Tajikistan Youth Group Uniforms: King Somoni Inheritance/Vorisoni Somoni


Figure 1.-- School 21 in Dushambe has Son's of Somoni club, which is essentially what the former Young Pioneers have evolved into in modern Tajikistan. These boys children are good friends . They are all 12 year olds. They meet in school and play table tennis and other indoor sports games. In the summer they attend summer camp at the camps set up in the attractive Varzob Valley. They wear the Somoni kerchief instead of the red kerchief worn in Pioneer days. It is also part of their school uniform. They wear white shirts, black trousers. The kerchief is coloured green, red and white. These are the colours in the Tajik national flag. Image courtesy of the William Fergusson collection.

With the disolution of the Soviet Union, the Pioneers unlike Russia, have not entirely 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.

Pioneer Tradition

With the disolution of the Soviet Union, the Pioneers unlike Russia, have not entirely disappeared in Tajikistan. A new group has grown out of the old Pioneer organization. The group has been heavily influenced by the Young Pioneers and retains some Pioneer Traditions.

Nationalist Ideology

The Young Pioneers were renamed. The organization 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. They are also called Son's of Somoni Clubs.

King Somoni

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.

Uniforms

The members wear a kerchief in the Tajik national colors of red, white and green. There is no other uniform item. Children who are in the former Pioneer Corp wear the Kerchief as part of their school uniform. This mirrored practices in the Young Pioneers.

Levels

We do not know if there is different levels or ranks in the Somoni Inheritance.

Organization

Like the Pioneers, the Somoni Inheritance is basically orgaized through the schools. Unlike Scouting, there appears to be very little family involvement. 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.






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Created: April 22, 2004
Last updated: April 22, 2004