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Iraj BashiriProfessor of History, Literature and Linguistics at the University of Minnesota, USA.
Date of Birth: 31.07.1940
Country:  Iran |
Content:
- Dr. Iraj Bashiri: A Distinguished Professor and Scholar
- Academic Career in the United States
- Appointment at the University of Minnesota
- Research and Recognition
- Leadership and Administrative Roles
Dr. Iraj Bashiri: A Distinguished Professor and Scholar
Early Life and EducationIraj Bashiri was born on July 31, 1940, in Behbaghan, Iran. He completed his primary education in Damane and Daron (Fereydun region), and his secondary education in Isfahan and Shiraz. In 1961, he graduated from "Hodj Kavom" High School in Shiraz with a diploma in Mathematics.
Bashiri's passion for English language propelled him to participate in the National High School Olympiad in Ramsar in 1959, where he placed first in English proficiency. He pursued his undergraduate studies in English Language and Literature at Pahlavi University (now Shiraz University), graduating with honors in 1963 as the "Top Student in English Language and Literature."
Academic Career in the United States
In 1964, Bashiri traveled to England to further his education. He then moved to the United States in 1966. In 1968, he completed his Master's degree in General Linguistics from the University of Michigan. His doctoral dissertation, which he defended in 1972 from the University of Michigan, focused on Ibn Sina's research on the verb "to be" in Iranian linguistics.
During his studies in the United States, Bashiri also taught Persian at the University of Michigan and participated in the education and training of peacekeepers in Vermont, New York, and New Jersey.
Appointment at the University of Minnesota
In 1972, Dr. Bashiri joined the University of Minnesota as an instructor of Persian and Turkish languages. He became a full professor in 1996. His teaching expertise encompasses Iranian linguistics, Persian literature (poetry and prose), the history of Iran (ancient and modern), and the history of Central Asia and Afghanistan. In 1980, he received the University of Minnesota's Outstanding Teacher of Science and Humanities Award.
Research and Recognition
Alongside his teaching, Dr. Bashiri has conducted extensive research, notably on Sadeq Hedayat's "Buf-e Kur," Ferdowsi's "Shahnameh," and the contemporary history and literature of the Central Asian republics and Afghanistan. His expertise has been recognized by the award of "Honorary Doctor of Culture and History" from the National University of Tajikistan in 1996 and "Honorary Academician and Foreign Member of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan" in 1997.
Beyond the University of Minnesota, Dr. Bashiri has lectured at universities in Michigan, Texas, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Leadership and Administrative Roles
From 1975 to 1979, Dr. Bashiri directed the University of Minnesota's Center for Central Asian Studies, and later the Center for South Asian Studies. Between 1987 and 2005, he repeatedly chaired the Center for Russian and East European Studies, and from 2005 to 2007, he served as Director of the Institute for Slavic and Central Asian Languages and Literatures. He continues to engage in teaching and research.
