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03.11.2014

THE ARMENIAN STUDIES IN MODERN IRAN

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Vahram Hovyan
Expert, Centre for the Armenian Studies, Noravank Foundation

Currently there are three centers of Armenian Studies in Iran, two of which are located in Tehran and one in Isfahan. All three centers are university departments. One of such centers in Tehran is the Chair of Armenian Studies at the University of Tehran, and the other one is the Department of Armenian Language and Literature at the Islamic Azad University of Tehran. The third center is the Isfahan University’s Armenian Studies Department.

Thus, the Armenian Studies in Iran develop in academic framework in universities.

The oldest one among the centers for Armenian Studies is the Isfahan University’s Armenian Studies Department, established in 1960. Islamic Azad University of Tehran Department of Armenian Language and Literature was established in 1995, while the Chair of Armenian Studies at University of Tehran was founded in 2011. As an older and more experienced institution, the Isfahan University’s Armenian Studies Department prevails over the other two chairs of Armenian Studies in terms of being more accomplished.

Prerequisites for Development of Armenian Studies

The interest toward Armenian Studies, aspirations for closer Armenian-Iranian scientific and cultural ties, efforts of Armenia and Armenian Diaspora to open centers for Armenian Studies abroad, and the rich Armenian literary and cultural legacy in Iran underlie the development of Armenian Studies in Iran.

The interest toward Armenian Studies in Iran is prompted by its important role in development of science, which is underpinned by centuries-long Armenian-Iranian ties in politics, culture, economy, science and other areas. Hence, the achievements in Armenian Studies represent substantial value for research and findings in the Iranian Studies.

For instance, studies of Armenian Language, especially Classical Armenian (Grabar), play an important role in uncovering the relations between ancient Armenian and Iranian languages and conducting comparative linguistics studies for these two languages. Also, the Medieval Armenian sources contain invaluable materials on Armenian-Iranian relations and Iran’s history, culture, geography and many other fields. The literary legacy of the 5th century AD Armenian Golden Age of literature and culture created by M. Khorenatsi, Yeghishe, Ghazar Parpetsi, Pavstos Buzand represents a great value for the Iranian historiography. The Armenian sources of periods after the 5th century, all the way to the 17th century author Arakel Davrizhetsi, are also important for Iranian historiography. With respect to Religious Studies, the Refutation of the Sects writing by Yeznik Koghbatsi (Eznik of Kolb) is a “major source for studying Zurvanism spread in Persia and neighboring countries”.1 As for geography, Anania Shirakatsi’s (7th century) Ashkharatsuyts (Geography) has a great value. From the viewpoint of developing Iranian Studies these circumstances bring importance to the research of Armenian language (from Grabar to Ashkharabar), Armenian history, culture, etc. Generally, the Armenian-Iranian ties have been so close during the history, that the development of Iranian Studies would be incomplete without Armenian Studies.2

The interest to Armenian Studies in Iran is further evidenced by favorable attitude of the higher education institutions’ management toward the departments for Armenian Studies. For example, when the Isfahan University’s Armenian Studies Department was on the verge of closing due to lack of students, which was a result of university adopting paid tuitions system, the management of this higher education institution undertook the financing of the department and dropped the tuition fee requirements for it3.

It has to be noted that most of the students at Armenian Studies departments are young Iranian people.

The centers for Armenian Studies in Iran contribute greatly to the strengthening and deepening the Armenian-Iranian cultural and scientific ties. For instance, the translations of Armenian literary legacy into Farsi and vice versa facilitate the deepening of Armenian-Iranian literary relations.

The Republic of Armenia and the Armenian diaspora are also strongly committed to development of Armenian Studies in Iran. In case of Armenia, the diplomatic efforts and ties established by the higher education institutions play an important role in this aspect. The Chair of Armenian Studies at the University of Tehran was opened through joint initiative of the Armenian Embassy in Iran and Yerevan State University.4 The Department of Armenian Language and Literature of Islamic Azad University of Tehran was founded through an agreement signed with Yerevan Hrachya Acharyan University, with a purpose to establish departments of Armenian language and literature in Tehran and one for Farsi language and literature in Yerevan.5

The Isfahan University’s Armenian Studies Department was established by efforts of the Armenian community in Iran. The Department received support from Armenian Prelacy, unions, and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation which allocated $25,000 in 1970 to construct a building for it.6 The Foundation had previously provided $5,000 in 1960s to create an Armenian Studies library at the University.7

Finally, a prerequisite for development of Armenian Studies in Iran is the existence of a rich Armenian cultural and literary legacy in the country. This represents a serious material for research and to a certain extent a solid foundation for creating and maintaining centers for Armenian Studies. For instance, the Isfahan University’s Armenian Studies Department investigates the manuscripts kept at the local Armenian churches, as well as other materials that represent spiritual value.

Directions of Activities of the Centers for Armenian Studies

The activities of centers for Armenian Studies in Iran can be divided in four main directions: research, educational, conferences / other scientific events, and publishing.

The results of research activities are summarized in monographs, articles, reports, etc. Among the recent publications is a monograph by Mohammad Malek Mohammadi, The Armenian Grammar (with explanations in Farsi).8

The recent reports presented at Armenian Studies conferences include: Mohammad Malek Mohammadi’s The Holy Quran and the Christians, Yeznik Koghbatsi’s Philosophical Viewpoints and Study of Ancient Iranian’s Zurvanism, Research of the 5th Century Armenian Sources in Iranian Studies, Islamic Azad University of Tehran Department of Armenian Language and Literature chairman Andranik Simonyan’s Iran in the 20th Century Armenian Poetry and other reports.

As for publications on Armenian Studies, one of the recently published works is the English-language article A Contrastive Study of the Noun Declension in Avestan and Ancient Armenian Languages by Mohammad Malek Mohammadi and Mehdi Jafarzade.9

Naturally, the centers for Armenian Studies are also involved in educational activities.

With respect to organizing conferences the Isfahan University’s Armenian Studies Department is quite active. For example, in 2006 the Department organized the Iran-Armenia Literary Bridge Conference. On November 10-11, 2008, The First International Armenology and Iranology Conference was organized.10

Regarding the publishing activities a noteworthy example is the publication of proceedings of all Armenian Studies conferences organized by Isfahan University’s Armenian Studies Department in form of collections of articles.11

Research Interests of the Centers for Armenian Studies

The research interests of the Centers for Armenian Studies traditionally included Armenian philology (linguistics, literary studies), and Armenian history.

For example, the curriculum of the Islamic Azad University of Tehran Department of Armenian Language and Literature is comprised mostly of subjects related to philology and history. The philology area includes teaching of Grabar, grammar, orthography, history of Armenian language, folklore, theory of literature, international literature, Armenian classical and modern literature, etc. The history curriculum includes history of Armenian people, history of Armenian community in Iran and history of Iranian culture.12

The research interests of Isfahan University’s Armenian Studies Department were initially limited to philology and history, too. Armenian language, Grabar, history of literature, translation, history and other subjects were taught.13 However, in the recent period, the research interests of centers for Armenian Studies expanded, which was related to development of Armenian Studies in Iran. In addition to the traditional philology and history, the research interests of Isfahan University’s Armenian Studies Department now include topics that relate to the political, public an cultural life in Armenia, geography of Armenia, Armenian-Iranian political, cultural and civilizational relations.14

1 Զաքարյան Ս., Հայ փիլիսոփայության պատմության համառոտ ակնարկ, Եր., Երևանի համալս. հրատ., 2004, էջ 10։

2 With regard to the role of Armenian Studies in Iran, see: Հախնազարյան Հ., Հայագիտությունը Թեհրանի և Իսպահանի պետական համալսարաններում, «Պատմա-բանասիրական հանդես», 1969, թիվ 3, էջ 261-262։

3 Մոհամմադ Մալեք Մոհամմադի, Հայագիտության զարգացման հեռանկարները արդի Իրանում, «Պատմա-բանասիրական հանդես», 2009, թիվ 2-3, էջ 306։

4 В университете Тегерана откроется кафедра арменоведения, http://www.yerkramas.org/2011/10/19/v-universitete-tegerana-otkroetsya-kafedra-armenovedeniya/

5 «Հայոց լեզվի եւ գրականության ամբիոնը ազգային կապիտալ է». դոկտ. Անդրանիկ Սիմոնյան http://hayernaysor.am/հայոց-լեզվի-եւ-գրականության-ամբիոնը/

6 Մոհամմադ Մալեք Մոհամմադի, նշվ. աշխ., էջ 306։

7 Հախնազարյան Հ., նշվ. աշխ., էջ 264։

8 Մոհամմադ Մալեք Մոհամմադի, Հայոց լեզվի քերականություն (պարսկերեն բացատրություններով), Թեհրան, ՍԱՄԹ հրատարակչություն, 2009։

9 Mohammad Malek Mohammadi, Mehdi Jafarzade, A Contrastive Study of the Noun Declension in Avestan and Ancient Armenian Languages, «Հայկազեան հայագիտական հանդէս», 2010, էջ 43-52։

10 Ibid, p. 307.

11 «Գրական-մշակութային կամուրջ Հայաստանի և Իրանի միջև» երկրորդ գիտաժողովի ներկայացված հոդվածների ամփոփումների ժողովածու, գլխավոր խմբագիր՝ Մ. Մալեք Մոհամմադի, ԻԻՀ Սպահանի համալսարան, 2006։ Հայագիտական և իրանագիտական առաջին միջազգային գիտաժողովի հոդվածների ժողովածու, գլխ. խմբ. Մ. Մալեք Մոհամմադի, ԻԻՀ Սպահանի համալսարան, 2008։

12 See details in: «Հայոց լեզվի եւ գրականության ամբիոնը ազգային կապիտալ է». դոկտ. Անդրանիկ Սիմոնյան, http://hayernaysor.am/հայոց-լեզվի-եւ-գրականության-ամբիոնը/

13 Mohammad Malek Mohammadi, Mehdi Jafarzade, A Contrastive Study of the Noun Declension in Avestan and Ancient Armenian Languages, «Հայկազեան հայագիտական հանդէս», 2010, p. 306.

14 Ibid, pp. 311-312.

“Globus” analytical bulletin, No. 10, 2014

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