Assoc. Prof. Majid Daneshgar curated the Cambridge University Library’s special exhibition and was interviewed by the BBC | Center for Southeast Asian Studies Kyoto University

Assoc. Prof. Majid Daneshgar was in charge of the curator for the exhibition “Endless Stories: Manuscripts, knowledge and translation in the 17th century,” held at the Cambridge University Library from 28 September, 2024 to 22 February, 2025. This exhibition features manuscripts in 15 languages from the first Oriental collection belonging to Thomas Erpenius (d. 1624) that arrived in the UK around 400 years ago. It is the first time rare materials, including the oldest known commentary on the Qur’an in the Malay language, have been publicly displayed.

Several media outlets, including the BBC, reported the special exhibition opening ceremony on 26 September, with an interview with Assoc. Prof. Daneshgar posted on the news site.

“‘Rare’ Islamic manuscripts on display for first time: The exhibition includes Persian Quranic commentaries and the Gospels in Arabic, say organisers. — Cambridgeshire,” BBC, 28 September 2024

An online talk, “Erpenius’ Library: The Excellence of a Dutch Arabist,” in which Assoc. Prof. Daneshgar will serve as the lecturer, will be held on October 15.

Assoc. Prof. Majid Daneshgar introduces the manuscripts on display at the exhibition “Endless Stories” (Source: Cambridge University Library)

Related information (updated on 8 November)

The video of the online talk “Erpenius’ Library: The Excellence of a Dutch Arabist” has been live on YouTube.
The audio program “Akbar’s Chamber: Experts Talk Islam” (hosted by Nile Green, Professor of History, UCLA) features an interview with Assoc. Prof. Majid Daneshgar “Orientalism Reconsidered: Collecting Islamic Manuscripts in Seventeenth Century Europe.”