Ehsan Yarshater

Ehsan Yarshater, born on April third, nineteen twenty, was a distinguished Iranian historian and linguist renowned for his expertise in Iranology. He made significant contributions to the academic world as the founder and director of the Center for Iranian Studies at Columbia University, where he also held the title of Hagop Kevorkian Professor Emeritus of Iranian Studies. His role as the first full-time Persian professor at a U.S. university since World War II marked a pivotal moment in the representation of Iranian studies in the West.

Yarshater was instrumental in the creation of the Encyclopædia Iranica, serving as one of the forty editors overseeing contributions from three hundred authors across various academic institutions. His editorial prowess extended to significant historical works, including the third volume of The Cambridge History of Iran, which detailed the histories of the Seleucids, Parthians, and Sassanians, as well as a comprehensive volume on Persian Literature.

In addition to these monumental projects, he edited a sixteen-volume series titled History of Persian Literature, further solidifying his legacy in the field. His scholarly achievements earned him numerous international accolades, including a UNESCO award in nineteen fifty-nine and the Giorgio Levi Della Vida Medal for Achievement in Islamic Studies from UCLA in nineteen ninety-one.

Yarshater's influence extended beyond his publications; lecture series in his honor have been established at prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, the University of London, UCLA, the University of Maryland, and the Centre National de Recherche Scientifique in Paris, ensuring that his contributions to Iranian studies will continue to inspire future generations.