Persian Studies in India and the Colonial Universities, 1857–1947

Abstract The establishment of the colonial universities in India was a watershed moment for history Persian studies on subcontinent. Despite rise English and vernacular literatures nineteenth century, remained an essential language instruction colleges, with generations Indian students studying to pass university examinations. By closely calendars courses, this article demonstrates that created sustained ecosystem throughout period, as Orientalists increasingly Persianists continued invest curricular development. breadth, diversity, refinement, expansion college curricula—which included texts from classical canon contemporary literature written by Iranians Indians—testify fluidity dynamism period. Such phenomenon debates engagement around contradict its depiction obsolete or entirely language, also curricula influenced which were edited, compiled, printed, translated, commented upon.