Tajikistan Life & Culture - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 19 - 24 of 203

Society

World Happiness Index: Central Asian Countries Stand Out With “Warm Social Climate”

Kazakhstan has been named the happiest country in Central Asia, according to the World Happiness Report 2025 published by the Oxford Wellbeing Centre. Ranking 43rd globally, Kazakhstan outperformed its regional neighbors in metrics such as social support, trust, and freedom of choice. The report evaluates national well-being based on six key indicators: GDP per capita Social support (help from family, friends, and society) Healthy life expectancy Freedom to make life choices Generosity (willingness to help others) Perceived absence of corruption Kazakhstan scored 6.38 out of 10, demonstrating especially strong performance in trust and honesty. The country ranked 30th globally for the likelihood of returning a wallet to a neighbor and 42nd for returning it to a stranger. Uzbekistan followed at 53rd place with a score of 6.2. The country stood out for its high levels of charitable giving (29th) and public trust in law enforcement (19th). Kyrgyzstan ranked 75th with 5.9 points and was recognized as the regional leader in helping strangers. Tajikistan placed 90th with a score of 5.4 but made the global top four in volunteering, an indicator linked to longstanding traditions of mutual aid. Turkmenistan was excluded from the ranking due to insufficient data. The report highlights that Central Asian countries exhibit some of the world’s highest levels of kindness. The region's mutual aid index ranges from 0.30 to 0.36, compared to the global average of 0.33. “Despite economic differences, the region maintains strong social ties and a culture of collectivism, where helping others and participating in community life remain important values,” the report notes. According to the authors, happiness is influenced less by income than by trust, stability, and personal freedom. Central Asia, they conclude, fosters a “warm social climate,” where interpersonal kindness often offsets institutional shortcomings and economic hardship. Globally, Finland topped the 2025 rankings, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands. At the bottom of the list were Sierra Leone (146th) and Afghanistan (147th), where happiness levels remain the lowest worldwide.

Silk Road

The Artistic Brilliance of Central Asia Takes Center Stage at Sotheby’s

On October 29, Sotheby’s will host its Arts of the Islamic World and India sale, featuring a dazzling selection of manuscripts, ceramics, metalwork, and jewelry that together trace the creative reach of Central Asia across six centuries. The auction highlights how the region’s artists shaped Islamic visual culture from the early medieval period to the Timurid age. Among the most important works is a rare page from the monumental Baysunghur Qur’an, produced around 1400 in Herat or Samarkand. Another piece connects to the earlier Samanid Dynasty, whose rule from Bukhara and Tashkent fostered a flourishing of calligraphic pottery in the ninth and tenth centuries. The Arab geographer al-Maqdisi once praised the “large bowls from Shash,” an early name for Tashkent, noting their reputation throughout the Islamic world. [caption id="attachment_38298" align="aligncenter" width="1797"] A line from the 'Baysunghur Qur'an', attributed to 'Umar al-Aqta, Herat or Samarkand, circa 1400; image: Sotheby's[/caption] Two colorful Timurid mosaic tiles from the fourteenth or fifteenth century illustrate the architectural splendor of Samarkand and Herat. Their glazed patterns in cobalt, turquoise, and white once formed part of vast decorative panels in mosques and mausoleums. The geometric interlace and stylized foliage that define them became a visual signature of Timurid architecture, a style that spread from Central Asia to Persia and India. [caption id="attachment_38301" align="aligncenter" width="1346"] A Golden Horde turquoise and pearl-set gold belt or necklace, Pontic-Caspian Steppe, 14th century; image: Sotheby's[/caption] The Times of Central Asia spoke with Frankie Keyworth, a specialist in Islamic and Indian Art at Sotheby’s, for a closer look. TCA: How did manuscripts like the Baysunghur Qur’an serve as symbols of power and faith in the Timurid court, and what does its immense scale - a Qur’an so vast it took two people to turn a page - reveal about the empire’s ambition, artistry, and self-image? Keyworth: The manuscript was a hugely ambitious and challenging project, even just by the tools it would take to create, with monumental sheets of paper measuring 177 by 101cm., and a large pen whose nib would have to measure over 1cm. Displayed on a magnificent marble stand, the manuscript would be a staggering visual representation of the patron’s wealth and piety. Their subsequent use during public recitation reinforced the elite’s religious aspirations. The fact that this manuscript is unsurpassed by any other medieval Qur’an and remains so valued centuries after it was produced at the turn of the 15th century reveals the key role manuscripts played in the establishment of the Timurid dynastic image. [caption id="attachment_38299" align="aligncenter" width="1346"] A Timurid brass jug (mashrabe), Herat, Afghanistan, 15th-early 16th century; image: Sotheby's[/caption] TCA: A brass jug from Herat shaped like a Chinese vase, a ceramic bowl from Tashkent inscribed in Arabic script - these objects tell of traders, scholars, and artists linking worlds from Samarkand to Beijing long before globalization had a name. What can you tell us about how this trade transpired, and are there similarities to modern transport corridors? Keyworth: Trade via the so-called Silk Road endured for...

Archaeology

Dinosaur Fossils Unearthed in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan Illuminate Central Asia’s Prehistoric Past

Rare dinosaur remains estimated to be around 75 million years old have been uncovered in Uzbekistan’s Karakalpakstan region, according to the State Geological Museum. The discovery adds to a growing body of paleontological evidence shedding light on Central Asia’s ancient ecosystems. On October 12, Akhmadjon Akhmedshaev, Director of the State Geological Museum, visited the excavation site near the Khodzhakul foothills in the Sultan Uvays mountain range, where the “Uzbek Geologiya Qidiruv” expedition had uncovered fossilized dinosaur bones during a geological survey. Found at a depth of approximately three meters, the remains are believed to belong to a large dinosaur from the Cretaceous period, dating back roughly 65-75 million years. The fossils include fragments of vertebrae, ribs, and leg bones, all remarkably well preserved. Scientists believe the find could offer valuable insights into the types of dinosaurs that once inhabited what is now western Uzbekistan. The region is thought to have been a humid, coastal environment during the late Cretaceous. The fossils are currently undergoing analysis at the State Geological Museum to determine their species and any potential connections to previously identified dinosaurs from Central Asia. Meanwhile, paleontologists from St. Petersburg State University have announced a second significant find, this time in Tajikistan. Researchers uncovered a well-preserved fragment of a duck-billed dinosaur skull. According to spbdnevnik.ru, the fossil’s exceptional condition may enable scientists to accurately identify the species and potentially describe a new genus. Comparative analysis is now underway with fossil collections from other countries to trace its evolutionary lineage.

Archaeology

Dinosaur Skull Fragment Unearthed in Tajikistan Could Signal Discovery of New Species

Paleontologists from St. Petersburg State University have uncovered a remarkably well-preserved fragment of a duck-billed dinosaur skull in Tajikistan, a rare and potentially groundbreaking find for the region. According to scientists, the skull fragment is in near-perfect condition, allowing for precise classification. Experts believe the discovery could lead to the identification of a previously unknown genus of dinosaurs. Russian researchers are now conducting a comparative analysis, examining the specimen alongside collections from other countries. The dinosaur belongs to the hadrosaur family, a group known for their distinctive elongated, duck-like snouts. These herbivorous reptiles lived during the late Cretaceous period. Researchers say the find may offer new insights into the evolutionary history of dinosaurs in Central Asia. Tajikistan is emerging as a key site for the study of the Cretaceous era. In a previous discovery near the village of Kansai in the Sughd region, paleontologists unearthed dinosaur remains estimated to be around 85 million years old. The area, often described as a “chronicle of the ancient world,” has yielded fossils not only of dinosaurs but also of turtles, crocodiles, amphibians, and ancient fish. Kansai has long been on the scientific map. In the 1960s and 1980s, expeditions led by the renowned Soviet paleontologist Anatoly Rozhdestvensky explored the region extensively. His team identified several new species, including therizinosaurs. One of the most notable finds from that era was a nearly complete femur of a therizinosaur. Many of these rare specimens are now housed in the History and Local Lore Museum of the Sogdian Region, which attracts visitors with its collection of prehistoric fossils and other ancient artifacts. Among the museum’s standout items is the jawbone of a southern elephant, estimated to be 2.5 million years old. It was discovered on the shore of the Kayrakkum Reservoir in 2013. According to museum director Mansur Boimatov, similar remains were first uncovered in 1978. At that time, local artisans created a bas-relief of the elephant, which was later installed in the Khujand Museum.

Science

Stanford University Names Two Tajik Scientists Among World’s Top Researchers

Professors Mahsud Saimdinov and Farukh Sharopov are the only scientists from Tajikistan included in Stanford University’s prestigious “World’s Top 2% Scientists - 2025” list. The ranking, compiled under the guidance of renowned Stanford epidemiologist Professor John Ioannidis, assesses the scientific productivity and impact of researchers worldwide. Conducted annually since 2019, it analyzes data from more than 100,000 scientists across disciplines using the Scopus (Elsevier) database. In 2025, just two researchers from Tajikistan, Farukh Sharopov and Mahsud Saimdinov, were included in the top 2% of global scientists based on their citation impact and publication record. Researchers in the 98th percentile or above in their field qualify for inclusion. Farukh Sharopov: Pioneer in Pharmaceutical Chemistry Born in 1976, Farukh Safolbekovich Sharopov is among Tajikistan’s leading chemists. A graduate of the Chemistry Department at the Tajik State University (1998), he defended his doctoral dissertation at the V. I. Nikitin Institute of Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan in 2002. Sharopov has held positions as a senior and leading researcher at the Institute of Chemistry and has taught at the Abu Ali ibn Sina Medical University. Since 2019, he has served as a senior researcher at the China-Tajikistan Innovation Center for Natural Products. In October 2025, he successfully defended a doctoral dissertation titled “Chemical Study of Secondary Metabolites of Essential Oil Plants Using Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry.” According to Scopus data as of October 14, 2025, Sharopov has authored 105 publications, which have been cited 6,881 times. He holds an h-index of 40 and ranks 692nd globally in the pharmaceutical and biomolecular chemistry field. Mahsud Saimdinov: Global Leader in Nanotechnology Mahsud Ismatboevich Saimdinov, born in 1988 in Isfara, is recognized internationally for his contributions to nanotechnology. A graduate and postgraduate of Lomonosov Moscow State University, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia, served as a visiting researcher at MIT, and taught at the University of Toronto. Currently, he holds a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Advanced Functional Materials and is a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Victoria in Canada. According to Scopus, Saimdinov has published 170 scientific papers, which have received 24,886 citations. His h-index stands at 69. In the category of nano and nanotechnologies, he ranks 630th globally, placing him among the field’s top-tier scientists.

Art and Culture

Tajik Students Win Award in Los Angeles for Music Video Honoring Jalaluddin Rumi

The music video Nai Noumie by Jalaluddin Rumi, directed by Ilyas Daudi, won first place in the “Best Music Video” category at the Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood. The project was selected from among hundreds of international submissions. Creating the Project Tajik students Shahriyor Gulmakhmadzoda and Yosuman Ismailova, both studying at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in Moscow, participated in the video. They recited poetry by the renowned Persian mystic Jalaluddin Rumi, set to music by Iranian composer Arash Faladvand. The composition is part of a trilogy by Daudi dedicated to Eastern philosophy and poetry. According to the director, the choice to involve Tajik students was intentional. “The involvement of students from Farhad Mahmudov’s Tajik workshop was guided by the linguistic and cultural proximity between Persian and Tajik traditions,” Daudi explained. He praised the voices of Yosuman and Shahriyor as perfect for the project. Faladvand’s symphonic piece was adapted into what Daudi described as a “concise rock version with an exquisite professional arrangement.” The project had an international scope from the outset. Iranian historians and linguists contributed to ensuring the poetic integrity of Rumi’s work was faithfully preserved. Daudi, an award-winning director and screenwriter, is also the author of the book In the Kunduz Circle. He has received accolades in Los Angeles, Austin, Berlin, Geneva, Madrid, and other cities. Shahriyor's Story Shahriyor Gulmakhmadzoda, 22, is from the Matchinsky district in Tajikistan's Sughd region. His parents, both farmers, currently work in Russia to support his studies. Passionate about the performing arts from a young age, he participated in school productions and later enrolled at the M. Tursunzade Tajik State Institute of Culture and Arts under the mentorship of Kurbon Sobir, a People’s Artist of Tajikistan. “My parents and my brother Shohrukh always supported my path. My teacher Kurbon Sobir gave me so much and showed great patience to shape me. He helped me enter VGIK through a presidential quota, and Maestro Farhad Makhmudov accepted us. For me, he’s someone I would give all my blood to,” Shahriyor said. Yosuman's Story Yosuman Ismailova, 21, was born in Dushanbe and is originally from Tajikistan's Gorno-Badakhshan region. Her mother worked as a dispatcher at Shabakai Avval (First Channel), and her father, a taxi driver, recently relocated to Moscow. From childhood, Yosuman aspired to perform on stage. She studied vocals and graduated from the A. Bokulov College of Arts. “I still remember my teacher, Irina Norayrovna Arutyunyan, with deep appreciation. She did so much for me, and I’m immensely grateful,” she shared. First Steps into Cinema This summer, both students began their studies in Farhad Makhmudov’s workshop at VGIK. Upon learning about the new Tajik students, Daudi invited them to join his project. “We gladly agreed, even though we had no prior experience. Everything was new, filming, recording vocals, working on set,” Yosuman recalled. Filming took place in VGIK’s training studio and on location in the Zavidovo nature reserve outside Moscow. For Shahriyor and Yosuman, this was their first professional cinematic experience and a...