ALASGAR JAFAR MAMMADOV

(1919-2000)

Orientalist

Alasgar Mammadov was born in 1919. After finishing a seven-year school, he studied at the Industrial Vocational School named after N. Narimanov (1933-1937).

From 1937-1941, he studied German language at Azerbaijan Pedagogical Institute, Faculty of Foreign Languages, and then Arabic language at Moscow Military Foreign Relations Institute (1941-1944). From 1945-1947, he was employed as a senior reviewer at the Department of Middle East Nations, USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs. From December 1945 to February 1946, he participated in the Nuremberg Trials as a German language translator. In 1947, he embarked on postgraduate studies in Arabic language at Azerbaijan State University. Alasgar Mammadov defended a PhD thesis in 1953, getting professorship in 1967. He defended a ScD thesis in 1994.

From 1957 to 1989, he served as chair of the Department of Arabic Languages, Faculty of Oriental Studies. He revived Arabic studies in Azerbaijan in the 20th century.

Professor Mammadov supervised tens of PhD and ScD students in different areas of Oriental studies. Most prominent of them are professor Aida Imanquliyeva, academicians Vasim Mammadaliyev, Naila Valikhanlı, corresponding members of ANAS Zakir Mammadov, Govhar Bakhshaliyeva, Nargiz Akhundova, professors Malik Mahmudov, Malik Qarayev and others.

Professor A.Mammadov published over 30 Arabic language textbooks and handbooks for secondary and higher schools in Azerbaijani and Russian languages.

His books were widely used in Dagestan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and other countries. He published nearly 20 papers on simple sentences in Arabic language. Alasgar Mammadov supervised three PhD students to completion. He was awarded a number of medals and received the title “Merited Scientist” in 1992 for his contribution to the development of education.