“The Sun that Builds the State, and the Sultan of Justice”
My memoirs would be incomplete if, as a citizen and compatriot of this land, beginning from approximately the second half of the last century and throughout the fourth decade of the latest political era, I did not express my views on the most important issue of society—the role of personality in the formation of national statehood.
The contribution of the individual to history is one of the most fundamental subjects of study, research, evaluation, and generalization. From the Ancient World to the present day, this issue has remained a matter of debate: does the individual create history, or does history develop due to objective laws of progress and evolution?
In any case, the theory and practice of the destinies of nations recognize the human factor as a determining element in state-building and as a driving force of social processes, including the development of statehood. Sophocles emphasized:
“There are many great forces in the world. But there is no force greater than Man. He confidently walks the world, overcoming all powers through human reason and insight. Yet the greatest strength of the Human Mind lies in its ability to foresee the future wisely.”
The study of personal qualities is a crucial means of understanding contemporary reality and forecasting the future development of society. As classical thinkers noted, “history is nothing but the purposeful activity of human beings.”
At the same time, it must be understood that the source of goal-setting is not only human consciousness but also objective social processes and reality itself, which impel the individual toward courage, decision-making, and action, mobilize them, and render the need for action inevitable.
From another perspective, as academician I. Kovalchenko stated, “each historical generation of humanity, within a specific period of time, possesses certain material and spiritual resources created by the system of productive, political, and cultural relations of the era. It is within the framework of these resources that a generation can organize its activity. Purposeful actions may improve these resources and transform relations, but action is possible only within the limits of these opportunities.”
In other words, the activity of a political leader of society, upon whom fate places the responsibility of leading a nation, is constrained by two factors—material and spiritual.
The analysis and assessment of a political leader’s personality deserve attention also because, regardless of the era and the challenges facing society, their qualities shape the environment, trust, morality, and spiritual values of various social strata.
One direction in studying a leader’s personality is the analysis of their activity in dynamics—the capacity for progress, problem-solving, and managing the political destiny of society, which often unfolds independently of the will of the country’s leader.
Our generation has witnessed the practical policies of the Head of State during the most difficult period of Tajik statehood—at the end of the 20th century and the first half of the 21st century.
As a citizen, I am a direct witness and participant in the processes of practical politics under the leadership of the Hero of the Tajik nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon.
Therefore, for us, the significance of the personality and the role of the Leader in the formation of national statehood under exceptionally difficult historical conditions of a fateful period are evident. His supreme leadership manifested itself in the ability to make decisions and implement them in the interests of ensuring national stability and the country’s development.
A clear, professionally calibrated, and people-oriented step-by-step plan for stabilizing the situation in the country became the defining feature of this policy.
One of the greatest tragedies of humanity is conflict based on religious-sectarian and national-regional grounds. Resolving such conflicts, especially when they stem from deep psychological and spiritual causes, becomes one of the most difficult tasks for state leaders and even entire generations. Our contemporaries have witnessed prolonged bloodshed in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, and many other countries.
The wisdom and exceptional capacity to resolve human tragedies demonstrated during the period of national catastrophe of the Tajik people are among the distinguishing qualities of the Leader of the Tajik state.
Under conditions of an empty state treasury, the government’s primary task was to provide the population with food. Through unconventional decisions, arable land was distributed to the people, and emergency measures to prevent famine and related diseases were gradually implemented.
The Head of State proceeds from the understanding that the individual does not exist autonomously in society but is a product of environment, conditions, and reality. The development of human potential was declared a vital priority and a guarantee of sustainable development for the present and future of the nation, for which billions of somoni were allocated.
This strategy acquired a purposeful and long-term character. The state makes every effort to ensure that children and youth receive quality education, gain a clear understanding of the laws of nature, society, and thought, and learn how to apply them.
A constant theme of these memoirs is the human need for science, knowledge, and enlightenment. As the Head of State emphasized, “a time is considered fortunate when the greatest victory is recognized as reaching the вершины of knowledge” (Henri de Saint-Simon).
One of the signs of the Leader’s wisdom is his serious consideration of extraordinary and unpredictable socio-economic and geopolitical factors. His approach is dialectical—he views reality as a process of change and transformation, requiring systemic solutions to protect national interests and ensure sustainable development.
According to the Head of State, alongside heredity, a person is shaped by social relations, upbringing, education, life experience, and the ability to draw correct conclusions.
An analysis of the President’s political theory and practice shows that his main ideal is the construction of a national state through fostering self-awareness, strengthening national unity, and improving the well-being of the people.
Years of personal experience accompanying the Head of State on trips have shown that he does not limit himself to receiving citizens but goes to the people himself to personally learn about their lives and concerns.
His words and actions are unique because they are based on deep analysis of life experience and reflect the real needs of society. The President is confident in the correctness of the chosen path, grounded in popular support and an objective understanding of the stages of state development.
From the Leader’s perspective, it is the individual who creates history and must be aware of their responsibility to society for the present and the future.
From the first days of independence, when Tajikistan faced the most severe political, military, and socio-economic challenges, the Head of State emphasized that the country’s development potential lies not only in natural resources and geography, but above all in human capital—knowledge, intellect, professionalism, and spiritual strength.
The President regards intellect and professionalism as the most important factors in the development of national statehood, stressing that true human strength lies not in physical existence but in worldview and spiritual essence.
The Head of State has repeatedly noted that the true measure of a person is their understanding of national interests and the conformity of their actions to decisive moments in the fate of the state.
The President’s life path—from a peasant family to national leader—became a school of labor, knowledge, and experience. His greatest teacher was life itself.
In critical historical periods, society reveals its essence and draws upon the nation’s spiritual heritage. A great personality does not exist in isolation—it serves the people and directs all its energy toward meeting their needs.
The high authority of the Head of State is based on the unity of word and deed, which has earned him respect, trust, and the title of Peshvo—Leader of the Nation.
The revival of the nation became one of the President’s most important objectives. At his initiative, Bobojon Ghafurov’s book “The Tajiks” was published and presented to every family, and Ferdowsi’s “Shahnameh” was recognized as the sacred book of the Tajik spirit.
Historical analysis shows that without the personality of Emomali Rahmon, achieving peace, stability, and the creation of an independent state would have been impossible.
His emergence in history was not accidental—he embodies the centuries-old wisdom of the Tajik people and the revival of its national ideals.
Over more than three decades under his leadership, a theory and practice of national state-building have been formed, the mastery and development of which are the responsibility of present and future generations.
Memoirs are a form of expressing a personal position.
We are contemporaries and witnesses of the era of His Excellency Emomali Rahmon. Time becomes history, and interpretations of great personalities will continue for centuries.
(From S. Yatimov, “Memoirs,” Volume 2, Dushanbe, Eco Print, 2024, pp. 647–658)
Publication date: 15.12.2025
No.: 237