History

Dushanbe is the capital and largest city in Tajikistan. Originally, this city was only a small village made famous by its Monday Market that has been in operation since the late 17^th century. Afterall, the name, Dushanbe, is derived from the Tajik word for Monday. Following the Red Army’s victory in Central Asia, the village was upgraded to a town in 1925 and made the capital of the newly created Tajik Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (Tadjik ASSR). After the transformation of the Tajik ASSR to the Tadjik Soviet Socialist Republic (Tajik SSR) in 1929, Dushanbe was renamed Stalinabad, after Joseph Stalin. As part of Nikita Khrushchev’s de-Stalinization initiative, the city was renamed, Dushanbe, in 1961. The Soviets transformed the area into a centre of cotton and silk production and relocated tens of thousands of people to the city from around the Soviet Union. Tajikistan was established as an independent state in 1991. In 1992 -1997 the city was badly damaged as a result of the Civil War in Tajikistan that started shortly after its independence. However, during the past decade, the city has been resurrected and is now more prosperous and beautiful than ever. Continue reading →