Distinct from any other revolution in contemporary world politics, the Islamic Revolution in 1979 was a major turning point in world history as it introduced into, as well as veered the global geo-political and economic order into a completely unforeseen direction. Iran, a country of 10,000 years’ history had, in the past centuries been reduced to almost a satellite-state for one world power or the other until the success of the People’s Revolution (the Islamic revolution) led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Al Musawi Al Khomeini on the 11^th of February 1979. The result of the success of this revolution was that, Iran transformed from a foreign monarchy to an independent republic built upon Islamic tenets.

World and regional powers –the US at its helm- which had lost a milking cow in the form of the now toppled but previously submissive monarchy of Iran, scrambled in oval and rectangular offices to draw up new ways by which to return Iran into being once more a submissive subordinate: The culminations of this was the full scale invasion of Iran by the dictatorship of (and with the financial and logistical support of the US, the Soviets, Europe and other regional powers) by Saddam Hussein in 1980, until 1988. Shortly after which crippling economic sanctions were imposed upon Iranians who were just recovering from the eight-year long war while also fighting domestic and foreign terrorism. The Islamic republic has not only survived these and many other deliberate and calculated impediments, it has strived and continues to do so in spite of 43 years of economic and military pressure, domestic terror and media misrepresentation.

Today, under all of these challenges, the Islamic republic can yet boast of strides never achieved by previously unchallenged governments. To list a few:

1. Literacy rate. The literacy rate in 1976 amongst Iranian adults was 36.52% and 48.1per cent in 1977. while by 2016 it had grown to 85.54 per cent and furthered to 96 per cent in 2020.

Literacy rate amongst women was 28per cent in 1977 but had grown to 90 per cent in 2020 as reported by the Financial Tribune on 5^th February, 2020, https://financialtribune.com/articles/people/102038/iran-literacy-rate-at-96

• Science and healthcare

Iran is the fastest scientifically developing country in the world, growing at a rate that is eleven times more than the global average (according to Science-Metrix)

The number of scientific articles published in Iran in 1970 were 669. by 2018, it had grown to 55,509. which represents an 8,200 per cent  increase in that regard. (web of science)

Iran was ranked 5^th in the Middle East in 1996 in the number of citable documents, but in 2017 it was ranked 1^st ahead of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Israel (SCImago, (n.d.). SJR — SCImago Journal & Country Rank [Portal]. Retrieved Date you Retrieve, from http://www.scimagojr.com)

Medicine:In medicine, iran ranked 58^th in the world in 1996 in medical research publication, but ranked 16^th in 2020.

Life expectancy has risen from 50 years before the revolution to 75 years after the revolution.

Infant mortality of children under 5, has reduced from 185 per 1.000 to 14.9 per 1000 births.

The number of specialist doctors have grown from 5890 specialists before the revolution to 36,000 in 2017.  

According to the World Bank, in 2009, Iran ranked 21^st in quality and number of hospitals. In 2017, it ranked as the second country in controlling contagious diseases. Iran’s status in sanitation and medical advances has attracted gratitude from UNICEF

In Nanotechnology, Iran ranked 58^th out of 66 countries in 1996, in 2020 it ranked 16^th out of 121 countries in the world, while ranking first in the Middle East in 2020.

In aerospace, Iran has grown from ranking 45^th in 1996 to 11^th in the world in 2020 in the field of publishing scientific articles in aerospace research and production while ranking first in the Middle East.

Iran has launched several home grown satellites into space.

Nuclear science and engineering, in 1996, Iran ranked 11^th out of eleven countries in the Middle East and 86^th out of 86 countries in the world in nuclear science, in 2020 Iran ranked 1^st and 11^th respectively in the same category. (SCImago, (n.d.). SJR — SCImago Journal & Country Rank [Portal]. Retrieved Date you Retrieve, from http://www.scimagojr.com)

In Agriculture and Biological Science, Iran ranked 76^th in 1996 and it ranked 14^{th in 2020}.

In terms of defence the military might of Iran is one of the most autonomous in the world today while before the revolution, Iran barely manufactured any defense systems on its own. The number of home grown defence systems, from drones to missiles and supersonic jets as well as anti-ballistic missile defence systems, naval and air defence systems, cyber defence and counter espionage has also catapulted Iran into a self-reliant and defence capable country not to be bullied into submission.

We could, therefore, say that, the Islamic Revolution is perhaps the most successful and most enduring revolution in recent history. The impact of this revolution can be felt throughout the world, many people across the world who are lovers of self-determination and perseverance in the face of arrogance, bullying and colonialism see in Iran ‘the ideal’ state and the ultimate inspiration to continue on the path of self-Reliance.

Millions of people today, not only identify with the Islamic republic politically and ideologically but also spiritually and morally, since this republic is modeled in the image of the great moral and spiritual aspirations of the noble Prophet of Islam.

The uniqueness of the Islamic republic lies in its appeal to people of all walks of life and of all religions and races through a universal brotherhood in humanity, humility, patience, tolerance, determination, perseverance and self-awareness. But above all, through solidarity with the downtrodden of the downtrodden.

The future of this great revolution lies in its dynamism and adoptability to practical life situations. And its Continuous success lies in its support of the common people and of the peoples support for this path.

From Cultural Consulate of Islamic Republic of Iran in Accra.

By A. S. Saeed