Yaḥyá Dawlat'ābādī

Yahya Dowlatabadi (1875–1939) was a pioneering Iranian intellectual, educator, and key figure in the Constitutional Revolution. The son of Mirza Hadi Dowlatabadi, a prominent Babi cleric, he played a major role in shaping modern education and political reform during the Qajar and early Pahlavi periods. He founded progressive schools such as Adab and Sadat, participated in drafting Iran’s constitutional law, and advocated for women’s rights, rationalism, and cultural renewal. His writings reflect a deep critique of despotism and a commitment to intellectual freedom. His most important work is the five-volume Hayat-e Yahya, a detailed memoir and historical chronicle spanning the reigns of Naser al-Din Shah to Reza Shah. Other notable works include Shahrnaz (a social novel), Rites in Iran (a study of Iranian customs), and numerous essays published in reformist journals.