P rominent t ajik f igures of the

Isomatov, Ma'ruf

Tajik historian Ma'ruf Marajabovich Isomatov was born in the Asht

District of the region of Sughd on January 23, 1966. He received his

early education in the village of Ponghaz in Asht (1983).

Isomatov graduated from Tajikistan State University in 1990 with a

degree in history and anthropology. In 1990, he was Distinguished Edu-

cator of Tajikistan. In 1994, he defended his doctoral dissertation enti-

tled "Ta'rikhi Tabari"-i Abuali Bal'ami Hamchun Sarchshmai Omuzishi

Munosibathoi Sosonion va Haitolion (Asrhoi 4-6) ("The History of

Tabari" by Abuali Bal'ami as a Source for the Study of the Relations

between the Sassanians and the Hephthalites during the 4

th

 to 6

th

 Centu-

ries).

He served in the Soviet Army in the Democratic Republic of Ger-

many during 1984 and 1986. From 1990 to 1993, he did post-graduate

work at Tajikistan State University. In 1993 and 1994, he was Head of

the Association of the Young Scholars of the Faculty of History. From

1994 to 1996, he was the Associate Dean of the Research Division of

the History Faculty. In 1995, he was Assistant Professor of History at

the Tajikistan State University. In addition, from 1990 to the present he

has been the Associate Dean of the Instruction Division of the History

Faculty.

Isomatov's research deals with the developmental stages of the for-

mation of government among the Tajiks, emphasizing the role that the

Tajiks have played in Central Asia. Isomatov's contributions include

Sotim Ulughzoda--Tarqibgari Ta'rikhi Khalqi Tojik (Sotim Ulughzoda--

Promoter of The History of the Tajiks, with V. Ibrohimov, Dushanbe,

1991); Sahmguzoroni Ilm u Farhang (Contributors to Science and

Culture, with R. Nabieva, Dushanbe, 1998); "Sughdion dar Tarsimi

Sotim Ulughzoda" ("The Sughdian as Depicted by Sotim Ulughzoda"),

The Avesta Conference Proceedings, in press.

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