Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

It was established on February 16, 1946 in place of the Islamic Research Association, Bombay, under the patronage of Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah. Its founder President was Ali Muhammad R. Macklai (1894-1971). The Russian scholar W. Ivanow (1886-1970) played a major role in its establishment. The aim of the Ismaili Society was the promotion of independent and critical study of all matters relating with Ismailism – their literature, history, philosophy and so forth. It also published monographs on subjects connected with such studies, critical editions of the original texts of early Ismaili works, their translations, and also collections of shorter papers and notes. Its first publication was The Alleged Founder of Ismailism by W. Ivanow in 1946, and the last publication was Ismaili Literature (Tehran, 1963) by W. Ivanow. Ivanow was the principal force of the Ismaili Society, and it encountered difficulties after his departure for Tehran in 1959. In sum, the Ismaili Society published 28 major works between 1946 and 1963 in which W. Ivanow contributed 22 works. The Ismaili Society dissolved after 18 years in 1964.