Lessons 1 · 1 lessons · Q. Rajabov, A. Zamonov. History of Uzbekistan (1917–1991): textbook for Grade 10 of secondary schools and for students of secondary specialised and vocational institutions. 1st edition. G‘afur G‘ulom Publishing-Printing Creative House, Tashkent, 2017
1
Turkestan between February and October 1917
Textbook: pp. 5–10
GoalDescribe the political changes in Turkestan between February and October 1917 and name the main political forces.
New words
February Revolution (1917), which ended tsarist rule in Russia · Fevral inqilobiProvisional Government · Muvaqqat hukumat“Islamic Council”, a Jadid organisation founded in Tashkent · Sho‘roi Islomiyaautonomy: the right of a territory to run its own affairs · muxtoriyat
Explanation
The February Revolution began in Petrograd in February 1917 (27 February in the old style, 12 March in the new style) and ended tsarist rule in Russia: Emperor Nicholas II abdicated and power passed to the Provisional Government. In Turkestan the governor-general A. N. Kuropatkin was removed, and on 7 April a nine-member Turkestan Committee was formed to run the region; four of its nine members were Turkic Muslims from other regions (Kazakh, Tatar, Bashkir), not a single Uzbek was included, and the colonial nature of the administration hardly changed. At the same time local political forces awakened: in March 1917 the Jadids founded the Sho‘roi Islomiya organisation in Tashkent, and on 16–23 April the First All-Turkestan Muslim Congress expressed the wish for autonomy. In June a group of ulama left to found Sho‘roi Ulamo, which showed the disagreement between reformist Jadids and clergy of a traditional outlook. As a result several centres of authority existed side by side in Turkestan: the Turkestan Committee, the Soviets of workers’ and soldiers’ deputies, and the Muslim organisations.
Worked examples
Example (dating): Sho‘roi Islomiya was founded on 14 March 1917 (old style). Adding 13 days gives the new-style date, 27 March.
Example (comparison): In Russia there were two centres, the Provisional Government and the Soviets; in Turkestan the Muslim organisations added a third. Why does this matter? It shows that the local population was entering politics with its own voice.
Class activity
“Whose organisation?” game: the teacher names an organisation (Turkestan Committee, Sho‘roi Islomiya, Sho‘roi Ulamo, Tashkent Soviet) and students give its founding time and supporters.
Practice
1
When was the Turkestan Committee formed and how many members did it have?
It was formed on 7 April 1917 and had 9 members.
2
When and where was the First All-Turkestan Muslim Congress held?
On 16–23 April 1917 in Tashkent.
3
Why did the Provisional Government’s creation of the Turkestan Committee not change the region’s situation fundamentally?
Because the committee simply took the place of the governor-generalship, did not include a single Uzbek, and the administration stayed essentially the same.
4
Why did Sho‘roi Ulamo split off from Sho‘roi Islomiya?
Because ideological disagreement grew between the Jadids and some clergy of traditional views (June 1917).