34 x 50 cm, carrying illustrations, priced at 2 rials per issue, 200 rials per year, which increased in later years. Incomplete runs of both newspapers are accessible at major Persian libraries, the Library of Congress, and Princeton University Library.

 

Bibliography (for cited works not given in detail, see “Short References”):

Ḥ. Abū-Torābīān, Maṭbūʿāt-e Īrān az Šahrīvar-e 1320-26, Tehran, 1366 Š./1987, p. 41.

Āryanpūr, Az Ṣabā tā Nīmā II, pp. 264-65.

Bāmdād, Rejāl VI, pp. 129-30.

M. Barzīn, Šenās-nāma az 1215 tā 1357, Tehran, 1371 Š./1992, p. 52.

L. P. Elwell-Sutton, “The Iranian Press, 1941-47,” Iran 6, pp. 66, 71, 78.

Š. Esfandīārī et al., Maṭbūʿāt: Fehrest-e taḥlīlī-e Majles-e Senā, Tehran, 1358 Š./1979, p. 26.

H. Key-Ostovān, Sīāsat-e mowāzana-ye manfī dar Majles-e čahārdahom, 2 vols., Tehran, 1327 Š./1948, I, pp. 243-44, II, p. 58.

R. Mach and R. D. McChesney, “A List of Persian Serials in the Princeton University Library,” unpubl. handlist, Princeton, 1971.

I. V. Pourhadi, Persian and Afghan Newspapers in the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., 1979, no. 83.

W.-D. Ṣādeqī-Nasab, Fehrest-e rūz-nāmahā-ye fārsī 1320-1332 Ḵ., Tehran, 1361 Š./1982, no. 121.

Ṣadr Hašemī, Jarāʾed o majallāt I, pp. 226-29.

Sartīpzāda and Ḵodāparast, Fehrest-e rūz-nāmahā-ye mawjūd dar Ketāb-ḵān-ye mellī-e Īrān, Tehran, 1356 Š./1977, no. 69.

G. Šokrī, “Fehrest-e rūz-nāmahā wa majallahā-ye fārsī dar Moʾassasa-ye āsīāʾī-e Šīrāz,” FIZ 27, 1366 Š./1987, p. 336.

M. Solṭānī, Fehrest-e rūz-nāmahā-ye fārsī dar majmūʿa-ye Ketāb-ḵāna-ye markazī. . . Dānešgāh-e Tehrān, Tehran, 1354 Š./1975, no. 45.

(Nassereddin Parvin)

Originally Published: December 15, 1998

Last Updated: December 15, 2011

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