Distinguished scholar, academician Shaghdar BIRA
Ulanbatar Ferbruary 17. 2022
Academician Shagdaryn Bira was born onSeptember 3, 1927 in the city of Ulaanbaatar. He received his secondary education in Mongolia and then in 1946-1951 he studied and graduated with a degree in history the Moscow Institute of International Relations (now the MGIMO University). in 1960 he became a candidate of historical sciences and in 1971 he became a doctor of historical sciences at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Since 1960 he has been a researcher at the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences, Head of Sector, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, First Deputy President of the Academy of Sciences for Social Sciences (1973-1982). He made a valuable contribution to the strengthening of the Academy of Sciences. Since 1987 he was elected Secretary General of the International Association of Mongolian Studies and worked until 2011 and took a well-earned retirement at own request. He was invited and worked at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences (1985–1988), at the Institute of Social Sciences in France (1988), to the Indian Association for Historical Research (1991), to the Tokyo Institute for the Study of African Languages and Cultures (1992–1993), to the University of Bonn (1995), to Western Washington University, USA (1997) as a visiting professor and researcher.
He founded and developed historiography in Mongolia, an important branch of historical science. He also pioneered the study and research of the Mongolian historical literature in Tibetan language and made an outstanding contribution to the analysis and research development process of the Mongolian national heritage traditions and religious history.
More than 20 monographs in total, including joint publications, collections, published sources and more than 100 scientific analytical articles, reports for international conferences, almost 70 own and joint editions with other scientists of joint publications and research, materials of conferences and scientific journals.
His major research works, as “Mongolian historicalliterature in Tibetan”(UB, 1960),“ Mongolian historiography in XIII-XVII centuries. ” (Moscow, Nauka, 1978), Mongolian history, culture and historiography studies (Tokyo, 1994) major works have been translated into Russian, Mongolian, English and Chinese and have been published in Japan, USA and China.
Academician S. Beer’s works are distinctive with the abundance of scientific sources in domestic and many foreign languages, which reflect the achievements of world science as widely as possible in order to search for the real truth in science and which, as indicated, are highly valued not only in Mongolia, but also in the world. His works help to understand and present
Mongolia to the world community, as well as enhance the reputation of Mongolian science abroad and make a significant contribution in overall to the development of Oriental studies.
Academician Sh. Bira’s works are distinctive with the abundance of scientific sources in domestic and many foreign languages, which reflect the achievements of world science as widely as possible in order to search for the real truth in science and which, as indicated, are highly valued not only in Mongolia, but also in the world. His works help to understand and present Mongolia to the world community, as well as enhance the reputation of Mongolian science abroad and make a significant contribution in overall to the development of Oriental studies. The specificity of his research work was assessed by scholar O. Lattimore as follows: “Bira – uses the theory at first not as a conductor, but works on the basis of facts.“
… Academician Bira is a serious historian, but no wonder. Because he will become a part of the Mongolian renaissance“ (Owen Lattimore, Mongolian renaissance, AsianAffairs, p. 193. Journal of the Royal Society Asian Affairs. Volume X, Part II, June 1979, p. 193)
Academician Sh.Bira’s merit of his research works was invaluable in terms of its issues scope and coverage, as it had no national or regional boundaries but the whole humanity was an area of his research interest.
For example, his recent proposed celestial view (Tenggerizm), celestization (Tenggerization) is the theory that has made a new discovery and has become an important point of interest in philosophical theoretical thinking not only of the Mongol empire but in the development of political thinking for the whole of humanity.
Academician Sh. Bira was proficient in English and Russian, as in his native Mongolian language. He used literature in German and French languages for his research work. Also he used proficiently ancient Mongolian script and Tibetan and Sanskrit language source materials in his research studies.
Academician Sh.Bira participated in five World History Science Congresses, two Oriental Studies Congresses, eleven International Congresses of Mongol Scholars, International Altaic Studies Conferences and presented reports.
In three major UNESCO projects Academician Sh. Bira served as the main coordinator. In six volumes of „History of Civilization in Central Asia“ and in seven volumes of „History of Mankind“ (Human culture and science development history) he participated in writing and publishing chapters and articles related to the Mongolian history.
He also actively participated in UNESCO study on nomadic citizenship and made an important contribution to the establishment of a nomadic international institute. By a decision of UNESCO General Director he was appointed and worked for many years as a member of the scientific committee to write the Central Asia History of Civilization. Academician Sh. Bira was awarded with the 60th Anniversary Medal of UNESCO in recognition of his contribution.
Sh. Bira participated actively in organization of the three Mongolian, Indian symposiums of scientists in Ulaanbaatar and Delhi, and Korean and Mongolian and Belgian scientists symposiums in Ulaanbaatar, edited and published the materials and was involved in the publication of 4 joint books of Mongolian and Indian scholars in English in India. He has been actively involved for many years in establishing the International Association for Mongol Studies, promoting Mongol studies in foreign countries and publicizing Mongolia abroad.
In addition to his research work he has been actively involved in the political and public activities. Since 1968 he has been elected for 3 times to the People’s Congress, served as a secretary and chairman of the Parliamentary Group, published information magazines, and represented the Mongolian Parliament in almost 20 International Parliamentary Union Conferences and Congresses.
He was awarded with the Order of Polar Star, Order of Red Banner of Labor Merit, with title of Mongolian Honored Scientist, State Prize of Mongolia and title of Hero of Labor.
Academician Sh. Bira is the Honorary Professor of the Inner Mongolia University, Honorary Doctor of the Moscow University of International Relations, Honorary Member of Indian Cultural International Academy, Member of the New York Academy, Honorary Member of the American Central Eurasian Studies Association, Honorary Member of the American Mongolia Association, Honorary Doctor of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
He was awarded with Denis Sinor’s Goldenmedal of the Royal Society of Asian Studies in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with “Academic” award of the Asian Cultural Awards in 2006 in Fukuoka, Japan.
Hero of Labor of Mongolia, distinguished scholar, academician Sh. Bira’scompilation of scientific works “Mongolian studies best research heritage“ was published in 10 volumes dedicated to his 90th anniversary in 2017.
Distinguished scholar and academician Sh. Bira passed away on February 13, 2022 in Mongolia.
PB, SveP.