Translation, Revolutionary Praxis, and the Enigma of Manuchehr Hezarkhani

The life, writings, and example of Iranian intellectual, translator, and political activist, Manuchihr Hezarkhani, who passed away on 18 March 2022, touched the lives of a generation of Iranian students, intellectuals, and militants, including several of twentieth century Iran’s towering literati, including Samad Behrangi, Jalal Al-e Ahmad, and Mostafa Shoʿaiyan. In this article we provide a sketch of his contribution to the intellectual and political life of modern Iran, without evading the stark contradiction between his critical intellect and erudition, steadfast commitment to anti-colonial liberation movements, redoubtable championing of the causes of freedom and democracy before and during the Iranian Revolution of 1978-79, and practical political involvement with the National Resistance Council of Iran (Showra-e melli-e moqavemat-e Iran) as well as his unalloyed and profoundly disconcerting defense of the Organization of the People’s Mojahedin of Iran (Sazman-e mojahedin-e khalq-e Iran), following his exile in Paris in 1981.