The generation that changed the destiny of the nation

🔴 The main weapon on the road to freedom — education! lessons from the Jadids

🔴 Turkestani students who alarmed the Russian administration

At the beginning of the 20th century, a new renaissance began in Turkestan society. In this process, the Jadid movement emerged as the main force in the struggle for enlightenment and freedom. They aimed to change the destiny of the entire nation by opening schools, sending young people to study abroad, and bringing new knowledge back to their homeland.

From “Ittifoq al-Muslimin” to Istanbul

On August 15, 1905, at the First All-Russian Muslim Congress held in Nizhny Novgorod, the idea of uniting Muslims led to the establishment of “Ittifoq al-Muslimin”. This idea was officially confirmed at the second congress held in St. Petersburg in 1906. From that moment, Turkestani intellectuals also became seriously involved in modernizing education and sending young people abroad.

The Jadids primarily chose the Ottoman Empire, as the language was close, the religion was shared, and European science had been rapidly absorbed in Turkey, with secular subjects integrated into its education system.

Early societies and charity movements

In 1909, in Bukhara, enlightened figures such as Abdulvohid Munzim, Hamidkhoja Mehriy, Mukammil Burhonov, and others established the “Tarbiyayi atfol” society and began sending young people to study in Istanbul. Later, the students themselves formed the “Bukhara ta’mimi maorif” society to help their peers.

Their goal was to improve the new-method schools and prepare textbooks and manuals. This society played a major role in sending hundreds of talented young people to Turkey. Meetings of Bukharan students with various intellectuals in Istanbul caused serious concern for the Russian imperial administration. Emir Abdulahad Khan even reported to Nicholas II that they had gone abroad “only to study”.

Jadidism was not limited to Bukhara alone. In 1901, Munavvarqori Abdurashidkhanov opened the first Jadid school in Tashkent. At his initiative, the “Jamiyati imdodiya” was established in 1909, giving many young people the opportunity to study abroad. In 1916, the “Ghayrat” society was formed in Kokand, which distributed books and newspapers among the population and provided new schools with textbooks and educational tools.

An appeal and a call to the nation

Turkestani students studying in Istanbul published their address “Appeal to the People of Turkestan” in the magazine Oyina, calling on the public to awaken and free themselves from ignorance. It stated:

“O brothers of Turkestan! Open your eyes, know the world, we must save our nation from the depths of ignorance!”

The anxiety of the colonizers

This activity of the Jadids alarmed the colonizers. In Samarkand, Abduqodir Shakuri’s school was inspected, and in Tashkent various charges were brought against Munavvarqori. The Governor-General’s administration did not stop trying to restrict the Jadids’ contacts with Turkish intellectuals.

Thus, the educational societies founded by the Jadids — Tarbiyayi atfol, Bukhoro ta’mimi maorif, Jamiyati imdodiya, Ghayrat — became organizations of enormous significance, powerful enough to change the destiny of the nation. For them, education was the main weapon, and their ultimate goal was progress and freedom.

Shahnosa Rahmonova
P/S: The article may be used with reference to the official website of the Center.