DUSHANBE, March 20, Asia-Plus  --  Tajikistan ought to think over the way of gradually returning to traditional alphabet based on the Arabic script, an open letter sent by Nourmahamd Amirshohi, a researcher with the Institute of Oriental Studies and  Written Heritage within the Tajik Academy Sciences, to President Emomali Rahmon said.  

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Amirshohi said he raised the issue of returning to the traditional alphabet in his book entitled “Dar Durohai Fano and Ehyo” (Collapse or Revival) that was published last year already.  “However, relevant bodies have not paid a proper attention to this issue and I decided to appeal to our president and sent him letter on this subject,” Mr. Amirshohi said.  

He justified his proposal to return to the traditional alphabet by claiming that alphabet based on Cyrillic script had allegedly led us to cultural crisis.  “This [Cyrillic] script narrows our opportunity,” said the researcher.  “We cannot introduce ourselves to international community and do not have enough access to modern scientific-cultural achievements of civilized society.”  “Iran regularly publishes a lot of books about the latest achievements of the modern world,” stressed Amirshohi, “Using our own script, we could get access to all this and introduce ourselves to the Persian-speaking world.”  

He further noted that if we do not resolve this problem, our independence will be incomplete.  “Besides, we should realize that we had been developing as nation due to this script and now have great heritage,” the researcher said, noting that sooner or later this issue will become topical.  “Our cultural foundation is closely connected with this script, you know,” Amirshohi said. 

In his letter, he proposes to introduce the study of the traditional alphabet based on the Arabic script for 1st grade pupils beginning on September 1, 2008.  “In fifth grade, they will begin to study the Cyrillic script together with Russian language,” he said.