Aleks Ifraimov – The First Reza Shah

Marji indicates that in her textbooks, it claims that the “king was chosen by God”. But her father, upon hearing this proclamation, decides to tell the true story of how the emperor was chosen. Marji’s father tells her about a person named Reza Pahlavi coming to power. He is the father of the current Shah(emperor) named Mohammand Reza Pahlavi. He succeeds his father and serves as Shah prior to the Islamic revolution. In simple terms, Reza Shah is the father of the current shah.

Marji’s father tells the story of how the first emperor, Reza Shah, came to power. He tells the story of how British looking to gain access to Iranian oil needed a puppet emperor as leader. Reza Pahlavi was a good candidate. He had no schooling and was unable to read or write. The British were not permitted to gain access to the oil fields in Iran, so they created their own path, using Reza Pahlavi as the puppet. British enticed Reza Pahlavi with the promise of great wealth and power. In return to giving the British access to the oil fields, Reza Pahlavi would have to do nothing else. But Reza, with so much power in his hands, did not do nothing else.  He confiscated others wealth and only gave power to those who were like him, illiterate. This ensured that no one will challenge his views, indoctrinating the Iranian people in the process. He used religion as a ploy to stay in power.