User:HistoryofIran/Talibov

Talibov was an Iranian intellectual and writer who spent most of life in the Russian Caucasus.

Life
His full name was Abd al-Rahim ibn Shaykh Abi Taleb Najjar Tabrizi. Born in 1834, he was from the Sorkhab district of Tabriz in Iran. His father Abu Taleb and his grandfather Ali Morad were both carpenters. Nothing is known about the maternal side of his family nor his upbringing and possible education in Tabriz. The common consensus is that Talibov moved to Tiflis in the Russian Empire when he was approximately 17 years old. In the 19th century, the Russian Caucasus was home to a significant number of Iranians. Originating primarily from the Azerbaijan province, many of these individuals were either seasonal workers or economic migrants. Additionally, some left Iran to escape the oppressive conditions under the ruling Qajar dynasty. The reason Talibov left Iran is unclear. He established a profitable company and received a prominent education in a short time, which lends credence to the suggestions that he was not a poor migrant worker. He may have migrated to get a modern education, as indicated by his education in modern sciences and Russian in the schools of Tbilisi.

Talibov relocated to Temir-Khan-Shura in Dagestan after spending several years working for a wealthy Iranian named Mohammad-Ali Khan Kashi in Tbilisi. It is possible that he also briefly resided in Khasavyurt. During his stay in Temir-Khan-Shura, he started a road building company, oversaw the postal service, and took part in other volunteer and community-oriented projects. In 1888, he visited Constantinople, and in 1898 he made a pilgrimage to Mecca. In c. 1902, he traveled to Berlin to receive treatment for his worsening vision. On 11 March 1911, he died in Temir-Khan-Shura. He was survived by his daughter Suna Khanum.

Writings
When Talibov was roughly 58 years old, his first book was published. In roughly 18 years, he published seven novels and translated and edited three, even though his vision was gradually worsening. Although all his work was in Persian, his mother tongue was Azeri Turkic.