Z. A. Desai

Ziyauddin Abdul Hayy Desai (17 May 1925 - 24 March 2002; also spelt Ziauddin) was an Indian epigraphist associated with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Ziauddin Desai was born on 17 May 1925 at Dhandhuka, Gujarat. He graduated in 1948, and obtained an M.A. degree in Persian language from the Bombay University in 1948. During 1947-1953, he taught Persian as a lecturer. In 1953, he joined the ASI as an Assistant Superintending Epigraphist. In 1959, he obtained a D.Litt in Persian from the Tehran University. Subsequently, in 1961, he became the Superintending Epigraphist at ASI.

From 1953 to 1976, Desai edited the Arabic and Persian Supplement to the Epigraphia Indica. From 1977 until his retirement in 1983, Desai served as the Director of Epigraphy at ASI.

Desai's research interests included Indo-Persian literature, Indo-Muslim epigraphy, numismatics, architectural history and the history of his home province of Gujarat. His honours and distinctions include the President of India's Award for outstanding services to Persian Language and Literature (1983). Apart from editing the Arabic and Persian supplement to the Epigraphia Indica, he published more than a dozen books and around 300 articles. With Wayne E. Begley, he was joint editor and chief consultant on Persian sources of the 'History of Shah Jahan Project'. He was also Chairman of the Board of Editors of the Descriptive Catalogue of Arabic, Persian and Urdu Manuscripts (in Urdu) at the Dargah Hazrat Pir Muhammad Shah Library, Ahmedabad.

Desai settled in Ahmedabad after his retirement in 1983. There, he died on 24 March 2002 after a prolonged illness.

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