Jan 26

Khosrow Anushiravan Decided To select One ‘Dehgan’ For Each VillageIin Iran.

Ctesiphon Hall (Ayvan Madaen) On 26 January AD 560 (4 days before Sadeh celebrations), in his meeting with the mobeds and noble men of Iran, held in Ctesiphon Hall (Ayvan Madaen), Khosrow Anushirvan, the Sassanian king of Iran, after being presented a report about the upcoming Sadeh celebrations, which was to be held 50 days before Nowrooz, said that he has decided to select one Dahgan (village headman) for each village in Iran and put him in charge of organizing village affairs, collecting tax, gathering soldiers in times of need, breeding horses for selling to the army and acting as judge in solving disputes between farmers and landowners. This person was supposed to be a farmer and at the same time own the land he was farming on (small landowner) so that he is familiar with the problems of both sides. In addition, he should be capable, just, trustworthy, honest, and accepted by majority of the village inhabitants, and if the village was small he became the Dahgan of other      small neighboring villages. This Dahgan also had a public duty and that was to report to the King’s representatives who were available everywhere, about the state of the village products, any local dissatisfaction, and any injustice done by government officials and landowners. A Dahgan would not be discharged unless he lost his trustworthiness and management abilities. The national duty of a Dahgan was to try to increase the village products, every year, without breeding personal expectations, and also be able to gather the village men, in times of danger, to participate in defense matters.     This decision, which is described in the democracy encyclopedia, was executed and gradually became part of the culture of Iranian villages and an everlasting custom.Among the heads of state, in ancient Iran, Khosrow Anushirvan was an outstanding leader in matters such as organization of judicial and administrative affairs, establishment of rules and regulations for tax system, establishment of translation and editing offices for translating and editing books, and encouragement of sports and healthy recreational programs. Due to his special attention to juridical matters and implementation of justice and direct investigation into people’s problems and creating a system by which he was informed of all complaints in order to restore the rights of the people, historians have described him as a leader who helped immensely in the development of human civilization and gave him the title of ‘Dadgar’ (the just), and so called him Anushirvan Dadgar.           Translation by Rowshan Lohrasbpour (AmordadNews writer)