Condolance: A "Revolutionary" passed away on 21.04.2009.

I am deeply sadden to hear about the death of Tohir Abdujabbor, a noble man, an intellectual, and the founder of the "Rastokhez" (Revival) - the first movement of Tajikistan for independence.

I met him at BBC office during my visit to Tajikistan in 2007. He was a soft spoken modest man with high intellect. He was patient enough to take out an hour for the interview. Bobojon shared his spiritual experience in India and remembered his visit to Kashmir.

Tohir Abdurjabbor was saddened by the political and economic condition of Tajikistan. However, he felt helpless as his co-rebel leaders have changed their ideology over time.

He said that the only mistake Rastokhez movement did was to identify itself with Islamic religious identity instead of Tajik cultural identity.

May God Bless You and Your Family During this Time and Always

Mansi

About Tohir Abdujabbor/


Asia Plus:

Founder of Rastokhez movement Tohir Abdujabbor passes away

21.04.2009 15:26, by Daler Ghufronov

DUSHANBE, April 21, 2009,, Asia-Plus -- Mr. Tojir Abdujabbor, founder of open the first informal public movements of Tajikistan, Rastokhez (Revival) also author of the alternative version of Declaration of Independence of Tajikistan, died in Khujand today afternoon, aged 64 after a long illness, Asia-Plus has learned from the Sughd journalist Najmiddin Shohinbod.

Tohir Abdujabbor had scientific degree of Candidate of Science in Economics and in the 1980’s he had worked with the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Academy of Sciences. From 1990 to 1992, Tohir Abdujabbor was member of the Shuroi Oli (Tajikistan’s parliament in 1990-1992). He was one of founders of the public movement Rastokhez (Revival).

The Rastokhez movement was founded on September 14, 1989, by representatives of the Tajik intelligentsia, among them Tohir Abdujabbor, with a moderate nationalist and democratic program. The movement ceased to exist at the same time as the United Tajik Opposition (UTO) and its members mostly joined the Democratic Party at the time of peace treaty (June 1997).

When the civil war started in Tajikistan in 1992, Tohir Abdujabbor left for Iran and then to Kyrgyzstan. In Bishkek, he worked as head of the Department of International Economy at Bishkek Diplomatic University.

He returned to Tajikistan n 2005. Over the past two years, Tohir Abdujabbor had worked with Tajik University of Innovative Technologies and Communications in Dushanbe. In 2008, Tohir Abdujabbor also worked with the News Agency Asia-Plus as an expert in economic issues.