The Functions of the Endowment of Shushtar during the Pahlavi Period (1925-1978)

Before Pahlavi period, religious environment of Shushtar has caused its people to try to devout the greatest part of their endowments to the construction, repair and provision of the requirements of mosques, schools and shrines; therefore, the most fundamental function of endowment has been of cultural – religious nature. In spite of the swift changes and modifications in the various social, cultural and economic aspects, the people of Shushtar had still paid more or less considerable attention to the tradition of endowment. The present study is an attempt to examine the “functions of endowment in Shushtar in Pahlavi period” based on a descriptive – analytical method and in accordance with all the endowment documents recorded in the Endowment Department of Shushtar and the available library resources. Moreover, the study is to find the amount, type and uses of the endowments in this particular time span. The results obtained reveal that although the functions had been of cultural – religious nature, they had continued with less emphasis due to the anti-religious policies of Pahlavi regime, in such a way that only 8 real endowment documents has been recorded in Shushtar. Furthermore, consideration of hygienic issues as one of the social functions of endowment has been present in a limited way and accompanied with the cultural – religious function.