MIRZA SHIKHALI RAHIMOV

(1929-2015)

Orientalist

Mirza Rahimov was born on 15 December 1929. In 1947, he graduated from Azerbaijan State University, Faculty of Oriental Studies, Persian Section. From 1953-1956, he spent as a postgraduate student at the Institute of Linguistics, USSR Academy of Sciences, in Moscow. From 1956-1961, he served as scientific secretary at the Institute of Languages and Literature named  after Nizami, Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, and headed the institute`s department of History of Azerbaijani Language from 1961-1968. He was deputy director of the institute from 1968-1973. From 1973-1975, he was employed as a senior research fellow. Mirza Rahimov worked at Baku State University from 1975 to 2012. He defended a PhD thesis in 1957, and obtained a ScD degree in 1966 and professorship in 1968. He chaired the Department of Persian Philology from 1991 to 1996.

He authored “History of development of verb forms in Azerbaijani language”, “Regularities of history of development of Azerbaijani national language in the Soviet era” books and “Persian language” textbook for secondary schools. Mirza Rahimov published over 50 theses and papers. He  supervised 25 PhD and four ScD students to completion. He was the recipient of “Merited Teacher” tittle.