Abusaid Shokhumorov

Abusaid Shokhumorov (Tajik: Абусаид Шохуморов) (1955-1999) was a famous Pamiri Tajik scholar who was well versed in the history and philosophy of Pamiri Ismailism. He was born into a sayyid family in Porshinev, not far from Khorugh, the capital of GBAO, Tajikistan. Right from early years, Abusaid's grandfather nurtured in him strong interest in religion in general, Islam and the teachings of Shiism and Ismailism in particular.

Abusaid is the author of several articles and books published in Russian and Tajik, some of which have been translated into Persian and English. His major publications include "The Division of Badakhshan and the Fate of Ismailism" (Russian: Разделение Бадахшана и судьбы Исмаилизма), published posthumously in 2008 in Moscow, Russia and "Pamir - the Land of Aryans" (Russian: Памир - Страна Ариев) published in 1997 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The first book explores the history of the division of Pamir region into Afghan and Bukharan (later Tsarist Russian and after 1917 the Soviet) domains by Russian and British empires during the Great Game. He particularly studies the influence this division has had on the sociopolitical, religious and cultural life of the Pamiri Ismailis since 1895. The second book contains chapters in English, Persian, Russian and Tajik languages, which examine Zoroastrian elements in Pamiri Ismaili teachings and practices.