Reviews
English translation of the book “Azerbaijan and Aran (Caucasian Albania)”
Professor Enayatollah Reza
Published by Bennett & Bloom, London, 2014
An important and seminal history book “Azerbaijan and Aran (Caucasian Albania)”, written by the late Professor Enayatollah Reza (1920-2010) was originally published in Persian in 1980, and so far has gone through eight reprints and editions. The book deals in depth with the problems of naming the newly established country of Azerbaijan with a name borrowed from its southern neighbor, the Iranian Province of Azerbaijan in 1918, including the conflicts and problems that this action has created. One of the major issues at present is the official re-writing of history that has been taking place within the Baku establishment as documented in the video below (originally announced in Iranian.com by Dr. Mohammad Ala, recipient of the 2013 Grand Prix Film Italia Award)
The book has been translated into English by Dr. Ara Ghazarian of the Armenian Cultural Foundation of Arlington Massachusetts. it must be noted however that this project was initiated and finally made possible through the hard work and dedication of Rouben Galichian, an accomplished scholar in his own right.
The book has so far been translated into Armenian and Russian, but until now there had not been an English translation of this extremely valuable work. This gap had to be filled and Galichian decided to act upon it. In 2008 he spoke to Professor Reza asking his permission to translate the book to English, to which he graciously consented. Galichian began the hard work of the translation but due to other urgent projects and commitments the partially completed work had to be abandoned.
Then, in 2011, Galichian heard from his friend and scholar Dr Ara Ghazarians of the Armenian Cultural Foundation of Arlington Mass., that he has started the translation of Dr. Reza’s work. Galichian encouraged him and promised to locate suitable maps for the book. Afterwards, Galichian assisted in getting the financial backing and the publication for the English translation of the book. This has resulted in Dr. Ghazarians’ excellently translated and beautifully produced book, to which he has added important explanatory footnotes and complementary information.
Historic defeats of the late Qajar period resulted in loss of territories for Iran to its north and east. In the early decades of the twentieth century, a group of political leaders in the historic Aran (Caucasian Albania), to the north of the Araxes River, which, during the 17-19th centuries was known as Shirvan, renamed their country Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan.
Prominent Iranian scholar and historian, Professor Enayatollah Reza (1920-2010), based on extensive research of historical geography of Iran and the Caucasus, provides a picture of the boundaries and the two territories of Azerbaijan to the south and Aran to the north of the Araxes River, respectively, and the advent of the Turks on the world stage, their movement and penetration into Azerbaijan, the Caucasus and Anatolia. A chapter in this book discusses the cultural character of these lands at the time of the arrival of the Turks, followed by a response to the claims of the Pan-Turkist historians in Turkey and Azerbaijan, who claim that the Turkish racial element had been present in these territories before others. Other topics in the book include a discussion of the arrival and incorporation of the Turkish language in Azerbaijan and the Aryan roots of the people of Azerbaijan upon whom the Turkish language has been imposed.
WRESTLING WITH THE Demons of
the Pahlavi Widewdad
Mahnaz Moazami
(Brill 2014)
This book is one of a series dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of Iran.
It is a fifth-century Middle Persian commentary on the AvestanVidevdad, and describes the rules and regulations that protect pollution caused by dead matter. It recognizes the perpetual presence of the demons, the forces of the Evil Spirit, which should be fought through law-abiding conduct. The book covers many topics from jurisprudence to penalties, procedures for dealing with pollution, purification, and arrangements for funerals. Viewed together , they provide the reader with an exquisite interlace of a community’s concerns.
Garden of the Heart’s Desire
by Mahin Ghanbari
If only one word was used to describe this book it would be “treasure.” The author has compiled a collection of outstanding and beautiful fabrics (textile art), the Persian carpet. Her endeavors to find the pieces of this collection took her around the world. Some were purchased for her own pleasure and enjoyment and others in an effort to preserve the ancient artistic form of Persia.
This particular collection of pieces Garden of the Heart’s Desire is from the Golzar collection. Her intense dedication and passion for Persian textile is exhibited in her educational introduction to the book. What is most fascinating is the extent in which Persian textiles are used in the Persian household, to this day! They play an important role in the daily life of the Persian family and are used as table covers, decoration, wall hangings and gifts. To them it is a part of the story of their life, each piece another chapter.
Ms. Ghanbari describes the book as “a story of the Persian family and heritage, told through allegorical gardens meticulously crafted into magnificent texture.” No one can describe it better.