Avesta Studies Center
 |
Mirsadik Iskhakov | |
| Scientific degree and title: | Candidate of philological studies | |
| Position: | Chairperson | |
| Receptional timetable: | Everyday (11:00-13:00) | |
| Tel.: | (+99871) 233 34 24 | |
| E-mail: | mirsadikisxakov@tsuos.uz | |
Brief Information about the Center
The Center for Avesta Studies was established in accordance with Resolution No. PQ-4680 of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, dated 16 April 2020, “On Measures to Fundamentally Improve the System of Training Specialists in Oriental Studies and Enhance Scientific Capacity,” as well as the decision adopted at Meeting No. 1 of the Council of Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies on 30 August 2023.
The principal aim of the Center is to promote the systematic and comprehensive study of the Avesta and Zoroastrianism, which constitute an important part of the spiritual and cultural heritage not only of the peoples of Central Asia and the Middle East, but also of humanity as a whole. Particular attention is given to unresolved and debated issues in contemporary international Avestan studies.
The Center seeks to identify priority areas of research on the Avesta and Zoroastrianism, integrate research conducted in Uzbekistan into international Avestan scholarship, and coordinate relevant academic studies within the country. Its activities also include the preparation of monographs, translations, textbooks, and other academic and educational publications; the integration of research findings into humanities education; and the strengthening of cooperation between research and teaching.
Through its scholarly activities, the Center also aims to contribute to the study and dissemination of the ethical and intellectual heritage reflected in the Avesta, particularly ideas concerning goodness, human responsibility, morality, and opposition to evil.
Main Tasks of the Center
- To conduct comprehensive research into the historical, social, intellectual, educational, and cultural conditions that contributed to the formation of Zoroastrianism (Mazda Yasna);
- To undertake a historiographical analysis of research on the Avesta and Zoroastrianism over the past thirty years and identify promising directions for further study;
- To investigate the historical personality of Zarathustra (Zoroaster) and the distinctive nature of his religious and ethical message;
- To examine the origins and development of Zoroastrianism, including its concepts of time and space and its socially oriented ideas;
- To determine the place of Zoroastrianism in the history of religions through comparative study with world, national, and local religious traditions;
- To investigate Zoroastrianism as an early and remarkably universal expression of the promotion of goodness and opposition to various manifestations of evil;
- To analyse the Zoroastrian understanding of the struggle against evil as a universal human problem;
- To study concepts of space and time within Zoroastrian thought;
- To examine the historical foundations of Zarathustra’s prophetic mission and its representation and interpretation in the Avesta;
- To investigate the historical and mythological foundations of Zoroastrian cults and the mechanisms through which they developed into components of a religious system;
- To develop methodological approaches to the interpretation of the layered manifestations of monotheism, dualism, and polytheism in the Avesta;
- To study the elevated status of the human being in Zoroastrianism, its social implications, and the concept of individual responsibility for the triumph of goodness;
- To prepare and publish an Uzbek translation of the Avesta based on hermeneutic and interpretative approaches;
- To prepare annotated Uzbek translations of individual sections (nasks) of the Avesta and publish them as sources for the study of the intellectual and spiritual history of the region;
- To establish academic cooperation with international centers of Avestan studies and develop and implement joint research projects;
- To advance research on the philosophical interpretation of Zoroastrianism and the Avesta;
- To develop socio-anthropological approaches to the study of Zoroastrianism;
- To examine the dynamics of Zoroastrian traditions within ethnocultural processes, including their transformation and gradual decline in different historical contexts;
- To organize round-table discussions, online and in-person conferences on Avestan studies with the participation of international scholars;
- To prepare monographs, textbooks, teaching manuals, translations, and other academic publications in various fields of Avestan studies and integrate their results into the educational process;
- To establish the “Young Avestan Scholars” and “Young Researchers” academic circles, introduce students to current problems in Avestan studies, and encourage their participation in scholarly research;
- To provide academic guidance and consultation to undergraduate and graduate students, trainee researchers, PhD candidates, and doctoral researchers whose research interests are related to the Avesta, Zoroastrianism, and associated fields.
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