University of Minnesota
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Iraj Bashiri

Iraj Bashiri

612-624-3314
Department of History 1043 HellerH

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

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; CAS/MELC 3511 Ancient Iran (Fall 2008)
  • CAS 3602/5602 - Persian Poetry in Translation
  • CAS/MELC 3511 Islam and the West (Spring 2009)
  • CAS/MELC 3/5601 - Persian Fiction in Translation
  • CAS 3531 - Central Asian Culture
  • CAS 3526/5526 - Islam and Communism
  • CAS 3532/5532 - Russia and Central Asia
Alternative Output Formats Alternative Output Formats

Featured Faculty

  • Gary Cohen Awarded Austrian Medal of Honor

    CohenMedl02-thumb-350x262-20924.jpg
    Gary Cohen has been awarded the Austrian Medal of Honor (Verdienstkreuz) for Science and Arts, First Class. The ceremony was held at the Austrian Embassy in Washington. He was presented the award by Dr. Christian Prosl, the Austrian Ambassador to the United States.

    Congratulations to Gary! This is a much-deserved recognition of Gary's scholarship on the Habsburg Empire and his leadership of the Center for Austrian Studies.

    November 17th, 2009
  • Regina Kunzel, Lambda Literary Award Recipient

    Regina Kunzel has been awarded the Lambda Literary Award in the category of LGBT Studies for her book Criminal Intimacy: Prison and the Uneven History of Modern American Sexuality. Congratulations Regina.

    June 5th, 2009
  • Donna Gabaccia, Fesler-Lampert Chair

    Tthe Graduate School has appointed Donna Gabaccia to the Fesler-Lampert Chair in Public Humanities for 2009-2010.

    June 5th, 2009

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