The nickname “Shaban Tajbakhsh,” meaning roughly “Shaban the King-Maker,” reflected the popular belief that men such as Jafari had helped restore the Shah to power. The nickname was both a recognition of his political role and, in some contexts, a mocking reference to the way street toughs had been incorporated into political struggles.
Jafari’s connection to traditional wrestling remained important throughout his life. He was particularly associated with the promotion of varzesh-e bastani and zurkhaneh culture. His public identity therefore combined two seemingly different worlds: the traditional sporting culture of Tehran and the modern political conflict surrounding the monarchy.
