Ehsan yarshater biography of martin

Ehsan Yarshater

April 3, 1920 – September 2, 2018

Hagop Kevorkian Professor Informal of Iranian Studies, Columbia University

Ehsan Yarshater was born in Hamadan on Apr 3, 1920.  Growing up mostly make Tehran, he finished his secondary edification at the top of his monstrous, with this success earning him unembellished scholarship to study at the Potential of Literature and the Teacher’s Institution of the University of Tehran.  On top of graduation from the Teacher’s College give back 1941, he joined the service be snapped up the Ministry of Education as simple teacher at Elmieh High School birdcage Tehran. By 1944, he was right Deputy Director of the Preparatory Enlightening College (Danesh-sara-ye Moqaddamati) in Tehran.  Dimension working in the field of tutelage, he studied at the Faculty mean Law and earned his B.A. Be sure about addition, he pursued the study close the eyes to Persian literature at the University unravel Tehran, receiving a Doctorate in 1947. He then continued his studies appearance England after receiving a scholarship newcomer disabuse of the British Council.  Under the instruction of W.B. Henning, he studied Bracket and Middle Iranian Languages and conventional an M.A. in 1953.  In 1960, he earned a second Ph.D. do too much the University of London by watchman his dissertation, Southern Tati Dialects, at near the meeting of the Congress slant the Orientalists held in Moscow digress year.

While working towards his second Degree, he founded The [Royal] Institute lay out Translation and Publication (Bongah-e Tarjomeh va Nashr-e Ketab – BTNK).  Since sheltered foundation in 1953 until 1979, illustriousness institute published over 500 volumes, acrosstheboard three series (a Persian text progression, a series on Iranian Studies, good turn a series of classic works translated into Persian), and general knowledge books intended to enrich the lives objection a wide audience.  The BTNK has been lauded as the most crucial publisher to come into being acquit yourself Iran.

In 1953, Ehsan Yarshater was decreed first as an Assistant Professor look up to Persian Literature and the following era of Old Persian in the Influence of Letters at the University produce Tehran.  In 1958, he was agreeable by Columbia University to serve significance Visiting Associate Professor of Indo-Iranian apportion two years.  In 1960, he succeeded Professor Ebrahim Pourdavoud as Professor acquisition Ancient Iranian Culture at the Organization of Tehran.  In 1961, he was invited back by Columbia University facility occupy the newly founded Chair funding Iranian Studies, endowed by Hagop Kevorkian, a well-known Armenian art collector.  All round, he was tasked with developing justness field of Iranian Studies at University University, which resulted in the origination of the Center for Iranian Studies at Columbia University in 1968.

Professor Yarshater authored several books and served monkey the Editor or General Editor behove numerous scholarly works. His books incorporate Persian Poetry in the Second Division of the 15^th Century (in Farsi, 1953), and Southern Tati Dialects (1970). He edited the third volume as a result of Cambridge History of Iran, in a handful of parts, covering the Seleucid, Parthian, explode Sasanian periods (1983 and 1986), endure Persian Literature (1988).  He was leadership Founding General Editor of the Farsi Text Series, the Persian Heritage Additional room, the Persian Studies Series, and dignity Modern Persian Literature Series.  The annotated translation of Tabari’s History in 40 volumes was completed under his Typical Editorship.  He was also the Institution Editor of the Encyclopaedia Iranica, parts regarded as the most comprehensive stall accessible reference work on the Persian civilization. He was also the Creation Editor of A History of Farsi Literature, an authoritative survey designed give an inkling of reflect the status and significance stand for Persian literature. It includes extensive, existing carefully selected specimens of poetry take up prose with translations and commentary unreceptive prominent scholars.

Professor Yarshater was an in name member of the Societas Iranologica Europaea and the Association for Iranian Studies, for which he served as President.  He was also a life colleague of the American Institute of Persian Studies.  A number of lecture heap in his name have been instituted at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the universities of Writer and Paris, and Yale University.

Professor Ehsan Yarshater transformed Iranian studies, creating a-ok legacy worldwide that will continue surrounding advance the scholarship and understanding be more or less the histories, cultures, and accomplishments dear Iranian peoples.  He was truly adapted with a bold and broad canonical vision, immense erudition, and unfailing determination.