☰ Contents · History of Uzbekistan

Interethnic and interfaith relations

Lessons 8–9 · 2 lessons · N. Jo‘rayev, A. Zamonov. History of Uzbekistan (the period of independence): textbook for Grade 11 pupils of secondary schools and for secondary specialised and vocational institutions. 1st edition. G‘afur G‘ulom Publishing and Printing Creative House, Tashkent, 2018
8

Interethnic relations and tolerance in Uzbekistan

Textbook: pp. 61–64
GoalExplain the legal basis of interethnic harmony, the national cultural centres and the language policy.
New words
interethnic harmony: peaceful, equal and respectful coexistence of different nationalities · millatlararo totuvliktolerance: respect for other people’s views, customs and beliefs · bag‘rikengliknational cultural centre: an association preserving a nationality’s language and traditions · milliy-madaniy markazstate language: the language used officially in state bodies · Davlat tili
Explanation

More than 130 nationalities live in Uzbekistan; under the Constitution the people of Uzbekistan consist of its citizens regardless of nationality, and the languages and customs of all nationalities are respected. The state language is Uzbek: the relevant law was adopted on 21 October 1989, which is why that day is marked as a language festival; at the same time education, publishing and broadcasting in other languages continue (besides Uzbek and Karakalpak there are schools in Russian, Kazakh, Tajik, Turkmen and Kyrgyz). The first national cultural centres were formed in 1989, and in 1992 the Republic International Cultural Centre was opened to coordinate them; under a decree of 19 May 2017 the Committee for Interethnic Relations and Friendship with Foreign Countries was formed on its basis. Navruz has been a nationwide holiday on 21 March since 1991, UNESCO adopted the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance in 1995, and the UN named 16 November the International Day for Tolerance. Many peoples have settled in Uzbekistan historically, including Koreans deported in 1937 and people evacuated in the war years; their descendants are citizens of Uzbekistan today.

Worked examples
Example: a Russian-language school, a Tajik-language class and an Uzbek-language lyceum working side by side in one city show the variety of languages of instruction.
Example: a Korean, Tatar or Uyghur cultural centre holds its own holiday (for example Sayil) as an open event to which people of other nationalities are also invited.
Class activity

Preparing a “culture day”: groups write short notes on a festival or dish of a particular people and present them; each group names one thing it learned from another.

Practice
1
According to the Constitution, who makes up the people of Uzbekistan?
2
When was the law on the state language adopted?
3
Why are national cultural centres useful for interethnic harmony?
4
Which date is marked as the International Day for Tolerance?