Birjand
Nickname(s): Storm city
Birjand
Coordinates: 32°52′N 59°12′E / 32.867°N 59.2°E / 32.867; 59.2Coordinates: 32°52′N 59°12′E / 32.867°N 59.2°E / 32.867; 59.2
Country	Iran
Province	South Khorasan
County	Birjand
Bakhsh	Central
Government
• Mayor
Elevation	1,491 m (4,892 ft)
Population (official census in 2006)
• Total	157,848 (County:240,894),(Province:600,568)
• Density	3,697/km2 (9,580/sq mi)
Time zone	IRST (UTC+3:30)
• Summer (DST)	IDST (UTC+4:30)
Website	www.birjand.ir/
Prefix code: +98 Iran - (0)561 Birjand

Birjand (Persian: بیرجند‎, also Romanized as Bīrjand and Birdjand)^[1] is the east Iranian provincial capital of South Khorasan and the centre of the county Birjand resp. Quhestan, known for its saffron, barberry, rug and handmade carpet exports. [1] The city of Birjand had a population of 157,848 people at the time of the last official census in 2006.^[2]

Being close to the Afghanistan border, Birjand is located on the "Silk Road"^{[citation needed]} of opium smuggled from Afghanistan on the way to Europe (also dubbed the "opium crescent").

The city has a dry climate with significant difference between day and night temperatures. It is a fast growing city, thus becoming one of the major centres in the East of Iran.^{[citation needed]}

History[link]

The first citation of the city in the historical literature returns to the famous book Mojem Alboldan, by the Yaqut Homavi (13th century) which introduces the Birjand as the most beautiful town in the Quhestan. Before this Birjand had been probably not as big and important as a municipality but a rural community. However, the Birjand geographical area has had its historical and political importance long before emergence of the city of Birjand. Many citations of the region are available in the original literature like Ehya -ol- Molook of the once important localities in the area. Apart from literature, the oldest evidence on the history of the region is the ancient Lakh-Mazar inscription in the Kooch village some 25 km south east of Birjand. Numerous fine drawings and inscriptions are carved on an igneous rock surface. The inscriptions include pictograms as well as Arsacid Pahlavi, Sasanian Pahlavi, Arabic and Persian scripts.^[3] The former tribe famous for the region of Birjand is called Sagarthian - historically in union with the Parthian.

Cossacks in Birjand, circa 1909.

Birjand has emerged as the centre of Quhestan, following the decline of historical city of Qaen in the Safavid period. Since then the Alam clan had ruled the region till the end of Qajar dynasty. During the semi-autonomous ruling of Alam clan, Great Britain and Russia established consular branches in Birjand, because of the important geographical location of the region in the vicinity of the Indian subcontinent. Amir Shokat Ul-Molk Alam, the father of the Asadollah Alam(once prime minister of Iran) was still ruling the Quhestan's subprovince Qhaenat into the Pahlavi era. And the last tribal leader of Birjand Shah Seyyed Ali Kazemi was related with the Alam clan and the emperor Reza Shah Pahlavi. However Birjand lost its geopolitical importance following the emergence of Reza Shah Pahlavi and his policy of central government. The entire Quhestan region then became a part of the modern Khorasan province. The local people, however, started a movement to become an independent province at the middle of the second Pahlavi period. The move resulted after about forty years and Quhestan and particularly Birjand regained its historical importance in 2004 after official division of Khorasan to three smaller provinces by the government of Islamic Republic of Iran.

Education[link]

It is said that the Shokatiyeh School in Birjand together with Darolfonoon in Tehran were the first public schools in Iran in the mid-19th century. Ever since then, Birjand has amassed an abundance of institutions of higher education and become an important location for research and development.

The city contains such universities and academic institutions as:

• University of Birjand [2]
• Birjand University of Technology [3]
• Birjand University of Medical Sciences [4]
• Payame Noor University [5]
• Islamic Azad University of Birjnad [6]
• University of Applied Science and Technology (south khorasan branch)
• Academy of Tarbiat-e Moalem
• Academy of Amuzesh-e Aly
• Academy of Amuzesh-e Modiriat Dolaty

Aerial view of Birjand, Left to right: Pasdaran St., Adl St., Moallem St. and Ghafari St., 2006

Birjand Airport[link]

Birjand Airport (IATA: XBJ, ICAO: OIMB) is placed in suburban region of Birjand. Due to the geopolitical eminence of Birjand in the eastern parts of Iran, Birjand airport started operation in 1933 as the 3rd operational airport in Iran. Birjand airport offers non-stop daily flights to Tehran and Mashhad. It became an international airport after the first international flight to Medina, KSA in June 2008. In October 2009, runway 10/28 was closed for fundamental repair. The runway was strengthened, re-carpeted and extended to 4000 meters to accommodate wide-body aircraft. During the construction phase all flights were suspended while Aseman Airline utilized the older runway (08/26) and started daily flights to Tehran.

Notables from Birjand[link]

• Abd al-Ali al-Birjandi, Prominent Astronomer of the 16th Century
• Hakim Nezari Quhestani
• Ibn Hessam Khusfi
• Amir Shokat Ul-Molk Alam, Amir of Qaen County and Governor of Quhestan at the end of Qajar Dynasty
• Amir Ali Khan Sheibany, PhD, Founder and First CEO of Zob Ahan Esfahan (Esfahan Steel Company)
• Seyyed Mohammad Tadayyon
• Asadollah Alam, Prime Minister of Iran during Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi period
• Seyyed Gholam Reza Saeidi, Writer
• Sima Bina, Singer of Iranian folk music
• Morteza Hassanpour, The first man in nursing in Iran
• Mohammad Hassan Ganji, Scientist of Geography
• Mohammad Ismail Rezvani, Scientist of Histor
• Mohammad Reza Hafeznia
• Gholam Hossein Shokouei

Band Darreh, 5km South of Birjand

• Kazem Motamadnejad
• Shah Seyyed Ali Kazemi, Last tribal leader in Mood and Birjand at the beginning of Pahlavi Dynasty
• Mohammad Hossain Ayati
• Mohammad Ibrahim Ayati
• Seyyed Hassan Tahami

See also[link]

• Furg citadel
• Khorashad
• Mahmuei
• Mood (city)

References[link]

1. ^ Birjand can be found at GEOnet Names Server, at this link, by opening the Advanced Search box, entering "-3056455" in the "Unique Feature Id" form, and clicking on "Search Database".
2. ^ http://www.sci.org.ir/content/userfiles/_census85/census85/natayej/
3. ^ Research articles collection (archaeology, ancient inscriptions): Lakh-Mazar, Birjand. Rajab Ali Labbaf Khaniki, Rassul Bashash Kanzaq. 25. Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization. Summer 1994.

External links[link]

• All About Birjand
• Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organisation General Office
• University of Birjand
• Birjand University of Medical Sciences
• Birjand University of Technology
• birjand sama college

v t e South Khorasan Province Capital Birjand Counties and Cities Birjand County Birjand Khusf Boshruyeh County Boshruyeh Eresk Darmian County Asadiyeh Tabas-e Masina Ferdows County Ferdows Eslamiyeh Nehbandan County Nehbandan Shusef Qaen County Qaen Arianshahr Esfeden Hajjiabad Khezri Dasht Beyaz Zohan Nimbeluk Sarayan County Sarayan Ayask Seh Qaleh Sarbisheh County Sarbisheh Mud Sights Ferdows Hot Spring Jameh Mosque of Ferdows Nehbandan citadel Furg citadel Ghal'eh Paeen-Shahr Deragon Cave Behgard Garden Chenshat cave Kolah Farangi citadel Ferdows Religious School Kal Jangal Parthian fresco, Birjand

v t e Birjand County Capital Birjand Districts Central Cities Birjand Rural Districts and villages Alqurat Agholdar Alqur Arviz Asu Bidesk Bolanjab Borj-e Ziad Boz Qonj Cheshmeh-ye Mulid Darreh-ye Ghazan-e Sofla Dastgerd Delabad Dohlkuh Felarg Gheyuk Golunabad Haderbad-e Olya Hajjiabad Jamal ol Din Kalaj Darg Kalateh-ye Bojdi Kalateh-ye Now Khong Khunik Kur Gaz-e Bala Kushk Mafriz Mahiabad Mahuk Mahusk Marqach Maruk Masen Mozdab Mulid Naqenj Now Deh Now Gidar Piranj Pish Kuh-e Olya Posuj Rahdarkhaneh Rubokht Sad Gol Sama Sangabad Saqi Sar Asiab Sar Hadd Sharifabad Sharqonj Shekaraneh Tangal-e Bala Turman Yahn Ziraj Baqeran Abbasabad Akbarabad Aliabad-e Davarabad Aliabad-e Luleh Amirabad-e Pain Amirabad-e Sheybani Arabshah-e Bala Arusheh-ye Pain Bagh-e Dehneh Bagh-e Manazarieh Bahlgerd Bangabad Barzaj Batjag Behdan Biabani-ye Bala Biabani-ye Pain Biduk Bijar Bizhanabad Bohnabad Bojd Boniabad Borzegan Bushad Chah Howz Chah-e Ali Mohammadi Chah-e Rostami Chahkanan-e Bala Chahkanan-e Pain Chahkand Chahkanduk Chaj Chahardeh-ye Bala Chahardeh-ye Pain Charkash Cheshmeh-ye Gazu Cheshmeh-ye Morteza Darreh-ye Ajqu Darreh-ye Mirak Darreh-ye Pain Deh-e Now Deljan Dezg-e Pain Esfahrud Feriz Morgh Feriz Nuk Fudaj Ganjabad Givak-e Olya Givak-e Sofla Gol Panjeh Golbargan Golian Gowd-e Mahmud Hajji Kuhi Hajjiabad Hajjiabad Hasanabad-e Mian Hasanabad-e Pain Havang-e Pain Hoseynabad Jimabad Jowzan-e Nuki Kafki Kalateh-ye Baba Kalateh-ye Bazargan Kalateh-ye Hajji Yusof Kalateh-ye Hoseyn Kalateh-ye Mohammad Hoseyn Khan Kalateh-ye Qannadan Kalateh-ye Qannadan Kasakstan Kaseh Sangi Kheyrabad Khong-e Bala Khorashad Khosrak Khunik Khunik Khunik Kuch Mahmudabad Malekabad Margh Mazar Mazrabad Mazraeh-ye Mohammad Sharif Mehdiabad Mehtaran Mezg Mosaveri Murachek Naserabad Naserabad Nowferest Nowkand Pespatang-e Sofla Peygodar-e Chah-e Huz Rach Razg Rekat-e Olya Rekat-e Sofla Riz Ab Roqui-ye Pain Salimabad Samu Sar Tangan Sard Khaneh Sar-e Pol Sar-e Razg Shahabad Shamsabad Shir Manj Surg Tag Ab Khanak Tag-e Oshtoran Tak-e Kharu Tak-e Sifi Tangal-e Ali Beyk Tangal-e Behdan Tarakani-ye Pain Torsh Ab-e Bala Torsh Ab-e Pain Yekkeh Derakht Yosht Zamanabad Zardan Zeyni Fasharud Afkasht Afzalabad Baqi Bovaj Chah Kand Chah-e Zard Dahaneh Eshqabad Feriz Golunak Hajj Naj Hambal Hesar-e Sangi Kondor Nowghab-e Afzalabad Qatar Gaz Rezaqabad Rowshanavand Shirag Shushud Sichan Taj Kuh Kahshang Abbasabad Adigan Arvij Ashtakhu Boz Quch-e Olya Boz Quch-e Sofla Elqar Estakhr Feyzabad Garmidar Garmuk Gazik Gugchin Jalal-e Sofla Jijk Kalateh-ye Mohammad Soltan Kamchah Khunik Zirak Khushineh-ye Olya Kuch Elqar Kushkabad Mafand Ab Marak Mirozg Neyestan Nughab Nuk Qaleh Kuh Rabian Rahnishk Reykhan Roqbaghal Roqiyehabad Roqq-e Annabi Sar Chah-e Tazian Sheykhan Siskan Taqcharabad Tiduk Zeynabad Zirak Shakhen Bimad Bistkonj Fur Jan Khazan Mirik Mobarakabad Owjan Padamrud Sarqan-e Sofla Shahrah Shakhen Shur Ab Vashan Shakhenat Asnan Bavik-e Vosta Bidokht Daraj Gazar Mahmui Novik Nughab Chik Owjad Rahnich Razuk Saqdar Varqaneh Khusf Cities Khusf Rural Districts and villages Barakuh Ali Hajji-ye Pain Aliabad Allah Yar Bagh Alishah Chahkandak Chahkand-e Gol Cheshmeh-ye Zard Dowlatabad Duskam Espigi Eylaki-ye Bala Eylaki-ye Pain Feriz Gazzeh Givshad Gol Halvai Havigan Hesar Holudar-e Pain Hoseynabad Jafarabad Kalateh-ye Hasan Beyk Kalateh-ye Khoda Bakhsh Kalateh-ye Molla Khodadad Kariz-e Now Khalilan Khvajegi Marghuk Mina Khun Now Kaj Nowdar Nowduk Nowrashk Parmich Qasabeh Rubayat Rumenjan Saft-e Sorkh Salmabad Senjeduk Shahrestanak Shushk Tak Mazhani Tang Zadonbeh-ye Bala Zadonbeh-ye Pain Zanuk Zargar Jolgeh-e Mazhan Akbarabad Akbarabad-e Olya Ali Kari Aliabad Asghariyeh Bak Bidestan Bidokht Borzaj Chah-e Abuzer Ghafari Chah-e Nemati Chah-e Panj Tan ol Aba Chah-e Sadeqi Darsaleh Deh Mir Dowlatabad Geminj Giv Golund-e Olya Gowlag Harding Hoseynabad-e Alam Hoseynabad-e Sheybani Jirg Kaju-ye Bala Kaju-ye Pain Kakhk Kakhkuk Kalateh-ye Arab Kalateh-ye Mirza Kalateh-ye Mohammad Gholam 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Dam Rubah Fakhrabad Fesun Feyzabad Gaveh Gowd-e Mohammad Khan Hemmatabad Hengaran Hesar Dar Hoseynabad-e Miran Jamshidabad Kaftar Milan Kamar Sabz Karimabad Khaleqabad Kheyrabad Khvanand Madan-e Qaleh Zari Mohammadabad Pesteh Qaemabad Qala Qaleh Zari Qanat Reg Rig-e Bala Rowshnavand Samadabad Sar Chah-e Ammari Sar Chah-e Shur Seyyedan Shadan Shamsabad Sib Chah Solami Taqiabad Zeyd

Simā Binā (Persian: سیما بینا‎) (born 1944 in Birjand, Iran) is notable Persian classical musician ^[1] and Iran's researcher, composer, singer and song-writer of Iranian folk music. She is currently living in Cologne, Germany.

Career[link]

Began to learn music when she was 9 under the driection of her father Ahmad Bina (Tafreshi) an Iranian Classical musician and poet, After graduating from Tehran University in 1969 with a major in Arts, Sima Bina continued and completed her studies with master Abdollah Davami.^[2]

Her main focus is Iranian folk music. Bina has been able to gather and revive a collection of almost forgotten Iranian folk songs and melodies. A captivating vocalist, Sima Bina is one of the leading exponents of the traditional music of Khorasan. For decades she has done extensive research on Persian folk songs, collecting, recording, writing and re-interpreting popular regional music. Her works cover the whole spectrum of Iranian folk music including Mazandarani music, Kurdish music, Turkmen music, Baloch music, Lor music.

Since 1993, Sima Bina has been invited to present her collection of Persian folk songs in festivals all over the world,^[2] including "97 Världen I Norden" in Norway, and "99 WDR Weltmusik Festival" in Bonn, Germany.

Due to her devotion and dedication to the Iranian folk music, Sima Bina can now see the materialization of thirty years of meticulous work by making her music known worldwide.

See also[link]

• Music of Iran
• List of Iranian musicians

References[link]

1. ^ http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5161881,00.html
2. ^ ^{a b} http://worldmusiccentral.org/artists/artist_page.php?id=418

External links[link]

• Sima Bina: Official website
• Sima Bina sings some Khorasani and Mazandarani folk-songs, 2007, YouTube: [1] (7 min 33 sec); [2] (3 min 48 sec); [3] (7 min 12 sec).
• Sima Bina sings Aziz Beshi[n] be Kenārom (My Love Sit Next to Me), YouTube: [4] (4 min 30 sec).
• Bahār Navāi, Motherly Hums, in Persian, Jadid Online, 30 December 2009, [5].
  • Audio slideshow: [6] (6 min 31 sec).

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