Gomrokchi

Sultan Gholam-Ali Khan Gomrokchi

Abdullah Mirza,the youngest son of Karbalaei Abbas-Ali Gomrokchi, was likely born in Tehran around 1888. During his youth, he took advantage of his father’s connections to the court and became the valet of Hossein Pasha Khan Amir Bahador, who was the court vizier at the time. The valet position during the Qajar era was considered respectable and carried important responsibilities, similar to today’s secretaries. This position often served as a stepping stone for the children of dignitaries to advance to higher positions. Gholam-Ali Khan likely served as a valet between 1904 and 1906 when he was around 16 or 17 years old.

Gholam-Ali Khan married Roghiey Khanom, one of the harem ladies, and they had three daughters named Irandokht (born 1907), Turandokht (born 1908), and Purandokht (born 1922), as well as a son named Siyavash (also known as Ismael; born 1919). Unfortunately, Irandokht suffered from a mental illness and had a tragic and short life.

In 1911, the Gendarmerie was established during the reign of Ahmad Shah Qajar by a Swedish delegation, and Gholam-Ali Khan was among the first volunteers to join this force. After completing the training course, he became an officer and served in the Gendarmerie. From the late 1910s until 1926, Gholam-Ali Khan held the rank of Sultan (equivalent to today’s captain) and commanded the Gendarmerie in Qom and its suburbs. During this time, his family resided in Qom. Gholam-Ali Khan passed away under unknown circumstances, likely due to an unidentified disease, in 1926 or 1927 while stationed in Qazvin.

During his service in Qom, Gholam-Ali Khan purchased two-thirds of a village called Kiab near Qom for his family’s relaxation and enjoyment. In the mid-1940s, Colonel Parstabar, an old friend of Gholam-Ali Khan and Turandokht’s husband, bought the shares belonging to Purandokht and Siyavosh.

Tragically, during the summer of 1961, Turandokht, lost her life in a car accident. While on their way to Kiab with Siyavosh and a Kiab resident named Akbar to attend to some matters, their car overturned near Saveh, resulting in the untimely demise of Turandokht. The untimely and tragic death of Turandokht deeply affected the family, especially her sister who had a strong bond with her. The presence of other family members provided some solace for them and helped them cope with the sorrowful loss.

Gholam-Ali Khan’s death and Turandokht’s accident led to the neglect of Kiab’s essential affairs, resulting in the gradual deterioration of their grandfather’s only inheritance, which was never restored to its former level of development.

After the birth of his last child, Gholam-Ali Khan entered into a bigamous marriage with another woman named Afsar Khanom, who was young and beautiful. Afsar Khanom, who was no older than 16 at the time of their marriage, was accepted and loved by the family. A few years following Gholam-Ali Khan’s death, Afsar Khanom married a man named Kazempour and gave birth to a girl named Mehri (Helen). Mehri worked at the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC). However, Afsar Khanom’s marriage with Kazempour did not endure, and the mother and daughter always remained independent. Afsar Khanom passed away in the early 2000s.

Family Elders’ Accounts

Gholam-Ali Khan was involved in opposition to Reza Shah Pahlavi prior to his ascension to the throne. During the turbulent years of the 1910s, Gholam-Ali Khan even made an attempt to seize power, but he had to flee the country to save his life and sought asylum in Russia. Upon his return to Iran, he went into hiding for a period of time. With the help of Ghamar Khanom and influential individuals he knew, Gholam-Ali Khan was eventually pardoned and resumed his service to the government. However, due to this interruption in his service, he faced delays in receiving promotions.

Gholam-Ali Khan was described as a good father and a serious man in carrying out his duties. He was also known to have a fondness for seeking pleasure.

Who was Seyyed Farhad? ​

Seyyed Farhad was a notorious outlaw who operated in the Qom and Kashan regions during the early 20th century. According to the memoir book of Lieutenant General Amir Ahmadi, Seyyed Farhad initially served as a policeman under Sultan Gholam-Ali Gomrokchi, who was the son of Karbalaei Abbas-Ali Gomrokchi. However, Seyyed Farhad engaged in extortion and, after being questioned, he fled with his gun and horse, becoming involved in criminal activities.

Lieutenant General Amir Ahmadi managed to arrest Seyyed Farhad and bring him to Tehran. However, while imprisoned, Seyyed Farhad deceived his fellow inmates into breaking the prison door and escaped, continuing his criminal activities in the Qom and Kashan areas. He was involved in multiple fights and eventually met his death.

In the eyes of the residents of his village of origin, Soh, who belonged to his tribe and clan, Seyyed Farhad became a legend. They viewed him not as an outlaw but as a warrior who resisted what they perceived as the tyranny of Reza Shah. Some accounts, such as the book ‘3 Unusual Men’ by Nasrollah Shifteh, embellish Seyyed Farhad’s story and claim that the improper behaviors and dictatorship of Sultan Gholam-Ali Khan were factors that led Seyyed Farhad to turn rogue.

Qom flood disaster of 1931:

The Qom flood disaster of 1931 had a significant impact on Sultan Gholam-Ali Khan’s family. At the time, they were residing in Qom and frequently visiting their father’s estate in Kiab village. During one of their visits to Kiab, a massive flood occurred in Qom, causing the destruction of parts of their house and most of their antique and valuable furniture. However, some important documents, including the marriage certificate of Karbalaei Abbas-Ali and Zivar Khanom, survived the flood. The marriage certificate is now in the possession of Ms. Mahindokht Parstabar, the eldest great-granddaughter of Karbalaei Abbas-Ali, and is displayed in her living room. It holds significant historical value as one of the remaining legacies of Karbalaei Abbas-Ali.