Tajikistan Youth Group Uniforms

Figure 1.-- The members wear a kerchief in the Tajik national colors of red, white and green. It has also been renamed. Children who are in the former Pioneer Corp wear the Kerchief as part of their school uniform. Here is a photograph from school 21. Image courtesy of the William Fergusson collection.

We have only limited information on Tajik youth groups. I have no indication that the Scouts were founded before Tajikistan was incorporated into the Soviet Union. For its modern history as part of the Soviet Union, the only youth group allowed was the Young Pioneers. The Pioneers still function in Tajikistan. They now wear a kerchief in the Tajik national colors of red, white and green. It has also been renamed. The new name means King Somoni inheriters. It is hard to put English words to the concept.

Scouting

We have no indication that the Scouts were founded before Tajikistan was incorporated into the Soviet Union. Scouting was founded in Russia before World War I and Takistan was at the time part of the Russian Empire. Whether Scouting developed in Central Asian provinces of the Russian Empire before the War and the Russian Revolution we do not know. We also do not know if Scouting is today operating in Tajikistan or even if it is permitted to do so. One reader tells us that there is a Boy Scout Association in Tajikistan, but they do not appear to be very active.

Young Pioneers

For its modern history as part of the Soviet Union, the only youth group allowed was the Young Pioneers. The Pioneers was a national movement. There were no differences in the uniform in different republics of the Soviet Union. We do not know if there were variations in the program among the republics.

King Somoni Inheritance

With the disolution of the Soviet Union, the Pioneers unlike Russia, have not ntirely disappeared in Tajikistan. A new group has grown out of the old Pioneer organization. It is substantially changed and no longer has a Communist,but now a nationlist ideology. The group is known as the "Vorisoni Somoni". This translates as Somoni Inheritance. One has to realise that in ancient times King Somoni rules this area. This king and historic period is part of the Tajik cuklture. There are statues to King Somoni and his image is printed on the bank notes. The Somoni Ineritance is thus a natural choice for the name of a Tajik youth group. The members wear a kerchief in the Tajik national colors of red, white and green. It has also been renamed. Children who are in the former Pioneer Corp wear the Kerchief as part of their school uniform. Here is a photograph from school 21. We do not know a great deal about the group. Membership in the Pioneers was virtually mandatory. We do not know to what extent Tajik children belong to the new King Somoni Inheritance.