BOBOJON GHAFUROV AND NATIONAL IDENTITY

         Speech of the President of Tajikistan          E. Rahmon at the commemorative gathering         Dedicated to the centenary of Bobojon Ghafurov         (Dushanbe, december 24, 2008)          Dear fellow-countrymen,         Dear guests and friends,         We have gathered here today, along with representatives of the Tajik intelligentsia and dear guests of Tajikistan who came to Dushanbe from various countries for the participation in the international conference dedicated to the scientific and political activity of Bobojon Ghafurov, to celebrate the one-hundredth anniversary of this ingenious son of the Tajik nation and outstanding politician and statesman.         First of all, I congratulate you on the centennial of academician Bobojon Ghafurov who made an unforgettable contribution to the progress of Tajikistan's society, development of the Tajik science and culture, as well as the world's oriental studies, having been conferred with the high title of the Hero of Tajikistan for his great services, self-denying work and efforts for cognizing the national identity of the Tajik people and worthily representing the Tajiks on the international scene.          Among Tajikistan's statesmen and scientific luminaries it was Bobojon Ghafurov who made most success in determining and proving the historical place and role, greatest accomplishments of the Tajiks' state organization, as well as in propagating the Orient's sciences and culture on the international scene.          Having devoted all of his life to research and studies of the ancient Tajik nation's state organization, he not only compiled, in the course of his fruitful activity, a complete historical outline of the Tajiks, but also made a significant contribution to the research of the history of many oriental peoples.          The scientific activity of Bobojon Ghafurov, which began from studying the Tajik nation's history and culture, became gradually more comprehensive, embracing various aspects of the history of oriental nations and peoples, life and works of great oriental thinkers, development of oriental studies etc.         Being a far-sighted statesman, outstanding politician and talented scholar, and thanks to his unique wisdom and his high organizing skills, Bobojon Ghafurov played a notable role in the construction of a new life and development of different branches of Tajikistan's economy and social sphere.         In a controversial period, full of acute political and scientific struggle, that is, in the difficult and crucial thirties of the past century, when thousands of educated and enlightened people were persecuted and victimized, while thousands of others were forced to leave the native land, Bobojon Ghafurov demonstrated political and scientific courage, stood side by side with the teacher Sadriddin Ayni and worthily fulfilled his filial duty before his people and Fatherland, defending the good name of the Tajik nation and preserving its rich history and culture from malevolent distortions.          While occupying the post of the top leader of Tajikistan, he not only made purposeful efforts towards its comprehensive development, but also created "A Short History of the Tajik People" and his historical masterwork, "The Tajiks", thus founding a scientific school and laying grounds of the modern Tajik historiography.          Basing on hundreds of irrefutable facts and proofs, and relying on thousands of primary sources, academician Ghafurov proved that the civilization and culture-founding Tajik nation had no need in conscious distortions of history, in its "re-writing" and self-extolling. This nation possesses its protracted history, rich culture and literature, and even a brief acquaintance with them gives one a clear perception of its role in the world's civilization.          Immortal accomplishments and self-denying struggle of our people's worthy sons — Spitamen, Abu Muslim Khorasani, Sunbad the Magus, Devashtich, Isma'il Samani, Tahir bin Husseyn, Ya'qub Layth, Temurmalik, Mahmud Tarabi and hundreds of thousands of others — present in themselves an irrefutable proof of competitive spirit, love of freedom, patriotism, steadfastness and fortitude, vigilance and constant independence-seeking which are impressed on the golden pages of the Tajiks' historical book as an instructive example for the present and future generations.           Even Firdowsi's more-than-thirty-years efforts and titanic labour in creating the Shahnameh epic present a high example of patriotism and independence-seeking. This masterpiece, wherein the glorious history of our ancestors' state and state organization is depicted, blunted murderous swords of aliens and save our nation from the threat of dispersion and extinguishment.          The history also testifies that the Tajiks repeatedly faced occupants who were much stronger, yet our ancestors invariably defeated them, protecting their magically sounding native tongue, literary and cultural traditions, and preserving their national idea and national identity.           Esteemed audience,          In his book "The Tajiks", academician Bobojon Ghafurov investigated the ancient, old and medieval history of the Tajik people, as well as the history of sciences, literature, architecture and religious thinking in a single context of the mankind's history and from the point of view of academic science.           I had already expressed my opinion concerning the great value of this work in my speech on the occasion of the scholar's 90th anniversary and today I would like to reiterate that "The Tajiks" are a comprehensive and complete research of the history one of the most ancient nations in the world, and the author proved to the world the significance of our ancestors' contribution to human history and civilization by publishing this product of his more-than-thirty-years labour.           This work became the torch that threw light on dark and forgotten pages in the history of the Tajik people and awoke the feelings of self-cognizance, national pride and historical memory of the people, instilling a new spirit of courage into the nation's self-denying sons.          With his inherent courage and basing on indisputable facts, the author summarized and analyzed the multi-millennia-old cultural and historical traditions of the Tajiks' state and state organization, giving at the same time an honest and just appraisal of the mankind's historical experience and cultural heritage of other Central Asian inhabitants.          In this connection, I would like to remind that Bobojon Ghafurov's principles of historiography drastically differed from the approach of those who, in the Soviet epoch, made history a hostage of that era's ideas, restrictions and fanaticism, systematically propagating the process of various peoples and nations turning into a single people. Academician Bobojon Ghafurov studied the history of the Tajiks and other Central Asian peoples in the context of all-European and all-human history, introducing himself as a Eurasian historian of the new epoch.           As one of academician Bobojon Ghafurov's faithful associates, academician Boris Litvinsky told, amid the immense ocean of various concepts and theories the book "The Tajiks" emerged as a beautiful island of true science and historiography. That is why he may, doubtless, be called a commander-in-chief in the battlefield of science.          As an outstanding and enterprising researcher, Bobojon Ghafurov played a notable part in the development of the world's oriental studies, as well. After his being appointed the Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the former Soviet Union's Academy of Sciences, the scope of research in the field of oriental peoples' history and culture was significantly broadened.          In those years, most important congresses and symposiums dedicated to the questions of the civilizations of oriental peoples were held exactly o the initiative and under the personal guidance of academician Ghafurov.         One of such world-level scientific forums, dedicated to historical, archeological and cultural research of Central Asia in the Kushan epoch, was held in 1968 in the capital of our Motherland, the city of Dushanbe, which was reckoned a big event in the scientific and cultural life of the Tajik people.          In the years when he supervised the Institute of Oriental Studies, he also organized the publishing of the series of books "Written heritage of oriental peoples" which made best works by scientists, historians and writers of oriental countries the common property of the world.           Being an honest person and a far-sighted scientist, Bobojon Ghafurov first of all was looking, in the past history of peoples, for those moments that could promote creativity, friendship and intimacy of nations and civilizations.          His studies on the factors of the rise and fall of the Samanid State, the contribution of Abu ‘l-Qassim Firdowsi, Abu Reyhan Biruni, Amir Khusrav Dehlavi, Muhammad Iqbal and others to human civilization promoted the broadening of Tajikistan's scientific and cultural relations with various countries of the region and the world and at the same time the strengthening of the Tajiks' national self-cognizance.         Great is academician Ghafurov's contribution to the mutual rapprochement and acquaintance of oriental and western civilizations.          A striking example of these words is the valuable study titled "Alexander of Macedonia and the East" written in cooperation with the Greek historian D. Tsabukides and dedicated to the interaction of oriental and western civilizations.          While working as the Chairman of the UNESCO East — West Committee, he raised the question of the comprehensive scientific study of the Central Asian civilization, and as the President of the International Association for studying this civilization to its solution.          If we sum up briefly the glorious road passed by this outstanding scientist and politician, one may say for sure that he was an academically educated statesmen and an academician with a statesman's worldview. Moreover, his entire life is a striking example of faithful and self-denying service to the interests of science, people and Fatherland.            I am sure that today's conference will disclose new pages of the activities of the gifted son of the Tajik nation, Bobojon Ghafurov, and will show new facets of his contribution to research and popularization of the civilization of oriental peoples.           Dear friends,          In the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the third millennium, we have become witnesses of fundamental transformations and unprecedented historical events.          The present-day aspirations for mastering new technologies have led to acute political, economic and social competition, which is why, along with ensuring a determined level of human development, we also see dominance-seeking tendencies on the part of certain powers.           At the same time, national institutions and values have fallen into impetuous waves of globalization, and as a result, ancient nations, while trying to revive their national traditions, are facing the impact of other peoples, countries and civilizations. This process may lead to that small nations and their historical values, including culture, historical heritage, language, literary monuments, as well as other unique achievements, will find themselves on the verge of oblivion and extinguishment.          On the other hand, the sharp financial crisis that has broken out in the world forces small and big countries, irrespective of their developmental level and differences in their sociopolitical systems, to widen cooperation, joint search of ways to solve all-human problems, ensure peace and calmness on the planet, and peaceful solution of all existing conflicts.            Beside this, the spread of such modern challenges and threats as international terrorism, political and religious radicalism, illicit circulation of narcotics and weapons smuggling, as well as technology-related and ecological dangers, urges all the states of the world to enforce their cooperation for the sake of protecting security and stability of the planet.          This all should remind great powers that while aspiring for superiority and dominance they cannot stay indifferent to the fate of retarded countries and the poor of the planet.           Esteemed audience,          The independence of Tajikistan and gaining their own state and state system by the Tajiks represent, on the one hand, a product of these historical processes and transformations of the 20th century. On the other hand, they are the result of incessant efforts undertaken by worthy sons of the Tajik nation, being closely connected with our national and historical identity, as well as cultural values and traditions of our people. All this was discussed in Bobojon Ghafurov's fundamental study, "The Tajiks", on the basis of irrefutable facts.We all perfectly know that in the process of their historical formation the Tajiks passed through a long and winding road, creating great and immortal values on the bases of the Aryan and Islamic civilizations. In all times and epochs they were carrying their civilizing and culture-founding mission, which they are still carrying out these days.         The independence and sovereignty have posed before us very honorable and yet very responsible historical tasks connected with the building of a new state and state system that would meet the interests of the nation and the requirements of Tajikistan's people. Basing on our people's firm will, we chose the road of building a democratic, rule-of-law-based, secular and socially oriented state.           During the years of independence we have removed many difficulties and obstacles that hindered our progress towards a new society, laid grounds for the sovereign Tajik state and set about great creative works. We started deep socioeconomic reforms and declared that our strategic goals are achieving energetic independence, bringing the country out of communicational impasse and protecting its alimentary security.           At the same time, I should especially stress that the greatest achievement of the period of our people's sovereignty consists of ensuring peace, stability and national unity, which was made possible thanks to our guiding the people towards national self-cognizance and self-consciousness, pride for their ancient history and culture, traditions of their independent state and state system, patriotism and respect for our ancestors' heritage.           Guiding our people towards the cognition of their historical and national identity is undoubtedly the most important direction of our state's cultural policy, which is carried out by means of celebrating jubilees of outstanding historical, literary, scientific and religious figures, as well as ancient cities. This is in no way a sign of bragging or self-extolling.           Yet in the beginning of the 21st century, when no nation or state may stay unaffected by consequences of the modern world's challenges, threats and crises, the Tajik nation needs political vigilance, spiritual consciousness, national and cultural self-cognition, and, as whole, firm unity. That is why deep cognition of our historical roots and role in the world's civilization is of great and, without exaggeration, vital importance.           It goes without saying, that mere pride for history, culture, ancient cities and fortresses of our people cannot guarantee us our present-day prosperity, people's decent life and strengthening of our state's grounds.           On the contrary, to become worthy successors of our civilized ancestors, every one of us must constantly make efforts for our Motherland to develop keeping in step with time, for our state to withstand steadfastly the impact of unfavorable factors of the modern world and unwanted consequences of globalization processes.          Today, when the native land of the great scientist Ghafurov — Tajikistan — is an independent state, the significance of life, activities and works of Ghafurov, as well as other outstanding sons of the nation, grows tenfold.          That is why on the eve of this great scientist's centennial we decided to carry out a re-edition of his main work, the book "The Tajiks".           Today, first copies of the book will be presented to the participants of the international conference. Beside this, relevant structures and bodies are instructed to ensure, on the account of the President's Reserve Fund, the publishing of the Tajik text of the book with its English translation in 50 thousand copies by next year's celebration of the State Independence Day. This will make the invaluable national masterpiece the property of the maximum possible number of readers.           Along with this, the necessity had risen to publish selected works of Bobojon Ghafurov. So Tajikistan's Academy of Sciences is instructed to carry out this task throughout the year of 2009.          The people respect the memory of those sons of theirs who work faithfully and self-denyingly for the sake of the development of the Motherland and nation.           Bobojon Ghafurov is a beloved son of his Motherland, so I am absolutely sure that his good name will live forever in the memory of all generations of the cultured, civilized and worthy Tajik nation. Thank you for your kind attention.                                                            Translated by NIAT ‘Khovar'