This noble and exceptional initiative of the Honored Leader of the Nation was undertaken in honor of the 35th anniversary of the State Independence of Tajikistan. According to the Head of State, its purpose is “first and foremost, to revive historical memory, expand national self-awareness and identity, and strengthen the sense of patriotism among the people, especially children and youth.”
From the very beginning of the implementation of this patriotic initiative, the people of the country expressed deep gratitude, emphasizing that it will play an active role in strengthening feelings of national pride, dignity, and civic responsibility among every citizen of Tajikistan.
This book was published in two volumes, with a total circulation of 1,700,000 copies, by the “Sharqi Ozod” Publishing House of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan.
It should be noted that the timeless Shahnameh of the sage Abulqosim Ferdowsi is considered the greatest national epic of the Aryan peoples and a true treasury of wisdom and knowledge. Speaking about the qualities of the Shahnameh, the Head of State, Honorable Emomali Rahmon, writes in the foreword to the new edition:
“Indeed, Ferdowsi, in the Shahnameh, a book unmatched by any other nation in the world, portrayed the history of his people — full of joys and pride, achievements and failures, pains and aspirations — with the blood of his heart. In doing so, he preserved the history, culture, philosophy, wisdom, legends, and traditions of the Aryans and delivered them to future generations.”
The President highlights the central themes of this masterpiece: the glorification of knowledge and wisdom, the promotion of patriotism and love for the homeland, the celebration of independence and freedom, the encouragement of equality among people, and the triumph of good over evil and justice over injustice — themes that remain profoundly relevant even a thousand years later in our present time.
It is emphasized that the lofty philosophy of Ferdowsi helps us understand our past and provides valuable lessons and inspiration for current and future generations. Especially in the era of globalization — which threatens the disappearance of states, nations, languages, and indigenous cultures — we increasingly need the patriotic and identity-shaping ideas of the Shahnameh.
It is worth noting that this noble and culturally significant initiative of the Honorable President, Emomali Rahmon — along with his other constructive efforts, such as the publication and distribution of the outstanding work “Tajiks” by the great scholar Bobojon Ghafurov to every household — contributes to strengthening national consciousness and identity and plays an important role in educating an enlightened, active, and creative generation.
