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Aga mirza Mehdi,
Mr. Alamdari was
born in 1295 in Shamsi (1916), Ilkhchi. Following his
studies at “Maktab” with Molla Hashem for a year, he went to
Tabriz where he spent his primary and secondary school
years. Later he went on to graduate from Teaching School (Daneshsaraye
Moqademati) in 1319. He served in
different cities and provinces but mostly in Azerbaijan:
Maragheh, Tufarqan (Azer shahr), Osku, Khosroshah, Ilkhchi,
and Tabriz for 33 years. Most of his young
life was spent in his home town Ilkhchi where he did
invaluable services to his people. The following are a few
of his contribution to his people’s life:
He brought a
primary school to Ilkhchi
When the people of
Kahnamou (a village around Osku) refused to send their
children to school because of their religious leaders who
were against education. Mr. Alamdari who was a principal at
the time in Khosroshah, took the opportunity and tried hard
to transfer the school to Ilkhchi. He also managed to
change the name of the school from Gaem-magam to Salek (to
honour Mr. Allahgoli Salek, the most respected religious
leader in Ilkhchi). The school started in Shahriver 1322
Shamsi. He encouraged and
insisted the people of Ilkhchi to register their children in
school.
Hundreds adults
became literate in the Evening School
He opened an evening
school for young and older people who were illiterate and
could not study in the day time. With his efforts hundreds
of young and older people in Ilkhchi became literate.
Helped people to
build a Medical Centre (Behdariye Ilkhchi)
He encouraged the
people of Ilkhchi to build a medical centre “Behdari Ilkhchi”
by collecting money from wealthy and poor people. Mr. Alamdari managed
to collect money from all people capable of donating 5 Toman
to establish the Ilkhichi Clinic. The people, whom were
unable to help financially, participated as labour to build
the clinic. The Medical centre was opened to operation
around 1335 Shamsi.
Helped people and
forced wealthy people to build a public bath (Hammam)
His frequent
attempts to collect money from a few of the wealthy families
for a modern bathing facility finally became possible and a
modern public bathing place was built and used. The old
Khazine Hamam was finally closed.
Discouraged
alcohol consumption and production
His humanitarian
efforts extended further. He formed a local committee to
discourage people producing and using alcohol. This attempt
was quite effective in reducing alcoholism and alcohol
related family problems in Ilkhchi.
Encouraged
literacy in other neighbouring villages
He traveled to
villages near Ilkhchi and asked parents to send their
children to study in Salek School. Every year there were
many students from other villages like Kurlter and Khasil
travelling to Ilkhchi for this purpose. He also used to take
students to tour neighbouring villages in order to show them
illiterate villagers as well as encouraging villagers to
send their children to school to become educated. Mr. Alamdari
continued his services to his home town even after he moved
to Tabriz in 1332 where he served in different primary &
secondary schools. He was appointed by the Edare Farhang to
be in charge of building and refurbishing of several schools
in Charandab including: Javid, Farvardin primary schools,
Banafshe pre-school, and first Honarestane Memari in Tabriz.
He served as principle for the “Honerestane Memari”
(Technical Architectural School) for two years. He also
spent seven years at the Tabriz National Library where he
met intellectuals and activist in Tabriz. After his
retirement in 1351, he served at the Khanehe Ensaf “House of
Justice” as a legal moderator to solve people’s conflicts.
In summary,
Mr. Alamdari was an example of a man who devoted most of his
seventy years life to helping others. He touched many
people’s lives and brought them the very tools necessary to
succeed in life. He will forever be remembered as a
compassionate teacher, a social worker, and a true Ilkhchian.
Translated from
his biography by Nosrat
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