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DEPARTMENT “IRANIAN PHILOLOGY”

The department’s research work covers practically all periods of the Iranian literature. At the same time the researchers applied all possible types of literary analysis when retracing creative work of separate men of letters, theoretical questions of literary development, literary ties and study into literature influence. The department was headed first by B.Huseynov, Correspondent Member of ANAS; later on by world-famed orientalist R.Aliyev. Note that research papers interests of the two scholars supplement each other. Thus, B.Huseynov was an expert in modern Persian literature, R.Aliyev – in classic Persian-language literature. True, R.Aliyev was also engaged in analyzing topical issues of modern Persian poetry, however, in the first turn, he was noted as textual expert and connoisseur of the classic Persian literary heritage. At present, the department is headed by M.Mohammadi, PhD in philology.

At first, department’s studies primarily focused on modern and contemporary period of the Persian literature. This came from the necessity to clarify new trends, social and political processes in the Persian literature. Causes of novelties went back to the previous satiric and enlightenment literature. H.Mamedzadeh, Doctor of Philology – “M.F.Akhundov and the East” and J.Ismayilzadeh, doctoral thesis “Yagma Jandagi’s poetry” pursued the goal above. At the same time, an emphasis was laid on the Persian literature of the 20 century, particularly on the artistic heritage of its prominent representatives. An eloquent testimony to this are candidate theses of A.Hajizadeh dealing with creative work of Farrihu Yazdi; A.Aghazadeh – Nima Yushich, N.Alizadeh – Bozorg Alaviya, U.Dadashova – Ahmed Shamlu, S.Novruzova – Parvin Etisami,  N.Aliyeva – Nadir Nadirpur. Some of the research works are notable for certain generalizations. For instance, H.Quliyeva’s “Some distinctive features of the Persian poetry of the 1950s”. The above went to show that the research work in question tended toward theoretical format. It was no mere coincidence that PhD in philology A.Hajizadeh studied the Iranian novel, while PhD in philology N.Alizadeh focused on the typology of the Iranian narratives.

The most successful in researching the Iranian studies and theoretical issues of the modern Persian literature is a doctor’s thesis of B.Huseynov “Traditions and innovations in the Persian poetry of the 20 century”. This thesis was published in the form of monograph by “Elm” publishing house in 1975 and made a great contribution to the study into innovations in form and contents brought to the Persian poetry by the said literary movement titled “sher-e nou” (“new poem”) in Iran.

Invaluable is the contribution of R.Aliyev, Doctor of Philology, professor, honoured master of sciences, to the study of the classical Persian-language literature. Suffice it to say that R.Aliyev authored publication of research papers-critical texts of Saadi’s “Bustan” and “Gulistan”; Firdovsi’s “Shahnameh”; Nizami’s “Makhzan al-Asrar”, as well as Omar Khayam’s rubai; Nasimi’s and Naimi’s Persian divans. Besides, R.Aliyev translated numerous pieces of literature from Persian language into various languages, acquainted the Russian-speaking readers with brilliant examples of the Persian poetry. His latest works dealt with Nizami studies, he translated the works of contemporary of Nizami – Abubekr Khosrov al-Ustadi’s “Munisnameh” into Russian and then prepared it for the publication.

Worthy of note are monographs of A.Quliyev - “Life and creativity of Abdurrahman Jami” and “Abdurrahman Jami’s “Yusif and Zuleykha poem”.

It has to be kept in mind, that A.Quliyev (Sarovlu) is the translator of numerous poems from Persian language into Azeri, including Amir Khosrov Dahlevi’s “Shirin and Khosrov” poem.

Thus, M.Mohammadi defended his candidate thesis titled “Lyrics of Saib Tabrizi, and the problem of Indian style in the Persian-language poetry”; wrote a monograph “Saadi and Hafiz” as well as translated into Azeri and later prepared for the publication the following Persian-language written monuments - “The History of Qizilbashes” of anonymous source; Yusif Qarabagi’s “Yeddi bagh”; Imam Qazzali’s “Kimyayisaadat”, etc.

An important part of department’s work is the Iranian linguistic studies. Contributing to this work are J.Sadigova, T.Alesgerova, M.Hajiyev; lately Doctor of Philology Sh.Alibeyli and PhD in Philology V.Mamadov, PhD in Philology G.Verdiyeva, PhD in philology A.Hasanova.

For some time past the department has stepped up its activity. It is no mere coincidence that over the past 10 years there have been published about 40 books, a certain number of works had been prepared for the publication. In the reviewed period there have been published monographs by PhD in philology M.Mohammadi “Rza Barahani: poems, interviews, research” (2009), “Issues of South Azerbaijan” (2012); jointly with P.Kerimov prepared for the press Majzub Tabrizi’s “Divan” (2013), “Shams and Movlana”, published in Baku in Latin script (2010) and in Tabriz in old script (2013); translations from Persian, Turkish and Russian in various years in the collected work “Tarcuma chalangi” (2012); translations of Sohrab Sepehri with introductory word “Suyun ayag sesi” (2010); Doctor of Philology Sh.Alibeyli’s “Fuzuli’s Persian divan: linguistic-poetic features” (2008) and “A brief dictionary of Persian-Russian-Azeri” (2012); PhD in Philology Z.Rahimova’s “Shirin and Farkhad” translated from Kurdish (2012); a research work titled “Motives of struggle against Shahlyg style in the Iranian prose” included in 16th volume of works of Sohrab Tahiri (2010); PhD in Philology V.Mamadov’s “Terms of the Persian grammar” (2010) and “Persian linguistics at the Institute of Oriental Studies” (2013); PhD in Philology A.Hasanova’s translation from Persian Muhammad Sadig Naiibi’s “One thousand Turkic words in the Persian language” (2014).

Note that department’s researchers have recently defended doctor’s theses on the Persian Philology. These include Sh.Alibeyli’s “Fuzuli’s Persian Divan: linguistic-poetic features” and G.Verdiyeva’s “The role of Arabic masdars in word-formation of the Persian-language”. The number of local and foreign students passed their PhD defense and received the degree of Phd in Philology.

At present, the department is actively involved in conducting research into various aspects of the Persian-language literature. Suffice it to mention PhD in Philology M.Mohammadi’s “A question of national identity of Nizami Ganjavi in the Iranian research papers-social thought”; PhD in Philology Z.Rahimova’s “History of Mastura within the context of classical poetical tradition”; PhD in Philology Saadat Shikhiyeva’s “Persian Hurufi masnavi in the 15 century”; PhD in Philology V.Mamadov’s “Oriental Studies in Azerbaijan: History and Development directions”; PhD in Philology G.Verdiyeva’s “Process of term-formation in modern Iran”; PhD in Philology A.Hasanova’s “Turkic-origin toponyms in modern Iran”; Sh.Ahmedov’s “Translation of Jemelli Karerin’s “Safarnameh”; A.Rustamova’s “Transcription of poems in Azeri from collected poems of “Mahmud Dastpishi’s “Come and listen”; S.Tahir’s “Features of Forug Farruhzad’s lyrics”.

Department’s researchers take an active part in various international conferences. Worthy of note are reports of Doctor or Philology Sh.Alibeyli’s “Turkish-Persian-Russian poetical vocabulary – “Tacridi-l-lugat” (Sankt-Petersburg, 2011) at the 26th international conference of Asian and African countries on source study and historiography; at the international conference titled Iran and the Caucasus (historical and cultural ties) with “Principles of composition of Turkish-Persian poetical vocabulary” (Tbilisi, 2010); at the international research papers conference titled “Nizami and Navoi: Historical and Cultural Cords” with “Structural functional identity of proper nouns in the Persian divans of Navoi and Fizuli” (Samarqand, 2010); PhD in Philology S.Shihiyeva’s participation at the 26 Turkish History Congress of the Turkish History Structure with “Hurufi Ayaklamalary” (Ankara, 2010); At the 7 International Turkological Congress with “The role of divan poetry in transition lexical elements of Chagatay Azeri Turkish” (Istanbul, 2013); at the international research papers conference titled “Nizami and Navoi: Historical and Cultural ties” with “Azerbaijani-Uzbek literary ties in the 15-16 centuries” (Samarkand, 2010); PhD in philology N.Alizadeh’s “Iran and the Caucasus: Cultural and Historical ties” at the international conference titled “Azerbaijan-Iran literary ties in poetic translations” (Tbilisi, 2010); at the Kazan Federal University’s IInd form with “A place of literary translation in the National literature” (Kazan, 2010); Sh.Ahmadov’s “On divan of Mirza Muslim Qudsi” at the international conference titled “Iran and the Caucasus: Cultural and Historical ties” (Tbilisi, 2010).

Besides, the department is engaged in preparing two research papers collected works – “Research papers studies” (PhD in Philology S.Shihiyeva) and “Azerbaijani oriental studies” (PhD in Philology V.Mamadov). At the same time, PhD in Philology V.Mamadov is responsible for propagandizing research papers activities of the Institute as PR coordinator.