In 1957 he persuaded a number of scholars, notably among them Iraj Afshar,
to join him in founding the Anjoman-e Ketab (Book Society) . Its purpose
was to foster interest in good publications, and its main organ was the
Rahnema-ye Ketab (Book Guide), which was launched by Ehsan Yarshater that
same year as a quarterly journal, with Afshar and M. Moqarrabi as
associate editors. From its second year it became a monthly journal, and
was expanded to include as well as book reviews articles on Persian
language and literature, accounts of rare manuscripts and, latterly,
surveys of current research in Iranian studies. From 1965 Afshar was
editor in charge, and under his direction annual bibliographies were
published of Persian printed books. The Anjoman-e Ketab also organized
annual book exhibitions in Tehran, and sponsored exhibitions of Persian
books abroad.
With all this activity even Ehsan Yarshater was fully stretched, working
as has been his wont through much of his life, a twelve to fourteen hour
day. Yet he managed during these years to write a number of learned and
literary articles for the journals Yahma, Mehr and Sokhan, as well as for
the Bulletin of the Faculty of Letters of Tehran University. One day,
meeting him in the Senate Library, Habib Yaghma'i pressed him for another
article for his journal; whereupon Ehsan Yarshater, characteristically
unable to refuse a friend, sat down and there and then wrote a piece which
he called "The respected scholar" (Daneshmand-e mohtaram) . This,
published as the leading article in Yaghma, has been twice reprinted in
anthologies, and is often quoted as an admirable piece of satirical
humour. For al his deep seriousness, Ehsan Yarshater has a rich vein of
wit and humour, is quick to make or appreciate a jest, and breaks readily
into warm, delightful laughter.
Another striking facet of Ehsan Yarshater's character is his apparently
effortless calm and self-control, maintained in the teeth of all the
harassments that inevitably beset a man who initiates far-reaching plans,
and who in the course of fulfilling them has to persuade large numbers of
people, with different temperaments and interests, to cooperate and be
reasonable. With this calmness goes iron resolve, once a goal has been
fixed upon, and enviable powers of concentration. These struck even
German scholars during a visit Ehsan Yarshater paid to Göttingen to study
dialect materials there. While others came and went during the day,
seeking refreshment, fresh air or relaxation, he sat on at his library
desk from early till late, oblivious alike of the outer world and the
inner man, working with total absorption.
During the academic year 1958/59 he visited Columbia University, New York,
as associate professor; and Columbia showed appreciation of his teaching
by extending its invitation for a second year.
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