Hodimi Jamolak
- Hodimi Jamolak: A Leader in the Central Asian Uprising
- The Trigger
- Hodimi Jamolak's Role
- The Outbreak
- Hodimi Jamolak's Inspiration
- Suppression and Suppression
- Legacy
Hodimi Jamolak: A Leader in the Central Asian Uprising
Hodimi Jamolak was a prominent social activist and a key participant in the Central Asian Uprising of 1916. Commonly referred to as the "Hodimi Jamolak Uprising," it started on July 4 in Khujand and spread throughout the Turkestan Governorate and the Steppe Region of the Russian Empire.
The Trigger
The uprising was sparked by Tsar Nicholas II's decree on June 25, 1916, ordering the recruitment of male non-Russian nationals for labor in defense construction and military operations. In Khujand, 2978 workers were to be mobilized, causing widespread discontent among the populace.
Hodimi Jamolak's Role
Hodimi Jamolak, the wife of a poor craftsman, was a respected figure in her neighborhood and among women in neighboring areas. She often led community and celebratory events. Her only son, whom she raised alone after her husband's death, was included in the mobilization list. Fearing for her son's livelihood, she appealed to colonial officials to exempt him but was denied.
The Outbreak
On July 4, residents from several neighborhoods gathered at the office of the Khujand district governor. Hodimi Jamolak joined them, leading an agitated crowd demanding the destruction of the mobilization lists. The district governor, Colonel N.B. Rubakh, fled to the Syr Darya River ferry. Overwhelmed by the crowd, police resorted to force under the orders of Assistant District Governor V.K. Artsishevsky and soldiers from the garrison.
Hodimi Jamolak's Inspiration
As the crowd faltered, Hodimi Jamolak stepped forward, urging them not to retreat. Attacking the nearest policeman, she disarmed him of his saber, galvanizing the crowd. Clashes with police escalated into a full-blown uprising.
Suppression and Suppression
Garrison soldiers opened fire on the rebels from the walls of the Khujand fortress, suppressing the uprising. Hodimi Jamolak died in 1942.
Legacy
Khujand has a street named after Hodimi Jamolak, and a bust was erected in her honor in 1986. The Sogdian Regional History Museum features an exhibit dedicated to her.
In 2015, Radio Ozodi released a video report in Tajik titled "Tajik Woman's Uprising Against Imperial Russia." Her story has been depicted in works by Tajik writer Rahim Jalil, including the novel "Pulat and Gulru." In B. Ismalova's book "Women and Politics," published in 2013, Hodimi Jamolak is described as "a courageous woman who stood in the forefront of those opposing the Russian colonial system in 1916."
