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Iraj Bashiri

Iraj Bashiri

612/624-3314
Department of History 1043 HellerH 271 19th Ave S

Department Affiliations


Specialties

  • Afghanistan
  • Central Asian studies
  • communism
  • Intellectual history, religion and ideology of Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan
  • Iranian linguistics and literature
  • Islam
  • Middle East
  • Persian
  • Sadeq Hedayat
  • Tajik-Uzbek conflict
  • Taliban
  • Firdowsi and His Shahnameh
  • Islam and the West

Publications

  • The Pearl Cannon. Bashiri, Iraj, editor, Mazda Publishers, 1986.
  • The Fiction of Sadeq Hedayat. Bashiri, Iraj, Mazda Publishers, 1984.
  • Firdowsi's Shahname: 1000 Years After. Bashiri, Iraj, Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, 1994.
  • Kamal Khujandi: Epoch and its Importance in the History of Central Asian Civilization. Bashiri, Iraj, Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, 1996.
  • The Samanids and the Revival of the Civilization of the Iranian Peoples. Bashiri, Iraj, Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, 1997.
  • Prominent Tajik Figures of the Twentieth Century. Bashiri, Iraj, Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, International Borbad Foundation, 2003.
  • Tajikistan in the 20th Century (ed). Bashiri, Iraj, Salimjon Aiyoubov, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 2002.
  • From the Hymns of Zarathustra to the Songs of Borbad. Bashiri, Iraj, Tajikistan National Commission for UNESCO, The Ministry of Culture of Tajikistan, The International Borbad Foundation, 2003.
  • Mazdian Cosmology. Bashiri, Iraj, Zoroastrianism and Its Value in the Development of Civilization of Near and Middle East People, 2003.
  • Impact of Egypt on Ancient Iran (in 3 languages (English, Tajiki, Farsi) and a Synopsis in Russian). Bashiri, Iraj, Rudaki Institute of Literature, The Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, Author, 2007. Link
  • The Ishraqi Philogophy of Jalal al-Din Rumi. Bashiri, Iraj, Institute of Philosophy, Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, Author, 2008. Link
  • Prominent Tajik Figures ?of the Twentieth Century. Bashiri, Iraj, International Borbad Foundation, Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, Author, 2002. Link
  • Turk and Tur in Firdowsi's Shahname. Bashiri, Iraj, Institute of Eastern Studies & Written Heritage, Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, Author, 2009.

Research Activities

  • Mullah Sadra and Shi'ite Theology: An assessment of the impact of Mullah Sadra Shirazi's philosophy on the course of Usuli thought in the shaping of Shi'ite Islam., 2006 - 2009
  • "The Impact of 'Reason' on the Cultures of Iran and the West.": Roots of Greco-Roman culture (Christianity, Humanism, Enlightenment), Zoroastrianism and Islam, emphasizing the role of philosophy.

Creative Activities

  • The Nowruz Scrolls (in English, Persian, Tajiki, Russian): An appreciation of the ancient roots of the Nowruz Celebration.
  • Painting: Oil paintings of scenes from Iran and Central Asia.

Professional Activities

  • Chair: Faculty Affairs Committee , 2000 - 2003
  • Member: College of Liberal Arts Curriculum, Instruction, and Advising Committee , 2003 - 2005
  • Member: CLA Assembly , 2002 - 2004
  • Chair, CLA Assembly: 2005 - 2006

Awards

  • Distinguished College of Liberal Arts teacher, 1980
  • Honorary Doctorate in History and Culture, Tajikistan State University, 1996
  • Honorary International Academician, Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, 1997

Courses Taught

  • Hist 3503 Ancient Iran
  • Hist 3504 The Cultures of the Silk Road
  • Hist 3546 Islam and the West
  • ALL 3831 Persian Poetry in Translation
  • ALL 3836 Persian Fiction in Translation
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