☰ Contents · History of Uzbekistan

Bukhara: from the emirate to the BPSR

Lessons 6 · 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
6

The struggle for reform in the Emirate of Bukhara, the overthrow of the emir by the Red Army, and the founding and work of the BPSR

Textbook: pp. 31–37
GoalExplain the reform struggle in the Emirate of Bukhara, the events of 1920 and the founding of the Bukhara People’s Soviet Republic (BPSR).
New words
Young Bukharans, a reformist party of Bukharan Jadids · Yosh buxoroliklaremirate: a monarchy ruled by an emir · amirlikrevolutionary committee, a temporary governing body · revkomQiziltepa agreement of 25 March 1918 between Soviet Turkestan and the Emirate · Qiziltepa bitimi
Explanation

The Emirate of Bukhara was dependent on the Russian Empire but independent in its internal affairs; under Emir Sayid Olimxon (1881–1944) the Young Bukharans – Fayzulla Xo‘jayev, Abdurauf Fitrat, Sadriddin Ayniy and others – demanded reforms. On 7 April 1917 the emir signed a reform decree; on 8 April a demonstration backing it was suppressed, on 14 April the decree was revoked and the Young Bukharans were persecuted. On 1 March 1918 a Soviet force of about 3,500 under Fyodor Kolesov reached New Bukhara and attacked Old Bukhara, but it withdrew on 5 March because of resistance by the emir’s army and the people of Bukhara; the Qiziltepa agreement was signed on 25 March. On 12 August 1920 Mikhail Frunze, commander of the Turkestan Front, formed a strike group against the emirate; the attack began on 29 August, the city was heavily shelled, and on 2 September the Red Army took Bukhara; a large part of the city suffered fire and destruction, and the emir withdrew to Eastern Bukhara. On 6–8 October 1920 the First All-Bukhara Kurultai of People’s Representatives proclaimed the BPSR: Fayzulla Xo‘jayev became chairman of the Council of Nazirs, the Second Kurultai adopted a constitution in September 1921, but in 1923, under pressure from Moscow and Tashkent, Fitrat and other nazirs were removed from the government, and on 18–20 September 1924 the republic was renamed the Bukhara Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR).

Worked examples
Example (duration): the Soviet force took Bukhara on 2 September 1920, and the attack began on 29 August: four days from 29 August to 2 September (30, 31 August, 1, 2 September).
Example (why it matters): the BPSR was officially an independent “people’s” republic, but treaties with the RSFSR and Turkestan, the Red Army’s presence and party control limited its independence. For this reason historians describe it as semi-independent.
Class activity

“Timeline”: students draw eight events in Bukhara in date order from April 1917 to September 1924.

Practice
1
When did the emir sign the reform decree and when was it cancelled?
2
When and between whom was the Qiziltepa agreement signed?
3
The attack began on 29 August 1920 and Bukhara was taken on 2 September. How many days did it last (from 29 August to 2 September)?
4
Why did the BPSR government begin to lose its political independence in 1923–1924?