RAHIM SULTANMAMMAD SULTANOV

(1912 – 2000)

Orientalist

Rahim Sultanov was born on 20 June 1912 in the city of Ardabil, South Azerbaijan. In 1921, he moved to Baku, where he finished 7-year “Tamaddun” and 9-year “Ittihad” Persian language schools.

In 1931-1934, he studied at Oil Products Vocational School, and from 1934-1939 at Azerbaijan State University, Faculty of Chemistry.

With the start of the Winter War in 1939 he was conscripted into army. During the World War Two, he worked for “Vatan Yolunda” newspaper in Tabriz and “Duste Iran” newspaper in Tehran.

He took a six-month Persian and Turkish language course at the Military Translation Institute in Kuybishev. After returning from army in 1947, he was appointed a teacher at the Faculty of Oriental Studies, BSU, and embarked on postgraduate studies. He also defended a PhD thesis. From 1957 to 1960, he was employed as dean of the faculty.

He achieved professorship in 1972. Rahim Sultanov chaired the Department of Near Eastern Languages from 1957 to 1989.

He published more than 100 papers on the history of Persian language, modern Persian language and methodology of its teaching.

He authored Persian language textbooks for higher and secondary schools. He was given the title ‘Merited Scientist” and “Badge of Honor” Order in recognition of his contribution to the preparation of highly-qualified scientists and teachers.

Professor Sultanov translated many masterpieces of the Persian classical literature and educated a number of scientists and teachers.