Feminist Heroes of Central Asia

Caroline admiring Kurmanjan mural in Osh

Move over Manas and Amir Timur, the women of Central Asia are national heroes in their own right. I chose four women from pre-Russian Central Asia whose stories inspire me.

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Nodira memorial in Kokand

Nodira (1792-1842): Born in Andijan, Nodira married Umar Khan, who led the Kokand Khanate. When he died in 1822, his heir was only 12 years old so Nodira became the leader of the Khanate for a decade. Art and liberalism flourished in her court. She is famous for her poetry in Tajik and Uzbek. Emir Nasrullah Khan of Bukhara (the same guy who executed Stoddart and Conolly) executed her and her son in 1842. Allegedly, she was executed because she would not marry the Emir. Today, she is fondly remembered in the Valley. In Kokand and Andijan, there are memorials to her. Nodira has become a popular Uzbek name. You can visit her grave in Kokand at Dakhma-i-Shokhon. It is decorated with her poetry.

Works Cited: Lonely Planet’s Central Asia guide, published in 2016

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Tomyris and Cyrus' head (https://www.advantour.com/uzbekistan/legends/tomyris.htm)

Saka-Massagetae Queen Tomyris (570–520 BC): Born to the Massagetae tribe, who roamed the Eurasian steppe (allegedly modern day Kazakhstan), Queen Tomyris became their queen when her father died. She chose her husband; the great European civilizations feared her tribe. Cyrus II, the Persian king, looked to expand his empire to the East and attacked the Massagetae tribe, capturing Tomyris’ son. Cyrus ignored Tomyris’ pleads to free her son and claimed that he died due to suicide. Angry over the death of her son, Tomyris attacked the Persian forces and killed Cyrus.

Works Cited: https://www.advantour.com/uzbekistan/legends/tomyris.htm

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Kurmanjan mural in Osh

Kurmanjan Datka (1811-1907): Born near Osh in Kyrgyzstan during the Kokand Khanate, Kurmanjan Datka was from a wealthy family. At age 18, her family arranged a marriage for her. After meeting the guy, she fled, going back to her family. She later married Alymbek Datka, who she fell in love with. He was the leader of the Alai Province. After he was assassinated, Kurmanjan Datka became the leader of the Alai Province. As the Russians began to colonize this area, she urged her people to accept their rule peacefully. Rebelling against Russians could have destroyed her people. The Russians respected Kurmanjan and allowed her to retire in Siberia. There are several memorials to her in Osh. Her life was turned into a movie, here is the trailer:

Works Cited: https://www.rferl.org/a/qishloq-ovozi-who-was-kurmanjan-datka/26770979.html

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Statue of Nurkhon (Wikipedia)

Nurkhon Yuldashkhojayeva (1913- 1929): Born in Margilon, she ran away to join a Russian dance troupe. Women in Central Asia at the time were forced to wear a veil when they performed. Nurkhon took her veil off during a performance, becoming the first Uzbek woman to perform without a veil. When she came home, her brother stabbed her because her father wanted him to. She died in an honor killing. While her brother and father went to jail, thousands of people attended her memorial. Women threw off their veils at the memorial in support of her.

Works Cited: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurkhon_Yuldashkhojayeva

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Want to know about modern Central Asian women? Read this article by Radio Free Europe!

https://www.rferl.org/a/central_asia_most_influential_connected_women/24284829.html

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Which of these women inspire you? Let me know in the comments!