Shughnan Rebellion
of 1925
Document ¹1.
On behalf of the residents of Afghan Shughnan to
comrades staying in power at Dushanbe
Petition.
Because our oppression, offences, and violence
by Afghans overstepped the limits we can bear, and at the moment,
when our brothers in Tajik Soviet Republic may live quietly and
forwardly, yet last year we had petitioned to comrades staying in
command at Dushanbe, to accept all of us to Soviet citizenship so
as to save us from oppression and violations by Afghans. Our petition
to Khorogh Soviet authorities didn't have any consequences. Orally
we were assumed: just start the struggle against Afghans, and than
we lend a helping hand. This year Afghan oppression had been strengthened.
Many from our ranks were killed. In the force of this we, in all
about 8 thousands men, women and kids, left our places and are seeking
protection by Tajik Soviet republic... and again we receive the
same reply: let start the struggle against Afghans, and than we
support you. Being not satisfied with the given reply by Khorogh
comrades, we approach you, comrades, with the request to liberate
us from Afghan chains, and to accept in USSR as an equal citizens.
We haven't anymore forces to endure the Afghan oppression. Precisely
two months ago we came in to this side of Amy and stay at this mountain
area, where only grass is growing. And there aren't any reply to
our petition. Addressing the given written petition to you, comrades
in command at Dushanbe, we are still awaiting, that you'll help
us to be liberated from Afghan oppression and permit us to live
in USSR as your brothers and citizens. We also expect, that you
get back our lands, so as we'll work safely as an equal citizens.
... By the moment the modest supplies we brought with us, already
finished, ... the majority of us are aksakals and kids, - all of
the men between 14 - 30 were forcefully conscripted to Afghan army.
... So, we are totally depending now from your good will, - to accept
or reject our request and given petition. 1304 hijra, 19 ashura.
Signatures are followed.
Document ¹2
Entrust/Verdict
We, undersigned, the residents of Afghan Shughnan,
the area located between Qala-e-Bashar, from one side, and Chansoor
- Rushan, from another side, being reduced to despair by Afghan
oppression, decided to seek for Soviet protection. For fulfilling
this mission we decided to put our written petition to our aksakal
Mahram Bek and direct him as our warrant person, to Dushanbe to
comrades in command at TASR for delivering it and holding all necessary
negotiations. Everything, that the mentioned Mahram Bek will report
and make on behalf of us, is right, and not arguable by us. 1304,
19 ashura.
Aksakal Insara - a stamp
Dowlet Bek ibn Alef Bek, etc.
The Russian Center for Preservation and Exploration
of Documents of Recent History, Collection 62, list 2, file 243,
pp. .53 - 55, 61. Both these texts, Petition and Entrust/Verdict,
a translation from Persian into Russian, were attached to Soviet
diplomatic correspondence. The above appendixes is a re-translation
from Russian into English by Vladimir Boyko. The same Soviet source
also calculated the social struc ture of undersigned:
1
|
Aksakals |
13 |
2
|
Clergy |
13 |
|
a/ Halifas (Ismailis) |
3 |
|
b/ Mullahs |
4 |
|
c/ Seyyids |
5 |
|
d/ Imams |
2 |
|
e/ Hojas |
3 |
3
|
Arbabs |
17 |
4
|
Dowlets |
6 |
5
|
Mirzas |
3 |
6
|
Shah-e (the members of old Tajik clans) |
25 |
Note: all listed titles, explanatory remarks, as
well wrong summing number of clergy are by Soviet diplomatic source.
|