Bashkir in Uzbekistan

Introduction / History

The Bashkirs are a Turkic people who primarily live in the Ural Mountains of Bashkiria, Russia. Some also live in the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Their origin is still somewhat unclear.

The Bashkirs were nomadic shepherds. They lived in clans and had never really considered themselves much more than a tribe. Villages were divided into "patrilineal" (male-dominated) tribes. The Bashkirs ran their affairs, regulated disputes and sought help within these tribal clan structures. This strong tribal structure allowed them to successfully hold off Russian occupation in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. However, near the end of the eighteenth century, they were defeated by the Russians.

In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, there was a great influx of Tatars, Russians, and other groups into Bashkir territory. The newcomers began buying or seizing the pastoral land, severely damaging the economy of the Bashkirs. From then on the Bashkirs made up only a fraction of the people groups which live in Russia’s Bashkiria. Suddenly, the Bashkirs, who had lived for generations as shepherds, were forced to give up their nomadic way of life. They turned to agriculture for survival. Some, however, moved into the cities to find industrial work.

Before the Soviet Revolution in 1917, a specific Bashkir culture did not even exist. They thought of themselves as Tatars, a nearby Turkic people who had influenced them greatly. The Bashkirs are very closely related to the Russian Tatars. The only distinction is that their languages differ in dialect. The Bashkirs speak Bashkir; however, even today, many have declared Tatar as their native language. Most remain in Russia though some migrated mostly to other parts of Central Asia such as Uzbekistan. There they continue a similar lifestyle.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Bashkir way of life in Uzbekistan or Russia today does not differ much from the way of life of the average Russian living in the middle zone of Russia. Much of the tribe's social significance has been lost. Some of the Bashkir groups have lost all memory of their tribal clan origin. Nevertheless, the sense of kinship and loyalty to kinsmen is still expressed.

About half of the Bashkirs live in cities, the other half live in rural areas. Some Bashkirs live in small farming communities. Today they use modern equipment to cultivate wheat, oats, sunflower, corn, cucumbers, tomatoes and potatoes. They raise horses, sheep, cattle and goats.

The sheep are raised for their wool, skins and meat. They enjoy a fermented drink, called koumiss, that is made from horses' milk.

Bashkir marriage ceremonies usually take place in their homes. However, a mullah (Muslim leader) usually participates in the marriage agreement. Young newlyweds live with the husband's parents until they are ready to form their own family. Polygyny (the practice of having more than one wife at a time) is a thing of the past, having been prohibited by the Family Code of the Russian.

The only national schools that are available to the Bashkir children are those within their national boundaries. Similarly, the only printing press in their language is located within their region. Unfortunately, many Bashkir live in colonies that are located outside this territory. There they are dominated by Russian schools, newspapers and cultural practices. While the rural dwellers have managed to preserve their national identity, those living in the urban colonies have been absorbed into the Russian way of life.

Although using "folk remedies" are still common, Russian-style medicines and clinics are used to cure more serious illnesses. Health services have led to improved health among the Bashkirs. Today, people are living longer and fewer babies are dying than in previous times.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Bashkirs are almost entirely Muslim. In the eighteenth century, the Orthodox Church attempted to convert them to Christianity, but today, very few are Christians. Those who converted to Christianity are now organized into a tiny minority known as the Nagaibaks.

Islam is not as deeply rooted among the Bashkir people as it is among the Tatars. However, Ufa, Bashkiria's capital, has been the center of religious life for European Russian Muslims since the eighteenth century. It is the seat of the Muslim Spiritual Board for European Russia and Siberia. There are over one hundred mosques in Bashkiria alone.

What Are Their Needs?

Although the Bashkirs are not as zealous as other Muslims, any form of Islam is difficult to influence. This stronghold can only be broken down through prayerful intercession.

The Bashkirs know very little about their own history. They are a people who lack security in who they are. They need to know that this security can only be found through Jesus Christ!

Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to send dedicated laborers into the harvest fields of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Russia.
Pray that God will raise up faithful intercessors who will stand in the gap for the Bashkirs.
Ask God to strengthen, encourage and protect the small number Bashkir Christians.
Pray that God will raise up loving Russian Christians to reach out to their Muslim neighbors in Uzbekistan.
Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of these Muslims towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the gospel.
Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Bashkirs in Uzbekistan.

Text Source:   Joshua Project