LITERATURE HISTORY DEPARTMENT

Literature History Department is one of the first and main structures of Institute of Language and Literature named after Abuabdullo Rudaki and began its scientific and research activities in the 30s and 40s of the last century. Initially, it operated within the framework of joint structures, including the History and Linguistics sector (November 1933), the literature and folklore sector (November 1040), and then as an independent department of "Classical Literature" (March 1951). Since 2012, the department has been called "Literature history".

In this period, the head of this department were Academician Abdulgani Mirzoev, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor Rasul Hodizoda, Doctor of Philological Sciences, corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tatarstan Mirzo Mulloakhmad, Candidate of Philological Sciences Giyosiddin Qodyrov and Doctor of Philological Sciences Hokim Qalandarov. Currently, this Department is headed by Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor Abdunabi Sattorzoda.

The department of "Literature History" at the beginning of its creation and in subsequent years, by the initiative of Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan – Abdulgani Mirzoev, was engaged in the study of Tajik Persian literature, especially literature of the XVI and early XX century, the works of its representatives were studied insufficiently.

Abdulgani Mirzoev, who continued his academic career at the Institute of History, Language and Literature after the Great Patriotic War, published a collection of poetry of Saidoi Nasafi in 1944 and attracted the attention of philologists to Tajik literature of the XVI-XIX centuries.

He started working in 1945 as the head of the literature department of the Institute of History, Language and Literature of the Tajik Branch of the Academy of Sciences of USSR, and in 1947 became the director of this institute.

Abdulgani Mirzoev established a connection of the institute with other well-known scientific centers and orientalists, like E.E.Bertels, I.S.Braginsky, A.N.Boldirev and the and involve them in cooperation and training of specialists. These year he is fruitfully engaged in the study of Tajik Persian literature. His articles include "Kamol and an important condition of its study", "Jomi and education in the field of science and art", "Pure manuscripts in the style of Hiloli", etc. that are devoted to the main issues of philology.

Despite this, the attention of Abdulgan Mirzoev was more than the literature of the XVI-XIX centuries. Until that time, researchers of Persian literature, especially orientalists, did not pay attention to the literature of that time, ignoring the values of that period. Abdulgani Mirzoev seriously engaged in the study of literature of the XVI-XIX centuries, and also attracted other researchers to this issue, and this issue later became one of the main subjects of the literature department of the Institute of Language and Literature.

After the creation of Abdulgani Mirzoev's work "Saydo Nasafi and his status in the history of Tajik literature", an important stage in the study of literature of this period began. With the creation of this work, Abdulgani Mirzoev discovered not only the outstanding image of Tajik literature of the XVII century and revealed his state, thoughts, creative styles and status in the literature of this period, but also touched upon some important theoretical issues, revealing the peculiarities of the literary process in these centuries. With a lot of evidence from Saydo's works, the researcher, in particular, proved that Tajik Persian literature during this period was very close to the life of a hardworking people, very expressed the dreams and desires of the people, as well as the thoughts of artisans. This work was approved by scientists and published twice in Russian with changes and improvements.

In his other work "Mulhami Bukhari", Abdulghani Mirzoev researched the condition and works of the Saido’s contemporary, who was also the man of art.

The initiative of Abdulgan Mirzoev was continued by other philologists, many of whom in different years worked in the literary sector of the Institute of Language and Literature named after Rudaki in the study of literature of the XVI-XIX centuries. Further, Kholiq Mirzozoda, Nosirjon Masumi, Rasul Hodizoda, Kamol Aini, Mirzo Ahmadov, Amirbek Abibov, Abubakr Zuhuriddinov, Sadri Saadiyev, Usman Nazirov and others conducted significant research in the field of studying the literature of this period and its outstanding representatives.

In the research of literature of this period, in particular, the contribution of R. Hodizoda, who for many years led the prehistoric literature sector at the Institute of Language and Literature named after Rudaki and the Institute of Oriental Studies and Written Works, is very noticeable. He not only directed and works on the history of Tajik Persian literature in the XI-XIX centuries, but also made a great contribution to the study of literature of the XIX century, as well as to the study of literature of the XIX century and the works of its outstanding representatives, especially the greart enlightener Ahmadi Donish, and published several works in this direction, such as "Sources on the study of the history of Tajik literature in the second half of the XIX century", "Shamsuddin Shohin", "Collection of Ahmad-makhdum Donish's works".

The 50s of the XX century was one of the very turbulent periods of Abdulghani Mirzoev's literature study activity at the Institute of Language and Literature. His worthy thesis "Binoi", in which the author comprehensively reviewed the state and works of the outstanding representative of literature of this period, i.e. Kamoliddin Binoi, revealed unscientific and incomparable thoughts of a group of Uzbek authors about the relationship of Binoi with Navoi, literature and culture of the Uzbek people and showed the truthfulness of the story with reliable facts. It is not for nothing that Abdulghani Mirzoev was awarded a doctorate in philology for this work, and it was also published in Russian in Moscow.

By the head of Abdulghani Mirzoev, the classical literature section became an important literature study center in which a group of experienced researchers conducted research. Subsequently, in January 1958, this sector became the foundation of the Department of Oriental Studies and Written Works of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan. Although the research center of Tajik Persian literature was transferred to the Department of Oriental Studies and Written Works, which was later transformed into the Institute of Oriental Studies and Written Works, the study of previous literature also did not stop at the Institute of Language and Literature.

 In 1967, the Classical Literature section was created at the Institute of Language and Literature, and subsequently the literature history section of the Institute of Oriental Studies and Written Works was transferred back to the Institute of Language and Literature.

 One of the most important research subjects planned in the previous section of literature was writing essays on the history of Tajik Persian literature from ancient times to the beginning of the XX century

As it was mentioned above, the leadership of this important team work was entrusted to the Rasul Hodizoda. As the writing the history of Tajik Persian literature from ancient times to the XI century was performed by the famous orientalist E. E. Bertels, and in 1960, the first volume of his "Selected work" was published, Tajik philologists came to the conclusion to continue it in the same way. With the effort and guidance of R. A. Hodizoda and the participation of leading and young Tajik philologists and partly by participation of famous orientalists, like A.N.Boldirev, I.S.Braginsky and Muhammadnuri Usmonov, series of essays on the history of Tajik Persian literature of the XI-XIX centuries was completed in 12 books.

These essays served as the basis for a scientific presentation of the history of Tajik-Persian literature. Therefore, the Department of Classical Literature of the Institute of Language and Literature, together with the Department of Modern Literature, planned to write an essay "The History of Tajik Literature from ancient times to the present day" in 10 volumes. With the efforts of the staff of the Department of Classical Literature were written 4 volumes of "History of Tajik-Persian literature from the Boston period up to the XV century". However, the events of the Civil War did not allow this important study to be completed.

The Classical Literature Section of the Institute of Language and Literature is the focal point of scientific topics in the field of classical literature and has made a great contribution to the training of qualified specialists. Every year, dozen scientific dissertations of young and experienced philologists of the country are considered at its meetings, which are recommended for printing or obtaining scientific degrees

Over the years, many philologists have worked at this center, and today work in various scientific and educational institutions of the country and foreign countries, like Doctors of Philology, Professors Usmon Karimov, Najmi Saifiev, Ahmad Adulloev, Candidates of Philology Jumaboy Azizkulov, Ismatullo Hidoyatov, Saidumar Sultonov, Abdurashid Samadov, Qamchin Chillaev, Nazira Karomatulloeva, Tuhfa Boimatova, Zulfiya Hasanova, Asror Boboev, as well as Khosiyat Valikhujaeva, Homid Samadov from the same variant. Also in different years, philologists, like Abdumannon Nasriddinov, Yusufjon Salimov, S. Mirsaidov, Askar Akramov, Amina Sohibova and others worked in this sector.

The classical literature sector has partnerships with various scientific centers of the country and abroad. Employees of the sector, like Rasul Hodizoda, Ansor Afsahov, Navruz Sarkorov, Muazzam Dilovarov collaborated for many years with the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Academy of Soviet Sciences, participated in the development and publication of the scientific-critical text of Firdavsi’s "Shokhnoma" and the development of the "Dictionary" of "Shakhnoma". Currently, the sector has contacts and cooperation with the "Bunyody Ironshinosi", the "Donishnomai adabi phorsi", the "Doiratulmaoriphi buzurgi islomi" in Tehran, the “Markazi Firdavsishinosy" in Mashhad.

The international relations of the classical literature sector have brought a good effective in recent years. The book of the Rasul Hodizoda "The decision of love", dedicated to the life and thoughts of Mansuri Halloj, was published in Mashhad. "Commemoration of a good comrade" (compiled by M. Mulloakhmadov, Tehran, 2001, 860 p.) was well received in Iranian literature. Several articles of Rasul Hodizoda, Mirzo Malloahmadov, and Faridun Khodizoda were published in the scientific journals "Iranshinokht", "Familiar", "Persian letter", and "Khorosonpajuhi". Dozens of articles by employees of the sector were published in the "Donishnomai adabi phorsi" (Tehran, Second edition, 2002).

Rasul Hodizoda, Mirzo Mulloahmadov, Faridun Khodizoda, Muzaffar Mohammadiyev, scientific staff of the sector, delivered speech at scientific conferences held in recent years in the cities of Moscow, Tehran, Mashhad, Nishopur, Arok, etc. Only in 2003 they took part and delivered speech at four scientific summits held in different cities of Iran. All this testifies to the constant expansion of international cooperation of the staff of the Department of Early Literature.

Understanding of the need for methodological and scientific study with a new vision and a new perspective, the study and composition of the history of Tajik Persian literature and its teaching in scientific and university circles of Tajikistan began in the first half of the 80s of the XX century and became more open and universal in the era of reconstruction and openness. It was during this period that the department prepared and published a series of essays on Tajik Persian literature in 12 volumes. But the imposed civil war in the 90s and the relocation of some clerks did not allow this project to be implemented.

Having recognized the urgent need to write a comprehensive scientific and methodological history of Tajik Persian literature from the Boston period to state independence, dear President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, in his speech on the occasion of the State Language Day on October 5, 2010, instructed the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan to develop and publish a "Book on the history of Tajik literature".

Employees of the department with the involvement of scientists and teachers of universities and institutes of the domestic and foreign countries, including academicians Nosirjon Salimi, Karomatullo Olimov, dependent members of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan – Mirzo Mulloakhmadov and Nizomiddin Zohidi, Doctors of Philology Sciences Subhon Amirkulov, Sharifmurod Isrophilniyo, Badriddin Maqsudov, Sadri Sadriev, Holim Qalandariyon, Matlubai Mirzoyunus, Candidates of Science Vali Samad, Shamsiddin Muhammadiev, Alii Khurosoni, Anzurati Malikzod, Bobek Rahimi, boymurod Sharifzoda, Mubashshir Akbarzod, etc. began to develop and compose the "History of Tajik Persian literature (from Boston period to the beginning of the XX century)" in six volumes under the supervision of Doctors of Philology Sciences, Professor Abdunabi Sattorzoda. The first volume, "Literature of the Boston period, Arabic and VIII and IX centuries" was published in 2019 in the Publishing House "Knowledge" in the volume of 629 pages. Other volumes are ready for printing.

Since 2021, Literature History Department has been working according the project "Tajik Persian Literary Encyclopedia". This Encyclopedia will be published in 5 volumes.

There are three scientific circles in the department: "Bedilkhoni", "Sukhansanj" and "Philology section", which are held continuously and review topical scientific issues.