Mehregan Prize at a glance

Mehregan Prize is a private and independent prize, which is held annually and biannually. To this date, Mehregan prize has been awarded in two main areas of science and Literature. The Mehregan prize comprises of 15 sections; 12 sections are allocated to contemporary Persian fiction for work published inside and outside of Iran and to mother-tongue literature category. The 3 remaining sections of this prize are granted to scientific fields under the category of “science for All” which is Awarded to scientific-ecological books, to Iranian NGO’s, and to Iranian ecological activists.  
During more than two decades of its activity, around sixty outstanding Iranian literary and scientific experts have formed Mehregan Prize jury.  In addition, more than one hundred authors of literary and scientific publications, tens of NGO’s and several Iranian ecological and environmental activists have been awarded the Mehregan Prize.   
Alireza Zargar is the founder and the managing director of the Mehregan Prize. Between 1378 to 1383 (1999-2004) he established the Mehregan prize in his role as the managing director of Peka (the Book Distribution and Extension Corporation). After Peka’s closure, Alireza Zargar continued to sponsor and direct the Mehregan prize in a private and independent capacity.  
The first round of Mehregan Prize of literature was held in October 1999. The jury that included seven of most acclaimed literary critics of Iran awarded the first mehregan literary prize to Hossein Sanapour for his book “ The Absent Half[- Nimeye ghayeb ”. Mohammadrahim Okhovat was also recognised by the Mehregan Prize jury for his book “Taaligh” and received the Mehregan trophy.  
The first round of Mehregan Prize of science was held in October 2000. The jury comprised of seven prominent researchers and authors of scientific publications. The book titled “Iran’s Wilderness, Vertebrates” by Eskandar-e Firouz (BEng) was awarded the best scienfic-environmental book by Mehregan science jury committee.  
In the same year, Literary Mehregan prize for “A Life-time dedication to writing” was awarded to Ahmad-e Mahmoud, the prominent Iranian author. According to Mehregan’s  policy this prize is awarded to only one author for the collection of his/her works.    
In October 2002, Mehregan Prize for the best young-adults’ novel, was awarded to Mehmani-e Divha (The Monsters’ feast) written by Jafar-e Toozendeh Jani.  
In October 2004, the first round of Mehregan Literary Prize for the best Short Story Collection was announced. Two story collections, titled “Bogzarim” by Behnaz-e Alipour Gaskari and “Marcopolo Hotel” by Khosro Davami, were jointly recognized as deserving the Mehregan throphy and the cash prize.    
In following years, “The Best NGO” and “A Life-time in Writing” awards were also added to the Mehregan Science category.  
In the twentieth round of Mehregan Prize, two new categories were added to the Mehregan literature award: “Mehregan Literary Prize of Mother Tongue” and “Overseas Mehregan Literary Prize”.  
Mehregan Literary Prize of Mother Tongue was celebrated for the election of the best novels and short story collections, which were initially published in non-Persian (non-farsi) in the sphere of Iranian culture and geography, and then translated into Persian.  
Mehregan Literary prize is presented to the best Persian novels and story collections published outside Iran, regardless of the author’s nationality. However, the organisers were banned from presenting this award due to restrictions.

Mehregan Prize is an independent, non-for profit organization established with the aim of promotion of literature, science and art, and reading in Iran. The award also aims to support the protection and recognition of Iran’s environment and wild life. The organizers aim to further encourage and motivate the authors and scientific-ecological experts by introducing their work to the broader community and provide opportunities to distribute, translate the books. Moreover, the organizers hope that they can further provide the opportunity to introduce and promote the works of Iranian authors for consideration for international Awards, and NGO’s.  

Objectives of Mehregan Prize

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• Promotional Development of literature, art and science
• Expansion and development of book-reading culture
• Support the protection and recognition Iran's environment and wild life.
• Introduction, encouragement and elevation of writers', scholars' and ecological activists' motivations 
• Providing the bed for and contributing to better sale and distribution of the works of selected authors and the translation of their works 
• Introducing the selected writers to the sections of internationally creditable awards of the world 
• Presenting people-oriented NGOs to the international ecological organizations and institutions 
• Presenting people-oriented NGOs to acquire international scientific and pecialized certificates 
•  

Mehregan Prizes (Levels) 

Mehregan Prizes are awarded to selected nominees in 4 levels:

1​-​​ Mehregan Prize Statue, Gratitude Plaque and Cash Prize, for main winners.
2- Acclaim Plaque of Mehregan Prize Juries for the second and third selected winners. 
3- Appreciation Plaque of Mehregan Prize for one or two nominees entering the final stage. (for the fourth and fifth selected winners.
4- Mehregan Prize Badge for other nominees entering the final stage.

Mehregan Prize Levels and Sections

Mehregan Literary Prize (Contemporary Fiction of Iran):
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• Mehregan of Literature for “The Best Novel” 

• Mehregan of Literature for “The Best Short Story Collection” 

• Mehregan of Literature for “A Life-time in writing” to a single writer for the collection of his/her works 

• Mehregan of Literature for mother tongue for “The Best Novel” 

• Mehregan of Literature for mother tongue for “The Best short Story Collection” 

• Mehregan of Literature for mother tongue for “A Life-time in Writing” to a single person for his/her collection of works 

• Mehregan of Literature for overseas writers for “The Best Novel” 

• Mehregan of Literature for overseas writers for “The Best Short Story Collection” 

• Mehregan of Literature for overseas writers for “A Life-time in Writing” to a single author for his/her collection of writings 

• Mehregan of Literature for young-adults literature for “The Best Novel”  

• Mehregan Golden Literary Prize for “The Best Novel” among the selected novels of one decade Mehregan Prize 

• Mehregan Golden Literary Prize for “The Best Short Story Collection” among the selected  collections of one decade Mehregan Prize

• ​​​​​​​Addition of new sections to the spheres of literature and science and also Mehregan Prize in the fields of Art and Social Science are among future plans of Mehregan Prize.

Mehregan Prize Sections

Mehregan of Science (Science for All):

• Mehregan of Science for “The Best Book” in the field of Ecology and environment sceinces 

• Mehregan of Science for “The Best NGO” in the field of Ecology and environment sciences  

• Mehregan of Science for “A Life-time in Ecology/environment sciences” to a single writer or activist for the collection of works or ecological services ​​​​​​​

Mehregan Prize in the field of contemporary fiction titled Mehregan Literary Prize and in the field of science (Science for All) named Mehregan of Science has been so far held in the following categories:  

​​​​​​​The administrative and general expenses of the Mehregan Prize have been covered by Alireza Zargar, the founder and managing director of Mehregan Prize. The Meheregan prize has been financially supported by the following donors: 
 

• Ms. Shokouh-e Fargah has donated amounts for the cash prize of the best novel from 2000 -2006 
• Dr. Akram-e Taher pour provided the cash prize of Mehregan Science Prize for “the Best Book” from 2001-2006 
• Ms. Soudabeh Solgi has provided the cash prize of Mehregan Prize for the best novel and short story collection since 2006 (to the present) 
• Mr. Amir-e Zargar has been the financial supporter providing the expenses of Mehregan Prize- ceremony- holding since 2016 
• Mr. Aziz-e Esna Ashary, the sponsor of part of the expenses of awarding ceremony in 2018 
• Ms. Katayoon-e Solgi providing part of the expenses for awarding ceremonies since 2020 
• Ms. Kianoush-e Solgi also providing part of the expenses for awarding ceremonies since 2020 
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Furthermore, some of the members of the jury of Mehregan Prize of literature and science and some of the supporters of the prize have also contributed in an honorary and non-financial ways to the organisation. Among the jury members of Mehregan Prize, Dr. Helen Ouliaeinia, besides voluntary assessment of the section of literary Mehregan,  she also voluntarily collaborates with and contributes to  the international part of Mehregan Prize section.

Sponsors of Mehregan Prize

Executive Bases and Evaluation Criteria:

The founder and director of Mehregan Prize believes that the main responsibility of the organisers of independent book prizes is to enable unbiased and fair framework and process for evaluating the literary and scientific work. In Alireza Zargar’s opinion, the most important qualities for a Mehregan Prize judge are knowledge and experience, courage of expressing one’s opinion, independent and free will, and avoidance of biases.

Mehregan Prize’s Jury:

One of the most important criteria of Mehregan Prize which has been the main cause of its endurance and continuation, are its members of the jury. They are the Jury members who, in the light of their knowledge and specializations, judge and assess the works and play a valuable role in preserving and developing the objectives of the Mehregan Prize. Some of these members in different rounds of the prize have shared their invaluable services with Mehregan Prize voluntarily and without any financial benefit.

The Jury Members of Mehregan Prize of Literature:

• Late members: Karim-e Emami, Ali Mohammad Haghshenas, Fathollah Binyaz, Sorayya Ghezel Ayagh and Safdar-e Taghizadeh.

• Ladies: Goli Emami, Parvin Salajegheh, Helen Ouliaeinia, Mozhdeh Daghighi, Leila Sadeghi, Shahla Zarlaki, Soudabeh Solgi, Mahboubeh Mirghadiri and Arezoo Charbdast.

• Gentlemen: Enayat Samiei, Kamran Faani, Alireza Zargar, Farrokh Amir Faryar, Hassan Mirabedini, Ahmad Pouri, Mehdi Ghabraee, Alireza Seifoddini, Javad Eshaghian, Hossein Atash Parvar, Javad Pouyan, Ghobad Azaraein, Siavash Golshiri, Abolfazl Hosseini, Mani Parsa, Karamreza Tajmehr, Hossein Varjani and Ali Menhaj.

  
  

Jury Members of Mehregan of Science:
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• Late Members: Eskandar Firouz, Ali Pazuki, Hassanali Laghaei.

• Ladies: Nasrin Moazami, Mahnaz Mazaheri, Mojgan Jamshidi and Zahra Ghelichipour.

• Gentlemen: Hooshang Ziaei, Abdolhossein Vahhabzadeh, Esmaiel Kahrom, Mohammad Darvish, Mohammadreza Dahi, Bahram Moalemi, Esmaiel Abbasi, Hooman Jokar, Kaveh Feizollahi, Mansour Vesali.
  
  

Jury Members of Young-Adults Mehregan of Literature:

• Late Member: Sorayya Ghezel Ayagh.

• Ladies: Chista Yasrebi, Forough Jamali, Parvin Salajegheh and Shohreh Kaedi.

• Gentlemen: Hooshang Moradi Kermani, Razi Hirmandi, Morteza Khosronezhad, Shahram Eghbalzadeh and Masoud Naseri.

Mehregan Prize’s Jury

​Mehregan Prize Secretariat Office

• Publishing the call for Mehregan Awards
• Annual compilation of the list of first-print literary works and first-published scientific-ecological books 
• Receiving and initial consideration of the works submitted by the publishers or authors
• Checking and corresponding the date of publication and the sent books' features with the agenda of Mehregan Award 
• Registering the list of accepted books and providing required copies for the members of the jury and the secretariat office 
• Postal or electronic delivery of the works, with the attached vote-registration papers, to the members of the jury inside and outside Iran
• Receiving the jury's comments and evaluations in different sections and areas; then, sorting them out to be submitted to the jury's consulting sessions  
• Considering the NGOs' resume and summarizing the account of their past activities for the jury
• Providing the activists' biography of influential figures of Iran's ecology to be submitted to the jury
• Recording the visual and auditory ceremony, interviews, lectures and sessions of judgment sessions, editing them and preparing the required clips
• Broadcasting the news, notices, calls, periodical reports and the jury's statements of Mehregan Award
• Compiling the news of media inside and outside Iran which are related to Mehregan Prize   
• Managing social networks and official site of Mehregan, and responding to the received suggestions, preparing tables and 
• arranging evaluation papers 
• Holding the final ceremony of presenting the prizes to the winners
• Mehregan Award secretariat office is managed with the assistance of different people with various expertise who are interested in and familiar with literature, art and ecology; parts of the co-operations are voluntary