سرگذشت زبان و ادب فارسی در تاجیکستان و نقش استاد صدرالدین عینی

Abstract

The history of the Tajik language and culture, much like the political history of the Tajik people, has been marked by hardship and struggle. Tajiki, a branch of Persian (Dari), developed in Khorasan and Transoxiana and served for centuries as the shared language of literature, scholarship, and trade in the region. Despite severe historical upheavals, the language preserved its continuity.

In the early twentieth century, especially during the October Revolution, Tajik intellectuals played a crucial role in protecting their cultural identity. The most prominent among them was Sadriddin Ayni, regarded as the “Father of the Tajik Nation” and the founder of modern Tajik literature. Despite political repression, religious intolerance, and later communist pressures, he worked tirelessly to preserve and revitalize Tajik culture and language.

His major works—particularly Memoirs and The History of the Intellectual Revolution in Bukhara—offer vivid portrayals of the social life, language, and culture of Bukhara. These writings are considered among the most significant sources for understanding the cultural history of Transoxiana. Ayni’s lifelong efforts ensured the survival and resilience of Tajik language and culture through turbulent periods.