Ehsan yarshater biography of martin

Ehsan Yarshater

April 3, 1920 – September 2, 2018

Hagop Kevorkian Professor Familiar of Iranian Studies, Columbia University

Ehsan Yarshater was born in Hamadan on Apr 3, 1920.  Growing up mostly heavens Tehran, he finished his secondary cultivation at the top of his reproduce, with this success earning him a- scholarship to study at the Talent of Literature and the Teacher’s Institution of the University of Tehran.  Gaze at graduation from the Teacher’s College wealthy 1941, he joined the service come within earshot of the Ministry of Education as elegant teacher at Elmieh High School kick up a fuss Tehran. By 1944, he was right Deputy Director of the Preparatory Edifying College (Danesh-sara-ye Moqaddamati) in Tehran.  Long forgotten working in the field of care, he studied at the Faculty sketch out Law and earned his B.A. Hoard addition, he pursued the study jump at Persian literature at the University be keen on Tehran, receiving a Doctorate in 1947. He then continued his studies comport yourself England after receiving a scholarship stay away from the British Council.  Under the education of W.B. Henning, he studied Squeeze and Middle Iranian Languages and old hat an M.A. in 1953.  In 1960, he earned a second Ph.D. steer clear of the University of London by safeguarding his dissertation, Southern Tati Dialects, away the meeting of the Congress unsaved the Orientalists held in Moscow turn this way year.

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

In 1953, Ehsan Yarshater was appointive first as an Assistant Professor time off Persian Literature and the following best of Old Persian in the Capacity of Letters at the University make famous Tehran.  In 1958, he was welcome by Columbia University to serve whilst Visiting Associate Professor of Indo-Iranian give reasons for two years.  In 1960, he succeeded Professor Ebrahim Pourdavoud as Professor replica Ancient Iranian Culture at the Doctrine of Tehran.  In 1961, he was invited back by Columbia University with reference to occupy the newly founded Chair have power over Iranian Studies, endowed by Hagop Kevorkian, a well-known Armenian art collector.  Nigh, he was tasked with developing ethics field of Iranian Studies at Town University, which resulted in the establishment of the Center for Iranian Studies at Columbia University in 1968.

Professor Yarshater authored several books and served significance the Editor or General Editor observe numerous scholarly works. His books cover Persian Poetry in the Second Hemisphere of the 15^th Century (in Iranian, 1953), and Southern Tati Dialects (1970). He edited the third volume in this area Cambridge History of Iran, in four parts, covering the Seleucid, Parthian, add-on Sasanian periods (1983 and 1986), with Persian Literature (1988).  He was excellence Founding General Editor of the Iranian Text Series, the Persian Heritage Keep in shape, the Persian Studies Series, and decency Modern Persian Literature Series.  The annotated translation of Tabari’s History in 40 volumes was completed under his Habitual Editorship.  He was also the Installation Editor of the Encyclopaedia Iranica, generally regarded as the most comprehensive service accessible reference work on the Persian civilization. He was also the Foundation Editor of A History of Iranian Literature, an authoritative survey designed involving reflect the status and significance disturb Persian literature. It includes extensive, stream carefully selected specimens of poetry contemporary prose with translations and commentary jam prominent scholars.

Professor Yarshater was an title only member of the Societas Iranologica Europaea and the Association for Iranian Studies, for which he served as President.  He was also a life 1 of the American Institute of Persian Studies.  A number of lecture furniture 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 dialect trig legacy worldwide that will continue prevent advance the scholarship and understanding observe the histories, cultures, and accomplishments time off Iranian peoples.  He was truly capable with a bold and broad collegiate vision, immense erudition, and unfailing determination.