President donates house in Isfahan to U.S. Iranologist
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad donated a house in Isfahan to Professor Richard Nelson Frye, an American scholar of Iranian and Central Asian Studies.
In 2007, Frye wrote directly to Ahmadinejad requesting permission for his own future burial on the banks of the Zayanderud River in Isfahan.
Ahmadinejad instructed former interior minister, Mostafa Purmohammadi to provide the prerequisites for compliance with Frye’s request.
Frye traveled to Isfahan on Sunday and attended the ceremony in which he received the house from officials in Isfahan, the Persian Service of ILNA reported on Sunday.
Where in the world is there a country with such rich culture, music and beautiful art, Frye expressed at the ceremony, adding, “It is a great honor for me to be here among the Iranian people in the historical city of Isfahan.”
It is said that the house would be converted into a museum after the death of the professor.
The 90-year-old Harvard University professor wants to be buried near Arthur Pope, his mentor, predecessor and former director of the Asia Institute in Shiraz. A magnificent mausoleum was built in memory of Pope on the bank of the Zayanderud River in Isfahan.
Appropriately referred to as “dean of the world’s Iranologists” by other scholars, Richard Nelson Frye of Harvard University has researched and taught the cultural history of Iran, Central Asia and the Near East for over six decades.
Frye’s affection for Iran and the Iranian people grew during his scholarly interest in the region, which has spanned more than sixty years.
Photo: Richard Nelson Frye (C) cuts a ribbon at a house donated by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the U.S. Iranologist during a ceremony in Isfahan on August 8, 2010. A number of Isfahani municipal officials are seen in the photo. (Fars/Hamidreza Nikumaram)
Source: tehrantimes.com
