Bulletin of the Asia Institute

The Bulletin of the Asia Institute (BAI), newly moved to the Yarshater Center for the Study of Iranian Literary Traditions at UCLA, is a well-known journal in our discipline that has variously re-invented itself since 1931. In 1987, the editors of the Inaugural Issue of the newly reborn Bulletin of the Asia Institute noted:

[The journal’s] fledgling flight was made in 1931 as the Bulletin of the American Institute for Persian Art and Archaeology, then it molted into the Bulletin of the American Institute for Iranian Art and Archaeology, to rise again as the Bulletin of the Asia Institute of Pahlavi University in 1969, and now once more, shaking the ashes from its wings, as the Bulletin of the Asia Institute.

Notes from the Editors (1987)

The editors, among whom was Carol Altman Bromberg, are referring to Richard Frye, who in his preface likened the journal to a phoenix:

The Bulletin of the Asia Institute is truly a phoenix rising again from cold ashes, and its history should be told as a preface to its new publication.

Preface by Frye (1987)

Carol Altman Bromberg, the tireless editor of the journal for nearly 40 years, was often in touch to inform me of newly published volumes. In 2023, when I heard that she might not be able to continue working on the journal, I offered to help her explore a move to a digital-only infrastructure with fresh institutional backing. She took some time to consider the possibility, and finally wrote:

Dear Arash,

I have given your suggestions a good deal of thought. At the moment, I prefer to leave things as they are but will consider this again in the future.

All best,
Carol

It is a pity that I was unable to assist with a transition aimed at ensuring the journal’s survival and continuation. I am, however, delighted to see that the phoenix of the BAI has risen once more; this time at the Yarshater Center for the Study of Iranian Literary Traditions (UCLA). In its new home, the BAI will soon be able to celebrate its centenary. My warmest congratulations to Rahim Shayegan and his team.

Carol must have decided to go with the Shogun rather than the Ninja, which is absolutely fine. Having been informed of the publication of the new volume by the Yarshater Center, I am delighted that they continue Carol’s tradition of being in touch.

I hope that at times when circles of justice are not what they pretend to be, a sense of open collaboration built on trust can still thrive in our discipline.