Articles
INDEPENDENCE - THE FOUNDATION OF TAJIKISTAN’S MODERN STATEHOOD
The independence of Tajikistan represents one of the most decisive turning points in the modern history of the Tajik nation. On September 9, 1991, our country declared its sovereignty, thereby securing the most sacred and invaluable achievement of our people. That historic moment not only defined the destiny of the nation, but also laid the foundation for a new era of political, social, cultural, and economic development. Since then, Independence Day has been celebrated as a symbol of unity, freedom, and national pride.
Independence is regarded as the highest value of the Tajik people – an ancient nation with a profound cultural legacy. It has granted the younger generation opportunities to gain knowledge, refine their skills, and showcase their talents on the global stage. Over the past 34 years, Tajikistan has achieved significant progress in multiple domains, including science, education, economy, and social development, demonstrating that independence is not only a political phenomenon but also a driving force for national prosperity.
A particularly notable area of achievement has been healthcare. With the firm support of the Government and under the personal guidance of the Founder of Peace and National Unity, the Leader of the Nation His Excellency Emomali Rahmon, healthcare has been recognized as a strategic priority. Every year, new medical facilities are constructed and inaugurated, and considerable attention is devoted to the improvement of medicine and pharmaceuticals. As a result, the wise principle that “the health of the nation is the wealth of the state” has become a cornerstone of national policy.
Equally important was the political transformation that followed independence. In November 1992, the historic 16th Session of the Supreme Council in the city of Khujand introduced to the political arena a statesman whose name has since become inseparably linked with the nation’s path of progress. The Leader of the Nation His Excellency Emomali Rahmon has consistently emphasized that national reconciliation and peace are the sole pathways to sustainable development. As he declared at that session: “From the very first days of my service as Head of State, I stressed that national reconciliation is the only way forward for Tajikistan, and that peace must become the unifying idea of the entire nation.”
Though independence has already delivered remarkable achievements, the realities of the modern globalized world demand even greater vigilance. Contemporary threats such as international terrorism, extremism, illicit drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and transnational organized crime pose serious challenges to regional stability and national security. As President Emomali Rahmon warns, these trends must be addressed with unity, solidarity, political awareness, and unwavering patriotism.
The thirty-four years of independence have transformed Tajikistan into a blossoming nation, recognized on the global stage as a country that is steadily advancing toward prosperity. Yet the sustainability of independence is inseparably tied to the preservation of peace and national unity. Only through vigilance, collective responsibility, and a deep sense of national identity can we continue to safeguard the gains of sovereignty and ensure the enduring progress of our beloved homeland.
Sharafjon Razzoqberdiev,
сandidate of Philological Sciences, аssociate Professor
