The name of Lola Zarifovna Salomatshaeva-Taneeva occupies a special place in the history of Tajik and Soviet Oriental studies. She belonged to a generation of scholars who devoted their lives to preserving, studying, and bringing back to readers the rich literary and intellectual heritage of the Persian-speaking world.

Born on June 13, 1935, into a prominent Pamiri-Wakhi family, Salomatshaeva was the daughter of Zarif Salomatshoev, a well-known public and state figure. Yet it was through her own scholarly achievements that she earned lasting recognition.

Her academic journey began at the Faculty of Oriental Studies of Lomonosov Moscow State University, one of the leading centers for Oriental scholarship in the Soviet Union. She later worked at the Gorky Institute of World Literature before returning to Tajikistan, where she became closely associated with the Academy of Sciences.

Over the course of her career, she worked in departments dedicated to Oriental studies, manuscript heritage, philosophy, and law. At one point, she also headed the Department of Latin at the Tajik State Medical Institute named after Abu Ali ibn Sina. In later years, she continued her research at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Known in Russian academic circles as Taneeva or Taneeva-Salomatshaeva, she earned a reputation as a meticulous and highly respected researcher whose work contributed significantly to the study of Persian-Tajik literary history.

A major influence on her scholarly development was the renowned Orientalist Iosif Samuilovich Braginsky, whom she later described as a wise, modest, and deeply insightful mentor.

From Ibn Sina to Nasir Khusraw

The study and publication of classical literary texts became the central mission of Salomatshaeva’s academic life. She devoted years to searching for rare manuscripts, collecting scattered works of medieval authors, and preparing critical editions that made important texts accessible to scholars and readers.

One of her most significant achievements was her contribution to the ten-volume edition of selected works by Abu Ali ibn Sina. The project became a landmark in Tajik scholarship, and the editorial team was awarded the International Ibn Sina Prize.

She also played an important role in researching and publishing the works of the celebrated Persian philosopher and poet Nasir Khusraw. Alongside well-known Tajik scholars — Aliqul Devonaqulov, Surayyo Rahimzoda, Mehrimoh Baqoyeva, Abusaid Shokhumorov, and others — she participated in the preparation of the first volume of the fundamental “Kulliyot” of the great poet and thinker, published in Dushanbe in 1991.

Her scholarly interests extended beyond literature to include religious and philosophical traditions such as Sufism and Ismailism. Her studies explored Sufi sources from medieval India, the legacy of Nasir Khusraw, the Chishti order, and the intellectual history of Ismaili thought.

A leading expert on Hasan Dehlavi

The defining focus of Salomatshaeva’s career was her research on Amir Hasan Dehlavi, one of the most important Persian-language poets of medieval India.

Although Hasan Dehlavi’s work had attracted scholarly attention in India, Iran, Russia, and Europe, Salomatshaeva brought unprecedented depth and systematization to the field.

As early as 1965, together with Muhammadvafo Baqoyev, she contributed to making the name of Hasan Dehlavi known to readers and researchers in the Soviet scientific space. Later, she continued this work independently — writing books, studying manuscripts, and preparing publications.

Among her major achievements was the preparation of a facsimile edition of Hasan Dehlavi’s divan, published in Dushanbe in 1990. The edition was based on a rare manuscript preserved in the Saltykov-Shchedrin Library in St. Petersburg.

She devoted both her candidate and doctoral dissertations to various aspects of Hasan Dehlavi’s life, poetry, and philosophical ideas. Her monograph Philosophical Lyrics of Hasan Dehlavi, published in 1986, remains one of the most important studies of the poet’s work.

Another notable accomplishment was her research and facsimile publication of Fawaid-ul-Fuad, a unique monument of Indo-Persian literature containing the teachings and sayings of Sheikh Nizamuddin Auliya, one of the most revered spiritual leaders of the Chishti Sufi order. The project earned her additional academic recognition and awards.

Preserving a living heritage

Lola Salomatshaeva-Taneeva’s legacy extends far beyond the books and articles she published. She represented a generation of scholars who approached manuscripts with exceptional care, viewed literary texts as living historical sources, and understood the importance of preserving cultural memory.

She was among the pioneering Tajik women scholars who earned a respected place in Soviet, Tajik, Russian, and international Oriental studies. Her work continues to serve as an example of scholarly rigor, intellectual integrity, and devotion to the preservation of Persian-Tajik cultural heritage.

Today, her contributions remain an enduring testament to the value of manuscript research and the importance of safeguarding the literary treasures of the past for future generations.

This article was prepared using materials by Subhon Azamzoda.