A Russian translation of has been published with the support of 久久久福利国产 (IIS). The volume, co-edited by Dr Dagikhudo Dagiev, a Senior Research Associate at IIS, and Dr Carole Faucher, Associate Researcher at , , was first released in English by in 2019 and is now available to Russian-speaking audiences.
About the publication听
The volume represents one of the earliest independent academic studies of Ismaili communities across Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. It brings together contributions from scholars working across disciplines and intellectual traditions. The chapters integrate local and Western perspectives to examine history, culture, traditions, educational practices, philosophical thought, and evolving forms of identity within the Pamir mountain regions. The volume focuses on ethnolinguistic and ethnoreligious relations, as well as on globalisation and migration processes related to minority communities across various geopolitical contexts.
The Pamiris, or Badakhshani as they are commonly called, are a small group of Iranic peoples inhabiting the mountainous Pamir-Hindu Kush region, the historical area of Badakhshan which is spread across four modern nations. This volume examines the identification of several mountain communities whose vibrant, active cultures, ancient languages, and complex political histories continue to influence global geostrategy. Several chapters explore what defines a Pamiri and critically assess the impact of both transregionalism and globalisation on the activation, cohesion, and unification of dispersed communities.
The volume presents various aspects of identity and identification among the Pamiris. It is divided into three parts. The first part covers the region鈥檚 geography and the modern history of Pamiri communities. The second part analyses the work of prominent historical figures and explores the rich philosophical, religious, and cultural heritage of the Pamiris. The final section addresses contemporary issues such as the dissemination of traditions, global order, interconnectedness, and what it means to be a Pamiri for the region’s youth. The contributions by expert authors offer fresh perspectives on the region’s Ismaili communities and enrich the historical and ethnographic legacy of the Soviet era with contemporary scholarly research.
Russian edition and readership
The Russian edition is published under the title 袠写械薪褌懈褔薪芯褋褌褜, 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 懈 褌褉邪薪褋薪邪褑懈芯薪邪谢褜薪芯褋褌褜 胁 笑械薪褌褉邪谢褜薪芯泄 袗蟹懈懈. 袚芯褉薪褘械 褋芯芯斜褖械褋褌胁邪 袩邪屑懈褉邪 (Moscow: 袥懈薪谐胁懈褋褌懈泻邪, 2025). Making this research available in Russian broadens access for readers in Central Asia and Russia.
This Russian publication represents a translation of the first comprehensive English-language monograph exclusively focused on the peoples of the Pamirs. It will appeal to specialists in history, anthropology, religious studies, sociology, linguistics, education, and geography related to Central and East Asia, as well as to those interested in Islam, Islamic thought, minority-majority relations, population movements, and the processes involved in defining and affirming minority identities. The volume is also aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as university faculty studying high-mountain communities.
The publication aims to sustain intellectual and cultural connections with Ismaili communities in Russia and Tajikistan, while engaging the wider global Ismaili community. By widening linguistic access to this major scholarly study, the volume supports reflection on shared histories, traditions, and beliefs within the context of globalisation and diverse national settings.
Editor of the Russian edition
is the author and editor of several volumes in both Russian and English on Iranian linguistics and literature. She has also translated numerous works in Ismaili studies into Russian. Her primary research interests include Pamir studies, Iranian minority languages, Pamir languages, and ethnolinguistic and linguacultural studies.
