http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/contact_sheet/28148 Yaghnob Valley, Tajikistan Largely concentrated in parts of northern Tajikistan, the Yaghnobis are one of the last linguistic descendents of 6th century Sogdiana, an eastern province of the Persian empire. Numbering only about 12, 000 today, the future of the Yaghnobis remains unstable, with cultural, social, economic, ecological, and political factors threatening their existence. Escaping the invasion of the 6th century onslaught of Islamic Arabs, many Sogdians were pushed into the mountains. The natural isolation of the Yaghnob valley (located about 250 km north of Dushanbe) has allowed the Yaghnobi language and culture to survive where others have passed away or been lost through assimilation, but at the same time, this remoteness has limited their population. One key series of events in recent Yaghnobi history that has both traumatized and arguably benefitted the group were the forcible relocations in the 1950s and in 1970 to the ‘Starving Steppe’ of Zafarabad and to Dushanbe, during Soviet times. Supposedly, the relocations were to remove the group from an earthquake-prone region, but there are strong suggestions that the Soviet government needed people to help pick cotton in the northern plains and was unwilling to take charge of difficult infrastructure projects necessary in the remote Yaghnob valley. While census data remains ever unreliable, available data from 1972 (numbering the Yaghnobis then at 2,400) suggests since the last relocation in 1970, the Yaghnobis have multiplied almost six-fold. Naturally, access to jobs, economic resources and not having to compete for limited land resources has allowed the Yaghnobis to develop. Yet at the same time, the risks of cultural assimilation through schooling, inter-marriage and various means of employment raise obvious questions about the group’s cultural identity. As with much of Tajikistan’s working-age men, many Yaghnobis also emigrate to Russia seasonally and sometimes permanently for work. The largest group of Yaghnobis today is in the plains of Zafarabod, numbering about 6, 500, followed by some 3,000 in Dushanbe, while the Yaghnob valley itself has a maximum of only 400-500. During pre-perestroika Soviet times, Yaghnobis were not treated well and even at times with suspicion. Their language was seen as a secret and possibly dangerous cipher that other Tajiks and Soviet citizens could not understand. Soon after the Soviet collapse, the Leninabad region in the north of the country -- where both Khojand and the Yaghnob valley are located -- was renamed Soghd, in recognition of Tajikistan’s Persian roots. Interest in the Yaghnobi’s heritage and background has become a cause for pride for both the Yaghnobis themselves and to some extent, Tajiks as well. Yet at the same time, the language remains largely an oral tradition shared amongst families and the community. Even Soviet era Yaghnobi textbooks for schoolchildren, written only for students through the 4th grade, have now all but disappeared as the books are out of print and funding from the government has dried up. http://www.lightstalkers.org en-us http://images.lightstalkers.org/avatars/25462/_MG_6103_copy_small.jpg http://www.lightstalkers.org/Marina Gorobevskaya <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146194/mgorobevskaya-osi_grant2010-02_small.JPG' /><br />A double rainbow is seen over Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley, Tajikistan on Aug. 23, 2010. The village is the farthest point accessible by car, beyond which people have to travel on foot and use donkeys to carry supplies they purchase outside the valley.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146194'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146194 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:16:05 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146194 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146194/mgorobevskaya-osi_grant2010-02_small.JPG' /><br />A double rainbow is seen over Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley, Tajikistan on Aug. 23, 2010. The village is the farthest point accessible by car, beyond which people have to travel on foot and use donkeys to carry supplies they purchase outside the valley.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146194'>view full-size image</a> Marina Gorobevskaya <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146197/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-03_small.JPG' /><br />Umeda Boboyeva, 17, harvests wheat in the Yaghnob Valley in Tajikistan, Oct. 1, 2010. Every stage of wheat growing and processing is carried out by hand due to the lack of electricity.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146197'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146197 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:18:36 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146197 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146197/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-03_small.JPG' /><br />Umeda Boboyeva, 17, harvests wheat in the Yaghnob Valley in Tajikistan, Oct. 1, 2010. Every stage of wheat growing and processing is carried out by hand due to the lack of electricity.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146197'>view full-size image</a> Marina Gorobevskaya <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146200/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-04_small.JPG' /><br />Mirzo Bobo sifts wheat in Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley in Tajikistan, Oct. 2, 2010. Every stage of wheat growing and processing is carried out by hand there due to the lack of electricity.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146200'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146200 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:19:04 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146200 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146200/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-04_small.JPG' /><br />Mirzo Bobo sifts wheat in Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley in Tajikistan, Oct. 2, 2010. Every stage of wheat growing and processing is carried out by hand there due to the lack of electricity.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146200'>view full-size image</a> Marina Gorobevskaya <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146203/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-05_small.JPG' /><br />Oxen are used to thresh the wheat in Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley in Tajikistan, Oct. 2, 2010. Every stage of wheat growing and processing is carried out by hand there due to the lack of electricity.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146203'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146203 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:19:29 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146203 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146203/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-05_small.JPG' /><br />Oxen are used to thresh the wheat in Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley in Tajikistan, Oct. 2, 2010. Every stage of wheat growing and processing is carried out by hand there due to the lack of electricity.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146203'>view full-size image</a> Marina Gorobevskaya <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146206/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-06_small.JPG' /><br />Seven-year-old Nigina Jobirova plays with a mirror on a wall in Tagichanor Village in the Yaghnob Valley, Tajikistan, Oct. 3, 2010.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146206'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146206 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:20:24 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146206 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146206/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-06_small.JPG' /><br />Seven-year-old Nigina Jobirova plays with a mirror on a wall in Tagichanor Village in the Yaghnob Valley, Tajikistan, Oct. 3, 2010.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146206'>view full-size image</a> Marina Gorobevskaya <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146209/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-07_small.JPG' /><br />Children eat scraps of food from the walls of a large cooking pot in Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley in Tajikistan, Aug. 23, 2010. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146209'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146209 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:20:48 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146209 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146209/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-07_small.JPG' /><br />Children eat scraps of food from the walls of a large cooking pot in Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley in Tajikistan, Aug. 23, 2010. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146209'>view full-size image</a> Marina Gorobevskaya <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146212/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-08_small.JPG' /><br />Mullobobo Boboyev visits ruins of a mosque in one of the abandoned villages in the Yaghnob Valley in Tajikistan on Aug. 21, 2010. Many villages in the valley were forcibly emptied during the Soviet relocations in the 1950s and in 1970. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146212'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146212 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:21:21 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146212 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146212/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-08_small.JPG' /><br />Mullobobo Boboyev visits ruins of a mosque in one of the abandoned villages in the Yaghnob Valley in Tajikistan on Aug. 21, 2010. Many villages in the valley were forcibly emptied during the Soviet relocations in the 1950s and in 1970. <br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146212'>view full-size image</a> Marina Gorobevskaya <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146215/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-09_small.JPG' /><br />Mullobobo Boboyev and his daughter Bonausha keep warm on a cold day near a smoky stove in Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley in Tajikistan on Aug. 24, 2010. The family uses their outside kitchen for cooking and warming up the for washing up throughout the year.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146215'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146215 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:21:54 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146215 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146215/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-09_small.JPG' /><br />Mullobobo Boboyev and his daughter Bonausha keep warm on a cold day near a smoky stove in Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley in Tajikistan on Aug. 24, 2010. The family uses their outside kitchen for cooking and warming up the for washing up throughout the year.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146215'>view full-size image</a> Marina Gorobevskaya <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146218/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-10_small.JPG' /><br />Seventeen-year-old Sanginjon puts fresh cow dung patties on a cow shed wall to dry in Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley, Tajikistan on Aug. 24, 2010. The dung patties are prepared in summer to be used as fuel for cooking and heating during the winter. Sanginjon is deaf, as is her father and many in the valley, possibly due to malnutrition or genetics.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146218'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146218 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:22:52 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146218 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146218/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-10_small.JPG' /><br />Seventeen-year-old Sanginjon puts fresh cow dung patties on a cow shed wall to dry in Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley, Tajikistan on Aug. 24, 2010. The dung patties are prepared in summer to be used as fuel for cooking and heating during the winter. Sanginjon is deaf, as is her father and many in the valley, possibly due to malnutrition or genetics.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146218'>view full-size image</a> Marina Gorobevskaya <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146221/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-11_small.JPG' /><br />Hafiza Nurova, 44, and her daughter Umeda make butter in a churn in Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley, Tajikistan, Aug. 22, 2010. Due to the lack of electricity the Yaghnobis still use only hand tools.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146221'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146221 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:23:26 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146221 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146221/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-11_small.JPG' /><br />Hafiza Nurova, 44, and her daughter Umeda make butter in a churn in Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley, Tajikistan, Aug. 22, 2010. Due to the lack of electricity the Yaghnobis still use only hand tools.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146221'>view full-size image</a> Marina Gorobevskaya <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146224/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-12_small.JPG' /><br />Mosafar checks the bread she is baking in the traditional oven in Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley, Tajikistan on Oct. 4, 2010.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146224'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146224 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:24:01 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146224 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146224/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-12_small.JPG' /><br />Mosafar checks the bread she is baking in the traditional oven in Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley, Tajikistan on Oct. 4, 2010.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146224'>view full-size image</a> Marina Gorobevskaya <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146227/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-13_small.JPG' /><br />Sharif Bobyev (12) and his sister Bonausha (4) wake up after their night sleep outside on a summer morning in Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley, Tajikistan, Aug. 23, 2010.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146227'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146227 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:25:19 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146227 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146227/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-13_small.JPG' /><br />Sharif Bobyev (12) and his sister Bonausha (4) wake up after their night sleep outside on a summer morning in Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley, Tajikistan, Aug. 23, 2010.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146227'>view full-size image</a> Marina Gorobevskaya <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146230/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-14_small.JPG' /><br />Seven-year-old Nigina Jobirova babysits her ten-months-old brother while their parents work in the field in Tagichanor Village in the Yaghnob Valley, Tajikistan, Oct. 3, 2010. There's no school in the valley and children usually help adults with their daily work.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146230'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146230 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:25:58 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146230 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146230/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-14_small.JPG' /><br />Seven-year-old Nigina Jobirova babysits her ten-months-old brother while their parents work in the field in Tagichanor Village in the Yaghnob Valley, Tajikistan, Oct. 3, 2010. There's no school in the valley and children usually help adults with their daily work.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146230'>view full-size image</a> Marina Gorobevskaya <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146233/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-15_small.JPG' /><br />Twelve-year-okd Sharif Bobyev plays with pigeons his family keeps in Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley, Tajikistan, Aug. 22, 2010.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146233'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146233 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:26:43 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146233 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1146233/m_gorobevskaya_yaghnob_tajikistan-15_small.JPG' /><br />Twelve-year-okd Sharif Bobyev plays with pigeons his family keeps in Noumitkon Village in the Yaghnob Valley, Tajikistan, Aug. 22, 2010.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1146233'>view full-size image</a> Marina Gorobevskaya