The Birth of Tajikistan: National Identity and the Origins of the Republic (International Library of Central Asian Studies)

A vivid history of the birth of a nation. When the Russian Revolution broke out in October 1917, much of Central Asia was still ruled by autonomous rulers such as the Emir of Bukhara and the Khan of Khiva. By 1920 the khanates had been transformed into People's Republics, and, in 1924, Stalin re-drew the frontiers on ethno-linguistic lines creating, amongst other statelets, the Soviet Socialist Republic of Uzbekistan - the land of the Uzbeks. But the Uzbeks were not the only significant ethnic group within the new Uzbekistan's frontiers. An older people, the Tajiks, formed a considerable part of the population. This book describes how, often in the teeth of Uzbek opposition, the Tajiks gained, first an autonomous oblast within Uzbekistan, then an autonomous republic, and finally, in 1929, the status of a full Soviet Union Republic. Once the Tajiks had acquired their own republic, they began to acquire a national identity and national pride. The new government had not only to survive the civil war that followed the revolution but then to build an entirely new country in an immensely inhospitable terrain. New frontiers had to be wrested from neighbours, and a new cultural identity, ''national in form but socialist in content'', had to be created. This book is the first documentation of how the idea of a Tajik state came into being. When the Bolshevik Revolution broke out in October 1917, much of Central Asia was still ruled by autonomous rulers such as the Emir of Bukhara and the Khan of Khiva. By 1920 the khanates had been transformed into People's Republics. In 1924, Stalin re-drew the frontiers of the region on ethno-linguistic lines creating, amongst other statelets, the Soviet Socialist Republic of Uzbekistan - the land of the Uzbeks. But the Turkic Uzbeks were not the only significant ethnic group within the new Uzbekistan's frontiers. The Persian-speaking Tajiks formed a considerable part of the population. This book describes how, often in the teeth of Uzbek opposition, the Tajiks gained, first an autonomous oblast (administrative region) within Uzbekistan, then an autonomous republic, and finally, in 1929, the status of a full Soviet Union Republic. Once the Tajiks had been granted a territory of their own, they began to strive for a national identity and to create national pride. Their new government had not only to survive the civil war that followed the revolution but then to build an entirely new country in an immensely inhospitable terrain. New frontiers had to be wrested from neighbours, and a new cultural identity, 'national in form but socialist in content', had to be created, which was to be an example to other Persian speakers in the region. Paul Bergne has produced the first documentation of how the idea of a Tajik state came into being and offers a vivid history of the birth of a nation. This Book Describes How, Often In The Teeth Of Uzbek Opposition, The Tajiks Gained, First An Autonomous Oblast (administrative Region) Within Uzbekistan, Then An Autonomous Republic, And Finally, In 1929, The Status Of A Full Soviet Union Republic. The New Government Had Not Only To Survive The Civil War Which Followed The Revolution. It Then Had To Build A New Country In An Immensely Inhospitable Terrain And - In A Society Where The Concept Did Not Exist - Create A Tajik Identity, Which Was Ultimately To Become 'national In Form But Socialist In Content'.--book Jacket. Introduction -- Central Asian Identities Before 1917 -- The Turkic Ascendancy -- The Revolution And After -- The Road To Soviet Power -- The National Territorial Delimitation -- The New Tajik Assr - Administration Problems -- Purging The Party's Ranks -- The Tajik Language -- Economic Reconstruction -- Tajikstan's Foreign Relations -- The Creation Of The Tajik Ssr -- The Final Territorial Battle - Surkhan Darya -- Conclusion. Paul Bergne. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [173]-176) And Index. Contents......Page 6 Abbreviations......Page 8 Transliteration......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 12 Central Asia c 1929......Page 13 Central Asia c 1919......Page 15 Introduction......Page 16 1. Central Asian Identities before 1917......Page 18 2. Turkic Ascendancy......Page 30 3. The Revolution and After......Page 35 4. The Road to Soviet Power......Page 43 5. The National Territorial Delimitation......Page 54 6. The New Tajik ASSR - Administration Problems......Page 70 7. Purging the Party's Ranks......Page 81 8. The Tajik Language......Page 90 9. Economic Reconstruction......Page 101 10. Tajikistan's Foreign Relations......Page 105 11. The Creation of the Tajik SSR......Page 115 12. The Final Territorial Battle - Surkhan-Darya......Page 134 Conclusion......Page 140 Notes......Page 150 Appendix A......Page 176 Appendix B......Page 180 Appendix C......Page 182 Appendix D......Page 183 Appendix E......Page 184 Bibliography......Page 188 Index......Page 192