Abolghasem Esmailpour Paid Tribute to Mehrdad Bahar at "Bukhara Nights"

A Pioneer in Iranian Mythology and Studies

The 783rd session of Bukhara Nights, a cultural program organized by Bukhara magazine under the leadership of Ali Dehbashi, honored the legacy of the renowned Iranian mythologist Mehrdad Bahar, who passed away on Aban 22, 1373 (November 13, 1994). The event, titled “Mehrdad Bahar Night,” celebrated his remarkable scholarly contributions.

Dr. Abolghasem Esmailpour, a university professor, mythologist, and one of Bahar’s prominent students, delivered a speech reflecting on Bahar’s groundbreaking work in Iranian mythology and its foundational themes.

Esmailpour shared his personal experiences with Bahar, stating:

“I was incredibly fortunate to meet Professor Mehrdad Bahar at the age of 20, while most students only studied with him during their graduate term. I learned from a classmate that Malek-o-Shoara Bahar’s son was teaching on the third floor of the faculty. Without permission, I attended his class, and from that day, Professor Bahar allowed me to stay until the term’s end. Afterward, I regularly visited him on Fridays and Saturdays to learn from his vast knowledge. Since he was also a passionate mountaineer, I often joined him on hiking trips. Ten years later, in 1363 (1984), I officially became his student. This unique connection began during Professor Bahar’s middle age, when he was nearing forty.”

Mehrdad Bahar: A Revolutionary Approach to Iranian Studies

Esmailpour continued, saying, “Professor Bahar’s life can be divided into two distinct periods. The first phase, his youth and early adulthood, was marked by turbulence and significant events, along with a particular mindset that shaped his thoughts. I will not go into details about this early period. The second phase of his life was devoted to scientific theories in the fields of Iranian studies and mythology. Bahar brought a fresh, innovative perspective to these areas. He offered a unique vision of Iranian studies and introduced new scientific theories. Although his ideas were not widely embraced at the time, what Bahar proposed has endured. Today, thirty years after his passing, we see that both Iranian scholars and some western academicians are giving special attention to his approaches.”

Esmailpour went on to discuss some of Mehrdad Bahar’s key contributions to research, explaining, “Bahar’s groundbreaking approach, which he frequently mentioned, focused on the influence of west-Asian cultures on the ancient culture of Iran. He believed that any culture claiming to be unaffected by its neighboring advanced civilizations should be questioned. For example, he pointed out that Greek and Roman cultures were influenced by the cultures of Anatolia, Syria, and even Egypt. Today, many Western scholars acknowledge that much of the content in The Iliad and The Odyssey originated from Anatolian and Mesopotamian cultures. Bahar, therefore, argued that Iranian culture was shaped by both Elamite and Mesopotamian influences, and it should not be seen merely as a continuation of Indo-Iranian culture. He even suggested that Indo-Iranian culture was not untouched by Elamite culture, which had its own written script long before the arrival of the Aryans. Bahar also proposed that some core themes in Iranian mythology were influenced by Mesopotamian deities. For instance, the Elamite god Inshushinak was derived from a Mesopotamian deity.”

Mehrdad Bahar: A Revolutionary Thinker in Mythology

Esmailpour explained that Bahar’s approach was both comparative and transformative, focusing on the fundamental similarities between cultures. He believed that cultural influences might not always be direct but could arise from shared human experiences. For example, all cultures see the sun, leading to similar solar myths, from Shamash in Mesopotamia to Mithras in Iran and Helios in Greece.

Esmailpour emphasized that Bahar wasn’t just a narrator of myths but a thinker who introduced fresh ideas. He explained that in 1351 (1972), Bahar’s book “The Myths of Iran,” later renamed “A Study of Iranian Myths,” established Iranian mythology as an academic discipline. While earlier scholars had contributed, Bahar’s work in the 1940s and 1950s was groundbreaking, especially at a time when myths were seen as trivial. His research laid the foundation for the academic study of Iranian mythology.

Bahar’s Unified View of Iranian, Indian, and Mesopotamian Cultures

Esmailpour praised Bahar’s study of Iranian myths as one of the best works in the field. He highlighted how Bahar used important texts, including the Bundahishn, Denkard, and Pahlavi manuscripts, making significant contributions to their translation and publication. Esmailpour pointed out, “Now, Pahlavi texts are published without even mentioning Bahar’s name, despite the fact that he oversaw every page of these texts.”

He also noted Bahar’s pioneering role in both Iranian mythology and Vedic literature, emphasizing that Bahar did not view West-Asian culture as solely linked to Mesopotamia, but also to India. Bahar saw the cultures of Iran, India, and Mesopotamia as interconnected, with a shared history that spanned thousands of years. This expansive view set him apart from others who focused only on the influence of Mesopotamian culture.

Esmailpour further discussed Bahar’s later work, which explored the impact of Gnostic and Manichean influences on Iranian culture. He highlighted Bahar’s insightful introduction to Manichean Literature as one of his most notable contributions to this field.

Concluding his speech, Esmailpour expressed his appreciation to Ali Dehbashi for organizing the event, emphasizing, “It has been thirty years since Bahar’s passing, and it is our responsibility to honor this great scholar and mythologist.”

The event, “Bahar Night”, took place at Ferdowsi Hall on Sunday afternoon, 27 Aban 1403, and was attended by a large audience of scholars and enthusiasts.

 

 

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