This breakthrough resulted mainly from the pioneering efforts of Wladimir Ivanow (1886-1970), and a few Ismaili Bohra scholars, notably Asaf A. A. Fyzee (1899-1981), Husayn F. al-Hamdani (1901-1962) and Zahid ‘Ali (1888-1958), all of whom based their studies on their family collections of manuscripts.

Ismaili scholarship received a major impetus through the establishment in 1946 of the Ismaili Society of Bombay under the patronage of Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III (1877-1957). Ivanow played a crucial role in the creation of the Ismaili Society. The Society’s series of publications, a landmark in modern Ismaili studies, were edited by Ivanow and included the publications of first editions of numerous Nizari texts. The pioneers of modern Ismaili studies collaborated with Ivanow, who through his own connections with the Khoja community, gained access to Nizari literature preserved in various parts of the world.