On October 19, 2020, the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS) organized the launching ceremony for the Farsi translation of the book "A History of the Tajiks: Iranians of the East” authored by Dr. Richard Foltz, director of the Centre for Iranian Studies at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. The book is translated into Farsi language by Dr. Abdul Khaliq Lalzad, history researcher and published by the department of publications of the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies (AISS).
This event was accompanied by Dr. Mohiuddin Mahdi, writer and political analyst; Dr. Sayed Makhdoom Raheen, former minister of Information and Culture; and Dr. Omar Sadr, university lecturer and researcher, with moderation by Farahnaz Forotan, journalist.
In this comprehensive and up to date history, from prehistoric proto-Indo-Iranian times to the post-Soviet period, Richard Foltz traces the complex linguistic, cultural and political history of the Tajiks, a Persian-speaking Iranian ethnic group from the modern-day Central Asian states of Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan.
Dr. Mahiuddin Mahdi addressed two main issues in his speech about the book: one, who the Tajiks are; two, the modern history of Tajiks. On Tajik history, Dr. Mahdi related Tajiks to 'Uchis' who were divided into two groups: one group took refuge in north of Gabi who are also called 'Taichi' or large Uchis; and the other group, also known as 'small Uchis', took refuge in Tibet. "Tajiks do not believe that they were given the name in Central Asia, but that they are essentially the great Uchis," Dr. Mahdi said.
On the origin of the word 'Tajik', Dr. Sayed Makhdoom Raheen stated that some believe it originates from 'Tai tribes', and some others believe it originates from the word 'Taj'. "The term 'Tajik' has not been used very often in the past 1500 years. The Tajiks often called themselves 'Dehgan' which means nomadic or rural," said Dr. Raheen. He added that Tajik is both, an ethnicity and a culture. Referring to the Persian language, Dr. Raheen said that in his opinion the first Persian poem originates in Kirkuk that was written before Islam.
Dr. Omar Sadr criticized the book in terms of appearance as well as the issue of Tajik identity. He said the most important issue is the collective identity of Tajiks, whether they are a nation or a tribe. He said Russian and British colonization had greatly reduced Tajiks. In Russian colonization, the Russian translators did not maintain their neutrality, and because of this, the Russians' relationship with the Tajiks was second-rate, and in British colonialism, the British had the first contact with the Pashtuns. Sadr also said that contrary to Dr. Raheen, Tajiks are an identity and culture is part of identity and Tajiks cannot be considered a culture.
Those interested to read the Farsi translation of the book can access the book from Aazem Publishers in address and Phone number below.
Aazem Publication; 5th Silo Street, Kabul University Road
Phone Number: 079 412 1151