Rudaki Institute of language, literature, oriental and written heritage

A. Rudaki Institute of Language and Literature is one of the oldest research institutes in the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan. Its establishment is connected with the organization of the Tajik base of the AS of the USSR. By resolution of the Presidium of the USSR on March 17, 1932 in the Tajik base. The historical and linguistic sector started operation.

The establishment of philological research helped a number of prominent Russian scientists, orientalists including E.E. Bertels, I.S. Braginsky, A.A. Semenov, M.S. Andreev, B.C. Rastorgueva, A.Z. Rozenfeld, I.M. Oranskiy, V.A. Livshits, A.P. Smirnova, Dz.I. Edelman, R.L. Nemenova L.V. Uspenskaya, N.N. Ershov.

In 1940, on the base of historical and linguistic sectors, the Institute of History, Language and Literature were formed, which became an independent scientific institution of the Tajik Branch of the USSR.
After the formation of the Academy of Sciences of the Tajik SSR in 1951, an independent Institute of Language and Literature with four research sectors: the language, classical literature and Soviet literature and dictionaries it was established. Since 1955, in the Institute, a new division - the museum of Sadriddin Aini stated its function.

In 1958, in connection with a landmark event - the 1100^th anniversary of the birth of the founder of Persian-Tajik, the institute was given his name as Abuabdullo Rudaki Institute.

The heads of the institute were well-known scientists of the republic including; corresponding member M.F. Fazylov (1952-1958), Prof. H.M. Mirzo-Zadeh (1958-1959), Corresponding member N.A. Masumi (1959-1972), Corresponding member A.M. Maniyazov (1972-2000),  and Corresponding member D. Saymiddinov (2000-2005) S. Nazarzoda (2005-2011).

The Institute has a rich collection, which focuses on the unique material dialect of the Tajik language, modern Tajik language, folklore of the Tajik people and Tajik writers’ archival heritage of the XX century. Thus, the folklore Foundation of the Institute is an invaluable catalog of genres with a million files that is serving as the source base for theoretical studies. In the Institute, catalog of the personal funds of such major writers as A. Lahuti, M. Rahimi, M. Aminzade, A. Dehoti, P. Tolis, X. Yusufi, J. Ikromov, F. Niyazi, S. Ulugzade was created which was utilized for the publication of their works.

At the institute, combined literary and memorial museums i.e. Museums of S. Ayni, A. Lahuti, the house-museum of Tursunzoda, museum-apartment of M. Rahimi, museum-apartment M.Amin Zadeh in Khujand operate.

The institute library has more than 10 thousand books of artistic, scientific and popular literature.

A. Rudaki Institute of Language and Literature has performed important investigations on the history of literature, modern literary process, studies of the history, genres and specific of folklore and prepared for publication the literary heritage, studied the problems related literary and artistic translation, an analysis of the historical development of the Tajik language and modern language situation, made up of bilingual, monolingual, industrial, terminological dictionaries, textbooks and teaching aids for schools and higher educational institutions. 

Major achievements of scientists of the Institute includes publication of fundamental research as;

• “The History of the Tajik Soviet literature” in six volumes
• “Code of Tajik folklore” in 35 volumes, “Dictionary of the Tajik language” in two volumes
• “Essays on the History of Tajik Literature” in 12 volumes
• “The experience of scientific generalization of the southern dialect of the Tajik language” in 5 volumes
• “The Tajik-Russian Dictionary”
• “Russian-Tajik Dictionary”
• “Shugnan-Russian Dictionary”
• “Dictionary of Modern Tajik literary language”
• series of studies on the history of the Tajik language
• “Spell of the Tajik language”
• academic edition of collected works of S. Ayni, A. Lahuti, other Tajik writers and poets, as well as representatives of classical and modern Tajik literature.

The results of scientific research of scientists of the Institute provided a research base for the preparation of fundamental works in the field of linguistics and literature. Results are also widely used for class teaching, special courses and seminars, preparation for the publication of textbooks for secondary and higher education institutions in Tajikistan.

In 1958, in the Academy of Sciences of the Tajikistan SSR, Department of Oriental Studies and Written Heritage was established, which in 1970 was transformed into the Institute of Oriental Studies of Academy of Sciences of the Tajikistan SSR.

Academician A. Mirzoev was the founder of this center, which made a great contribution to the development of Oriental Studies in Tajikistan. In 1977, academician M.S. Asimov became the director of the Institute of Oriental Studies.

In early 80s, high skill specialists in oriental studies were trained. The papers of A. Mirzoev, A. Afsahzod, K.S. Ayni, Z. Ahrori, A. Alimardonov, X. Nazarova, A. Zuhuriddinov, D. Saidmurodov, J. Dodalishoev, S. Siddikov, S. Shohumovov and others are published in the Republic and abroad as well.

In 1986, A.  Tursunov became the director and in 1992 corresponding member X. Nazarov was elected as the director of the Institute.

In recent years, institute was headed by the corresponding member, J. Nazriev (1993-2007), Sh. Imomov (2007-2008), and K. Olimov (2008-2010).

Department of Modern East has done research on language, literature of Afghanistan, Persian literature of XIX-XX centuries, contacts of Tajik literature with the literature of Afghanistan, Iran, India and Pakistan, the problems of socio-political development of countries of the East, the problems of social thought of the peoples of Afghanistan, Iran, India and Pakistan at new and modern times, the place and role of the Tajik people in the historical fate of Afghanistan. The following monographs were published:

• “The Place of the Tajiks in Afghanistan's history”
• “The Tajik state in IX-XIV centuries”
• “Socio-political activity of the Syed Jamaluddin Afghani”
• “Reasons for the rise and fall of the Samanid state”
• “Legend of Solomon and the Queen Sheba in the Persian-Tajik Poetry”
• “Kamol Khujandi - master of ghazal”, “Appice tolyarny-genre in Shahnameh” 

«Elixir of joy» Gazzoli

Department of textual criticism and publishing of literary heritage has published scientific and critical texts of the Tajik-Persian classics of Amir Khusraw Dehlavi, Sheikh Attar, Abdurrahman Jami, Alisher Navoi, Sad Salman, Faizi Kashani, Shamsi Tabrezi, Imlai Bukhari; Persian-Tajik Poetry of “Tazkirat ush-Shuaro” Mutribi Samarkandi “Tazkira” Maleh Samarkandi etc. “Ganji shaygon” (“great treasures”) is published in 50 volumes, which includes works as “Ravzat-ussafo” of Mirhond, “Tibbi Akbari”, “Tarihi Bayhaqi”, “Tarihi Tabari”, “Zakhirai Horazmshahi”, “Zod-ulmusofirin” of Nasir Khusraw, “Meer- ut-tadayyun” of Ahmad Donish. 

In recent years, a significant fund for the Manuscripts at the Institute was allocated. The Foundation of Oriental Manuscripts of RT is one of the largest in Central Asia, currently has over 5750 oriental manuscripts and 6350 lithographs in Tajik, Persian, Arabic, Turkish, Hebrew and other languages that contain more than 30,000 different treatises and works on all branches of the ancient and medieval science and culture. The oldest of them belong to the XI-XII centuries. In particular, the manuscript of “Tarih-Tabari” of Bal'ami, “Al-tafhim liavoil Sanat-ut-Tanzim” of Abdurayhan Beruni, “Kimiei Saodat” of Abuhamid ibn Muhammad Al-Ghazali, “Kulli” Sadi Sherozi, “Sharh al-kofiya fi-n-nahv” of Raziuddin Muhammad al-Astarobodi. There are many rare and unique manuscripts, including the autographs of the authors or single copies of books which have survived to-date. These include “Ali Safi Lugat” of Fakhriddin Ali Safi (1952), “Zafar-nome” of Badruddin Kashmiri (XVI), “Jang nomai Tavorikh” of Mir Raber ibni Mir Niyaz (XVIII c.) “Tarihi manzuma “Imomalii Kunduzi Komi”, “Tazkirat-ush-Shuaro” of Khoja Nematullahi-Mukhtaram”, “Ganji-shoygon” of Abdurakhim Tamkini Bukharai (XIX c) etc. It serves as a base for scientific research, not only of Tajik scholars, but also foreign Orientalists.

An electronic version of 5680 original manuscript was prepared in the laboratory of restoration of manuscripts, which is of great importance for the sterilization and restoration of manuscripts.  

The seventh volume of the Catalogue of Oriental Manuscripts of RT in 2010 was fully prepared for publication in Russian. In the years of independence of the Republic of Tajikistan, 42 copies of manuscripts and 37 copies of the lithographic editions was received to the Foundation of Oriental Manuscripts. The works of Abuabdullo Rudaki, Ibn Sina, Fariduddin Attar, Mirza Barhurdar Farahi, Zulali Khansari, Muhammad Iqbal, Halilullaha Khalili have been published. 

Laboratory of restoration of the manuscripts

Books from fund of manuscripts of the Institute

Catalogue of Oriental Manuscripts of the Fund reflects the wealth of cultural and spiritual traditions of the Tajik people and the peoples of neighboring countries. On the basis of valuable information on the cultural history of the peoples of Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan, the Arab Eastern countries, contained in catalogs, is possible to study various problems of history, literature, linguistic, science, philosophy, religion, art of the peoples of this region.

Translation of Quran into Tajik language

Library of the Institute is annually updated with books in Russian, English, Arabic and Farsi languages. Since 2009, library has acquired 36 manuscripts and 41 copies of lithographic publications.

For many years the Institute has worked closely with the Institute of Oriental Studies and the Institute of Linguistics, of RAS, St. Petersburg State University, with the Oriental centers in Germany, France, Japan, Italy, China, UAE, Iran, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Armenia.

By the decision of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan on February 4, 2011 №36, the Institute of Oriental Studies and Written Heritage of RT were combined with the A. Rudaki Institute of Language and Literature. A. Rudaki Institute of Language, Literature, Oriental Studies and Written Heritage. Corresponding member Dr.  Tursunov was appointed as the director of the Institute.

The scientific staff of A. Rudaki Institute of Language, Literature, and the Oriental's written heritage conducts research in lexicography, grammar, the Tajik language, the legacy of the Samanid era poets, Tajik literature of the Soviet period, the classification of genres of oral prose cataloging of manuscripts and lithographic editions, literary and historical heritage, written records in various fields of science, culture, history , language and literature of Iran, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan and the Arab countries.

Currently, the institute has 153 employees, including 2 academicians of RT, 2 Corresponding Members of Tajikistan Academy of Sciences, 17 doctors and 32 candidates of sciences.