During the suffocation years after the 28th of Mordad Coup (August 19th), all combatant forces including various groups and parities were suppressed severely and the regime of Shah increased its control over political movements by establishing SAVAK. Meanwhile, the organization of young religious forces in seminaries and universities to initiate the strategies to fight and stand against Pahlavi’s regime was whatever from which The Shah and his security system were neglectful to some extent. In fact, the active religious forces after the break down of their union with nationalist forces in late 1320 decade and after unreligious and sometimes antireligious efforts of Pahlavi, took hold of Islamic noble essentials in their groups, societies, foundations and religious boards and disagreed with the reign of Pahlavi. They followed Imam Khomeini when his movement started and continued their struggles in different aspects and methods under leadership of him. Dr. Ghafoori-Fard is one of the active forces in university and society who describes his methods to fight with Pahlavi’s Regime in his memories. Dr. Ghafoori-Fard was born in a religious and poor family on August 4, 1943. Due to conditions of his family, he had to work upon youth ages and became familiar with problems of his society too soon. He passed his high school in Aalvi School which was among the most honored scientific schools in that time. This school was the center of political and scientific activities during the Pahlavi period. Most of the men of Islamic rule are graduated from Alavi School. Dr. Ghafoori-Fard was acquainted with political activities in the environment of this school. He entered University of Tehran to study Physics after high school and traveled to Japan when he obtained his BSc certificate to enjoy a scientific scholarship, offered by Ministry of Culture and by assistance of Prof. Hesabi. He taught in Jondi-Shapoor University when he finished his education but was expelled in 1968 because of his political lectures against the Regime. Ghafoori-Fard has studied and taught in universities of Japan and the USA and has been familiar with activities of Islamic Societies in the USA. He has been a professor in universities of Iran and has worked in various offices in the Country and has deep information about political, economical and social circumstances of Iran during the reign of Pahlavi. Accompanying other religious forces during Islamic Revolution, he suffered a lot for victory of Revolution and was in some positions such as Governor General of Khorasan Province, Advisor and Assistance of President and Member of Parliament after revolution.
Some part of his memories explains his familiarity with “Hashemi Rafsanjani” and retells some events of their opposition period. Following is a brief selection:

Foundation of Islamic Society of Universities of Iran

As some part of revolutionary activities was initiated in universities, we decided to organize the activities of university professors in 1977 and 1978. For the first time in 1978 we established an organization entitled: “National Organization of Iranian Academics” and Dr. Abbaspour, Dr. Ghandi, Dr. Azodi, Dr. Ayat, Dr. Nikravesh, me and some other professors were its founders. The activists of this organization were mostly Muslims and the members who act with Islamic reasons. But the management of organization was hold by leftists because of a group which followed leftism. So we tried to unite Islamic forces inside National Organization of Iranian Academics and founded “Islamic Society of Iranian Academics” which exists yet.

The Seminar for Scientific Analysis of Ashoora

Holding a seminar in Amir-Kabir University in 1978 and in Moharram month for the first time to analyze Ashoora was one of the best activities of the Society which created appropriate changes. Nowadays talking about Ashoora is free in universities but in the environment of before revolution some parts of universities were managed by leftists.
Non-Islamic and partly monarchist forces were also mentionable and although the number of Muslims was enough but the argument to analyze Ashoora scientifically was a new subject for them.
In the environment of marital law after Shahrivar 17th event which prohibited more than three-body gatherings, we decided to hold this seminar. In such this situation nobody dare rent us even a speaker. All organizations and all bodies that could be effective to reach our target of the seminar were controlled. I mean that if we asked for renting a speaker, we should take the permission of SAVAK. Obviously the university did not cooperate with us.
Distribution of seminar announcement to inform people to hold the seminar was very dangerous and difficult due to marital law. It is interesting that we invited five lecturers four of whom were martyred in the early years of revolution and the fifth one was terrored. Mr. Motahhari, Mr. Mofatteh, Mr. Beheshti, and Mr. Bahonar were the martyred lecturers and Mr. Rafsanjani was the terrored one.
A population over two or three thousands was gathered in the university at the first day and Mr. Bahonar had an attractive lecture. People fired the photos of Shah and Farah in the middle of Amir-Kabir square and this was the first time that the photos of Shah and Farah were fired among a public place. This event showed that the Regime was so weak and the Revolution was so strong.

Foundation of Islamic Republic Party and Announced the Existence

Late 1977 and early 1978 the idea to found a party was discussed by some clergy characteristics such as Ayatollah Khamenei, Ayatollah Ardabili, Ayatollah Rafsanjani, Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Bahonar [shahid=Martyr]. I was informed from the foundation of party since summer 1978 but the founders had programmed for their idea much time sooner.
Initiated by Shahid Beheshti, they decided to establish a thirty-body central council for the party among different classes of people including clergies, tradesmen, academics, workers and others who had armed fight background.
According to their programs, the party should announce its existence approximately in November 1978, but announced the existence of party with such an idea and name of Islamic Republic referred to a party which was going to establish a republic in the Country and in fact this situation meant to disagree with the Shah who was the base of monarchy.
Obviously, upon the announced existence, all the members of party would be arrested. For this reason next layer of members had been trained. We thought if the first 30 members were arrested, the next 30 members would take their place and if they arrested probably again, the other layers would take their place too. But the events occurred too fast especially after Shahrivar 17th (Sep. 8) and bloodbath of people in Shohada Square and we found no time to execute our programs. Revolutionary changes took place rapidly and the founders of party followed and managed the issues of revolution. So the announced existence of the Party delayed. Shahid Beheshti told several times that Imam [Khomeini] asked one or two times about the delay to announcement of party. At last, the Islamic Republic Party announced its existence according to order of Imam Khomeini and some days after Islamic Revolution in February 16, 1978.

Sources: Memories of Dr. Hassan Ghafoori-Fard, Document Center of Revolution, 2008