Bezhan Pazhohan

As a linguist and scholar of Persian language and literature, my work bridges the fields of language teaching and the politics of literary translation. With graduate training from Allameh Tabataba'i, and over a decade of teaching experience at Yale University and Kabul University, I have developed a research focus on the intersections of language, culture, and power in contexts of conflict.

My dissertation, "Eluding Censorship in Translations of Contemporary Fiction into Persian in Afghanistan," explores how Afghan translators creatively navigate sociopolitical constraints, revealing the cultural and political dimensions of translation in a conflict zone. I am now working to expand this research into a book that delves deeper into the role of translation in shaping cultural narratives and identities under censorship. Joining Harvard University will provide me with the opportunity to collaborate with leading scholars and access the resources necessary to advance this work, contributing to global conversations on literature, censorship, and the politics of translation.