A Historical Perspective on the Formation and Establishment of Religious Minority Schools in Yazd (1796–1979AD)

Author

Assistant Professor of Islamic History of Iran, Farhangian University (Pardis Shahidan Pakanzad Yazd)

10.22111/jhr.2025.52569.3807

Abstract

The diversity of religious minorities in Yazd and the long-standing coexistence of Zoroastrians, Christians, and Jews alongside one another have historically led to the emergence of a multicultural society in this city. These religious minorities, by virtue of their particular social conditions and their enjoyment of certain civic privileges, played a significant role in the development and growth of education and the formal educational system in Yazd following the Constitutional Revolution. At the same time, they themselves underwent important transformations throughout this process. As Yazd was among the first cities and regions in which the educational system experienced fundamental changes, the religious minorities residing in the city were also among the earliest and most influential groups involved in these transformations. In particular, Yazdi Zoroastrians, with their rich historical and cultural background, carried out effective activities in this field. Among them, the Association of Yazdi Zoroastrian Elders residing in India, possessing strong foundations of Iranian identity and a deep emotional attachment to their homeland, along with positive memories of coexistence with Muslims, played a more prominent role in the transformations of the educational system. The rapid expansion of education was further facilitated by the printing industry, the growth of newspapers, and the establishment of Zoroastrian, Christian, and Jewish boys’ and girls’ schools. This article seeks to answer the following question: what were the motivations, reasons, contexts, and roles of religious minorities in the establishment, growth, and development of schools and education in Yazd? Given the historical nature of this inquiry, a descriptive examination of how and why schools were founded precedes the analysis of exploratory data, which are primarily based on archival documents, library sources, field studies, and interviews.


Keywords

Main Subjects

References

References
Books & Article
Abrami, H. (1997). Jehud-e najas [The impure Jew]. Ketab Publishing. (In Persian).
A‘laei, S. H. (1996). A history of Zoroastrian schools in Yazd. Omid School Builders Charity Institute. (In Persian).
Afshar, I. (1995). Yadegar-hā-ye Yazd (Vol. 2, 2nd ed.). National Heritage Association. (In Persian).
Amini, T. (2001). Documents on contemporary Zoroastrians of Iran. National Archives of Iran. (In Persian).
Boyce, M. (2002). Zoroastrians: Their religious beliefs and practices (A. Bahrami, Trans.). Ghoghnoos Publications. (Original work published 1979). (In Persian).
Eisawi, C. (1990). Economic history of Iran: The Qajar period (1215–1332 AH) (Y. Azhang, Trans., 2nd ed.). Gostareh Publications. (In Persian).
Emami Meybodi, S. M. (2012). Political and cultural conditions of Yazd during the First Pahlavi era. Tik Publishing. (In Persian).
Ghasemi Pouya, E. (1998). History of modern schools in the Qajar period: Founders and pioneers. Nashr-e Daneshgahi. (In Persian).
Jahanfar, G. R. (2016). Yazd: A mirror of time. Jahanfar Publishing. (In Persian).
Kazemini, M. M., & Rahbaran, M. (2004). Encyclopedia of Yazd notables (Vols. 1–3). Reyhaneh al-Rasoul Cultural Foundation. (In Persian).
Kasravi, A. (1961). History of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution. Amir Kabir Publishing. (In Persian).
Levy, H. (2001). Children of Esther: A history of Iranian Jews (H. Sarcheshmeh, Ed.). Ganj-e Danesh Publications. (In Persian).
Mali, S. (2014). A survey of the history and culture of the Zoroastrians of Maryam-Abad. Niko Ravesh Publishing. (In Persian).
Mohammadi, G. R. (1999). Life, works, ideas, and struggles of Farrokhi Yazdi (Master’s thesis, Payame Noor University). (In Persian).
Mohammadi, G. R., & Mosarrat, H. (1999). The silenced poet: Life and struggles of Farrokhi Yazdi. Iranian Cultural Heritage Association. (In Persian).
Mosarrat, H. (1997). Yazd: A historical legacy. Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. (In Persian).
Pishdadi, J. (1998). Memorial volume of Mirza Soroush Lohrasb. N.p. (In Persian).
Qalamsiah, A. (1994). Yazd in travelogues. Yazd Publications. (In Persian).
Rahmani, E. (2005). Chehrehnama: Illustrated journal (1902–1923). National Library and Archives of Iran. (In Persian).
Shahmardan, R. (1981). Zoroastrian intellectuals. Rasti Publications. (In Persian).
Sheikh al-Eslami, P. (1972). Women journalists and intellectuals of Iran (G. Arshaghi, Ed.). Mazagranik Printing House. (In Persian).
Seddigh, I. (1975). History of Iranian culture. University of Tehran Press. (In Persian).
Seddigh, I. (1978). Encyclopedia of Iran and Islam (2nd ed.). Translation and Publication Bureau. (In Persian).
Journal Articles & Periodicals
Abadian, H. (2004). Reporters and transformations in contemporary Iranian history. Historical Studies Quarterly, 152–155. (In Persian).
Hakimian, H. (2009). Cultural transformations of Yazd from September 1941 to the coup of August 1953. Payam-e Baharestan, 2(5), 603. (In Persian).
Hashemi-Moqaddam, A. (2008). Reflections of the Great Genocide (The Great Famine) in contemporary history. Ketab-e Mah: History and Geography, 65. (In Persian).
Hosseini Ashkouri, S. S., & Mosarrat, H. (2024). Yazd Cultural Yearbook (Vol. 28). Majma‘ Zakhāyer-e Eslami. (In Persian).
Mahagh, M., et al. (2012). Health-seeking behavior among Zoroastrians in Yazd (2010). Hospital Quarterly, 11(3), 61–72. (In Persian).
Napier, M. (1907). Five years in a Persian town. London.
Shams Esfandabadi, H. R., Jadidi, N., & Boushaseb Gosheh, F. (2015). Interactions between Jewish minorities of Yazd and Muslims during the Qajar period. Pajouheshnameh-ye Tarikh, 11(41), 17–42. (In Persian).
Tashakkori Bafghi, A. A. (2015). Protestant missionaries in Qajar-era Yazd. Iranian History after Islam, 5(10), 33–59. (In Persian).
Zeylabi, N. (2011). Population concentration of Jews in Iranian cities from the Seljuk to Mongol invasions. Social History Research Quarterly, 1(1), 25–40. (In Persian).
 
Interviews & Reports
Abu al-Qasemi, A. (Interviewer). (2003). Interviews with Esfandiar Moradian, Sohrab Firouzfar, & Goshtasp Bahram Shahri. Yazd. (In Persian).
Goharian, K. (2014). Interviews and notes (Rustam Garden, Tehran-Pars). (In Persian).
Shahrokh, P. (2009). Anniversary of the birth and death of Keykhosrow Shahrokh. Zoroastrian News Website. Retrieved February 1, 2011. (In Persian).
Archival Documents
Islamic Consultative Assembly. (2015, July 8). Commemoration of Arbab Keykhosrow Shahrokh at the Parliament Library. Parliament Library, Museum and Archives. (In Persian).
National Archives of Iran. (n.d.). Archival records (Nos. 12192/297; 693/250). (In Persian).
Online & International Sources
Agence France-Presse. (2012). Iran young, urbanised and educated: Census. Retrieved August 2012.
Fox News. (2006, August 7). Iranian Jews living in the U.S. have complex feelings about Middle East crisis.
Radio Farda. (2012). Iranian Jews in New York donate to Iranian students in Israel. Retrieved from Radio Farda website. 
Journal of Historical Researches of Iran and Islam
Volume 19, Issue 37
November 2025
Pages 1-37

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 03 August 2025
  • Revise Date: 06 October 2025
  • Accept Date: 25 October 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics