Disciplining Persian Literature in Twentieth-Century Afghanistan

Abstract How was Persian literature disciplinized in the twentieth century? This article addresses this question by focusing on twentieth-century Afghanistan and outlining sociohistorical processes that helped to transform scholarly literary production into a social enterprise. A major outcome of these underexamined making Dāʾerat ol-maʿāref-e Āryānā (1949–79) Kabul, first modern encyclopedia produced Persian. The explains multilayered significance 's taxonomies, reading practices, historiographical models reified as an object academic study national veneration Afghanistan. close account history illustrates its complex relationship with both Iranian Afghan nationalisms 1940s 1950s contributors’ adherence methodology. present places squarely within transregional ecosystem brought about institutionalization Persian-speaking lands.