History of Dushanbe

Dushanbe, despite how paradoxical it may sound, is a city both ancient and relatively young. Archaeologists have found evidence suggesting that Dushanbe’s history spans several millennia. However, it was officially designated as the capital of the Republic of Tajikistan only in 1929, as documented in the State Archive of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Before the revolution, the area that is now Dushanbe consisted of three small villages: Sary Assiya, Shakhmansur, and Dushanbe. The name «Dushanbe» translates to «Monday» in Tajik, a reference to the market day held in the village. The bustling markets of Dushanbe offered not only local produce such as barley, wheat, flax, cocoons, fruits, and vegetables but also imported goods like English wool, Chinese silk, and Russian calico. Interestingly, the ancient Silk Road once passed through the area that is now the modern city, likely contributing to the diverse assortment of products available at the market.

The exact time when the ancient settlement on the site of present-day Dushanbe was established remains uncertain.

Archaeological studies conducted in Dushanbe have unearthed various artifacts from the Stone Age, specifically from the Neolithic era, dating back to the 4th and 3rd millennia BCE. These artifacts, which are now displayed in the National Museum of Antiquities of Tajikistan, include stone tools, household items, knives, sickles, threshing boards, and jugs used for storing water and grain. Among the museum’s most unique exhibits are a bronze mirror, ancient coins, tools, and various ornaments discovered by archaeologists in 1939.

Moreover, the remains of settlements from the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom (late 3rd century BCE) and a Kushan-period city (7th-8th centuries CE) were found near the Putov Hill and on the left bank of the Dushanbe-Darya River. The city from the Kushan period is believed by scholars to have been quite large. Excavations of early medieval settlements such as Arki Mir (the current site of the botanical garden), Ispechak-Tepe (in the Ispechak residential area), Teppai Iskandar, and the Shishi Khona site revealed traces of its rural surroundings.

In 1920, Dushanbe became the residence of the last Emir of Bukhara, Said Alim Khan, who fled Bukhara after the Russian invasion of his khanate. Four months later, under pressure from the Bolsheviks, he was forced to leave Dushanbe and flee abroad. In late 1921, over 10,000 people led by Enver Pasha laid siege to Dushanbe to liberate it from Russian control. The Bolsheviks held their ground until mid-February 1922. However, due to a lack of food and ammunition, they eventually had to retreat. The story did not end there—on July 14, 1922, Dushanbe once again fell into Bolshevik hands, and Soviet power was firmly established in the city.

Describing Dushanbe in 1920 as a city would be like calling Vatican City a continent today. At that time, Dushanbe was little more than a small village with four houses with wooden floors, 42 yurts, and a population of just 283.

Despite its modest beginnings, Dushanbe was granted city status and became the capital of the Tajik Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. From 1929 to 1990, it served as the capital of the Tajik SSR, and in 1991, it became the capital of independent Tajikistan.

Regarding the city’s name, from 1924 to 1929, it was officially known as «Dyushambe» in Russian. On October 16, 1929, it was renamed «Stalinabad» in honor of Joseph Stalin. In 1961, the city was restored to its historical name, Dushanbe.

It took 76 years for Dushanbe to transform from a remote village nestled among towering mountains into a modern industrial, economic, political, and cultural center of the country, with green streets and numerous architectural monuments.