Saeed Paivandi has written a heartfelt tribute to the late Javad Safinezhad, a prominent Iranian anthropologist and geographer who passed away at the age of 96. Paivandi reflects on Safinezhad’s unique academic approach at the University of Tehran, noting that he prioritized the lived realities of Iranian society—such as the intricate social organization of Qanats (traditional irrigation systems) and nomadic life—over the mere recitation of Western social theories.
The author outlines six foundational lessons learned from Safinezhad, emphasizing his mastery of “grounded theory,” the “total social fact,” and the deep connection between humanity and nature. Ultimately, Safinezhad is remembered as a prolific yet exceptionally humble scholar whose legacy lies in his commitment to authentic, field-based ethnographic research in the Iranian humanities.
To read the tribute in Persian, please change the language of this page.
Saeed Paivandi’s Telegram channel: https://t.me/paivandisaeed
